der  Teller

🍽️ What exactly is a 'Teller'?

A Teller (masculine, article: der) is a flat or slightly concave piece of tableware used primarily for serving and eating food from. It is typically made of ceramic (Porzellan, Steingut), glass (Glas), metal (Metall), wood (Holz), or plastic (Kunststoff).

There are different types of Teller, for example:

• Essteller: dinner plate (for main courses)
• Suppenteller: soup plate/bowl (deeper, for soups)
• Frühstücksteller/Kuchenteller: breakfast/cake plate (smaller, for breakfast or cake)
• Platzteller: charger plate/service plate (larger decorative plate placed under the dinner plate)

🚨 Although there are various forms, the article always remains der.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Corner: Declension of 'der Teller'

The noun "Teller" is masculine. Here are the declension tables:

Singular

Plural

Example Sentences

• Der Teller steht auf dem Tisch. (The plate is on the table. - Nominative Singular)
• Die Suppe ist in dem tiefen Teller. (The soup is in the deep plate/bowl. - Dative Singular)
• Ich sehe den Teller nicht. (I don't see the plate. - Accusative Singular)
• Die Farbe des Tellers gefällt mir. (I like the color of the plate. - Genitive Singular)
• Die Teller sind sauber. (The plates are clean. - Nominative Plural)
• Gib mir bitte die sauberen Teller. (Please give me the clean plates. - Accusative Plural)
• Das Essen steht auf den Tellern. (The food is on the plates. - Dative Plural)

✅ How 'der Teller' is Used

The term "der Teller" is an everyday word used mainly in the context of eating, cooking, and table settings.

• While eating: "Kannst du mir bitte einen sauberen Teller geben?" (Can you please give me a clean plate?), "Mein Teller ist leer." (My plate is empty.)
• When serving: "Stell die Teller auf den Tisch." (Put the plates on the table.), "Wir brauchen noch Suppenteller." (We still need soup plates/bowls.)
• Idioms: "Über den Tellerrand schauen" (literally: to look over the edge of the plate, meaning: to think outside the box), "Nicht alles auf einen Teller legen" (literally: not put everything on one plate, meaning: don't put all your eggs in one basket).
• Compound words: There are many compound words with "Teller", like Platzteller (charger plate), Kuchenteller (cake plate), Suppenteller (soup plate), Holzteller (wooden plate), Pappteller (paper plate), Drehteller (turntable, e.g., in a microwave), Ventilteller (valve disk/plate in engineering). Note that the base word "Teller" is masculine, so the compound words usually also take the article "der" (e.g., der Suppenteller), unless the second word determines the gender (rare with Teller).

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

For the article 'der': Think of a waiter (Kellner) serving the plater (Teller). Words ending in '-er' are often (but not always!) masculine (der).

For the meaning 'plate': Imagine you tell a story while eating from your Teller. Or: a bank teller counts coins on a Teller (plate).

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

Could be Confusing

• Zähler (counter/meter): Sounds similar, but means something completely different (e.g., Stromzähler - electricity meter).

😂 A Little Plate Joke

German: Fragt der Ober: "Hat es Ihnen geschmeckt?" Gast: "Ja, sehr gut, aber nächstes Mal hätte ich gerne etwas mehr auf dem Teller und weniger auf der Rechnung!"

English: The waiter asks: "Did you enjoy your meal?" Guest: "Yes, very much, but next time I'd like a bit more on the plate and less on the bill!"

📜 Poem about the Plate

German:
Der Teller, rund und oft ganz weiß,
hält Speisen warm, hält Speisen heiß.
Mal tief für Suppe, flach fürs Brot,
begleitet uns durch Alltagsnot.

Von Porzellan bis hin zu Glas,
er dient uns stets, bei jedem Schmaus.
Drum halt ihn fest und iss schön auf,
so nimmt das Mahl den rechten Lauf.

English Translation:
The plate, so round and often white,
keeps food warm, keeps food hot and bright.
Sometimes deep for soup, or flat for bread,
accompanies us through daily dread.

From porcelain fine to simple glass,
it always serves, for every repast.
So hold it tight and eat it all,
thus the meal will rightly enthrall.

❓ Little Riddle

German:
Ich habe einen Rand, doch bin kein Land.
Ich trage Essen, doch kann selbst nicht essen.
Manchmal bin ich tief, manchmal flach,
steh' auf dem Tisch bei jedem Dach.

Was bin ich?

English Translation:
I have an edge, but am no land.
I carry food, but have no eating hand.
Sometimes I'm deep, sometimes I'm flat,
on tables under every hat (roof).

What am I?

Solution: Der Teller (The plate)

💡 Other Interesting Facts

Etymology (Word Origin): The German word "Teller" comes from Middle High German tel(l)er, which was borrowed from Old French tailloir ('cutting board', later 'dining board'). This ultimately derives from the Latin word talea, meaning 'rod, cutting, slip'.

Cultural Notes: In some cultures, it's customary to eat everything on your Teller, while in others, leaving a small amount is a sign of satiety and respect for the host.

Technology: The term "Teller" is also used in engineering, e.g., Ventilteller (valve disk/plate in an engine) or Drehteller (turntable in a microwave).