der
Tropfen
💧 What Exactly is a 'Tropfen'?
The German word der Tropfen (masculine) refers to a small, usually spherical or pear-shaped amount of liquid that forms due to surface tension or falls from a larger body of liquid. It translates directly to 'drop'.
- Water drop: The most common form, such as Regentropfen (raindrops) or Tautropfen (dewdrops).
- Small amount: It can also mean a small quantity of any liquid, often in the context of medicine like Augentropfen (eye drops) or beverages like ein Tropfen Wein (a drop of wine).
⚠️ Although there is a verb "tropfen" (to drip), the noun "der Tropfen" is always masculine.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-en → mostly masculine.
1. All diminutives with '-chen' are neutral, like 'das Mädchen'. 2. Nouns derived from verbs are always neutral ('das Schrieben'). 3. There are many -en words, we won't list them all.
Grammar Spotlight: Der Tropfen
The noun 'Tropfen' is masculine. Here are the declension tables:
Singular Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Tropfen |
| Genitive | des | Tropfens |
| Dative | dem | Tropfen |
| Accusative | den | Tropfen |
Plural Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Tropfen |
| Genitive | der | Tropfen |
| Dative | den | Tropfen |
| Accusative | die | Tropfen |
Example Sentences 🤓
- Ein Tropfen fiel vom Wasserhahn.
(A drop fell from the tap.) - Der Arzt verschrieb mir Augentropfen.
(The doctor prescribed eye drops for me.) - Nur ein kleiner Tropfen Blut war auf dem Pflaster.
(Only a small drop of blood was on the plaster.) - Ich hätte gern noch einen Tropfen Wein.
(I'd like another drop of wine.) - Die ersten Regentropfen fielen auf das trockene Land.
(The first raindrops fell on the dry land.)
When to Use 'der Tropfen'? 🤔
'Der Tropfen' is used in various contexts:
- Natural phenomena: Regentropfen (raindrops), Tautropfen (dewdrops), Wassertropfen (water drops) on leaves.
- Liquid quantities: Ein Tropfen Öl (a drop of oil), ein Tropfen Sauce (a drop of sauce), ein Tropfen Gift (a drop of poison).
- Medicine: Augentropfen (eye drops), Nasentropfen (nose drops), Hustentropfen (cough drops) - often used in plural referring to the dosage form.
- Beverages: Often used diminutively or for a small amount: "ein guter Tropfen" (a good drop, meaning good wine/liquor), "noch einen Tropfen Kaffee?" (another drop of coffee?).
- Figuratively: "Der Tropfen, der das Fass zum Überlaufen bringt" (the drop that makes the barrel overflow, equivalent to 'the last straw'); "ein Tropfen auf den heißen Stein" (a drop on a hot stone, meaning 'a drop in the ocean' - an action too insignificant to have an effect).
It always describes a very small, distinct amount of liquid.
How to Remember 'der Tropfen'
Article Mnemonic 💡
Think of DER Rainmaker, a strong male figure, who makes the drops fall. He is masculine, and so is 'der Tropfen'.
Meaning Mnemonic 💧
The sound 'tropf, tropf' (from the verb 'tropfen' - to drip) announces der Tropfen. The sound signals the arrival of the little liquid ball.
Similar and Different: Synonyms & Antonyms for Tropfen
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Perle (f.): (pearl) - Often used for dewdrops or sweat drops, emphasizing the round, shiny shape.
- Träne (f.): (tear) - Specifically for liquid from the eye.
- Schuss (m.): (shot) - Colloquial for a small amount of liquid, e.g., ein Schuss Milch (a dash of milk).
- Spritzer (m.): (splash, squirt) - A small, splashed amount of liquid.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)
Similar words: The verb "tropfen" means 'to drip'. Don't confuse with 'die Trophäe' (the trophy).
A Little Drop of Humor 😂
DE: Warum nehmen Skelette keine Augentropfen?
Weil sie keinen Tropfen davon in die Augen bekommen würden - sie haben ja keine!
EN: Why don't skeletons use eye drops?
Because they wouldn't get a drop in their eyes - they don't have any!
Poem about the Drop 💧
DE:
Ein kleiner Tropfen, klar und rein,
fällt sacht vom Blatt im Sonnenschein.
Er glitzert kurz, ein Augenblick,
kehrt dann zur Erde still zurück.
Ob Regen, Tau, ob Medizin,
ein kleiner Tropfen steckt oft drin.
EN:
A little drop, so clear and pure,
Falls gently from a leaf, demure.
It briefly gleams, a moment's sight,
Returns to earth, devoid of light.
Be it rain, or dew, or medicine,
A tiny drop is often in.
Guess What: What is it?
DE:
Ich bin klein und oft rund,
falle vom Himmel auf den Grund.
Manchmal heile ich dein Aug',
manchmal lösch' ich Durstes Hauch.
Bring' ich das Fass zum Überlauf,
hört der Spaß dann meistens auf.
Was bin ich?
Antwort: Der Tropfen
EN:
I am small and often round,
Falling from the sky to ground.
Sometimes I heal your eye so sore,
Sometimes quench your thirst once more.
If I make the barrel overflow,
The fun will usually cease to flow.
What am I?
Answer: Der Tropfen (The drop)
Trivia About 'der Tropfen' 🤓
- Etymology: The word 'Tropfen' comes from the Old High German 'tropho' and the verb 'triofan' (to drip, trickle).
- Word formations: There are many compound words like Regentropfen (raindrop), Tautropfen (dewdrop), Augentropfen (eye drop), Bluttropfen (blood drop), Wassertropfen (water drop), Schweißtropfen (sweat drop).
- Unit of measure: Historically, 'Tropfen' was an imprecise pharmaceutical unit. Today, dosing is done more accurately in milliliters, but the dosage form 'Tropfen' (drops) still exists.
- Shape: Contrary to popular depiction, a falling raindrop isn't perfectly 'teardrop-shaped'. Smaller drops are nearly spherical, while larger ones become flattened at the bottom due to air resistance.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Tropfen?
The German word Tropfen is masculine. The correct article is der Tropfen. The plural is die Tropfen.