der
Weinkeller
🍷 What exactly is a Weinkeller?
A Weinkeller is a cellar or a specific room used for storing wine. The word is masculine in German, so the article is der: der Weinkeller.
The conditions in a Weinkeller (temperature, humidity, darkness) are often optimal for storing and aging wine over long periods. You can find Weinkeller in private homes as well as in wineries or restaurants.
There's only this one meaning and the article der. No exceptions or traps here! ✅
Article rules for der, die, and das
-er → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. almost all -euer nouns are neutral. 3. There are many -er words, we don't list them all.
🧐 Grammar: Declension of 'der Weinkeller'
The noun "Weinkeller" is masculine (maskulin). Here are the declension tables:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | der | Weinkeller |
| Genitive (Possessive) | des | Weinkellers |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | dem | Weinkeller |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | den | Weinkeller |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Weinkeller |
| Genitive | der | Weinkeller |
| Dative | den | Weinkellern |
| Accusative | die | Weinkeller |
📝 Example Sentences
- Der alte Weinkeller ist kühl und dunkel.
(The old wine cellar is cool and dark.) - Die Tür des Weinkellers klemmt ein wenig.
(The door of the wine cellar is sticking a bit.) - Wir lagern den Rotwein im Weinkeller.
(We store the red wine in the wine cellar.) - Er zeigte uns stolz seinen neuen Weinkeller.
(He proudly showed us his new wine cellar.) - Viele alte Schlösser haben beeindruckende Weinkeller.
(Many old castles have impressive wine cellars - plural.)
🗣️ How 'Weinkeller' is used
The term Weinkeller is used to describe a room specifically intended for storing wine. This can range from a small rack in the basement (Keller) to a large, climate-controlled room.
- In a private home: "Mein Traum ist ein eigener kleiner Weinkeller im Haus." (My dream is my own small wine cellar in the house.)
- In a restaurant: "Der Sommelier holte eine besondere Flasche aus dem Weinkeller." (The sommelier fetched a special bottle from the wine cellar.)
- At a winery: "Die Weinprobe fand im historischen Weinkeller des Gutes statt." (The wine tasting took place in the historic wine cellar of the estate.)
Unlike a general Keller (cellar) or Vorratskeller (storage cellar), Weinkeller explicitly implies the function of wine storage and often the ideal conditions for it.
🧠 Mnemonics to Help Remember
- Remembering the Article (der): Think of the word Keller (cellar) itself, which is masculine: der Keller. Adding Wein (wine) doesn't change the gender. So, der Keller for wine is der Weinkeller.
- Remembering the Meaning: The word is a simple compound: Wein (wine) + Keller (cellar) = A cellar for wine. Very logical! 🍷 + 🧱 = Weinkeller.
↔️ Synonyms & Antonym Concepts
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Weinlager: (Wine storage) - A more neutral term.
- Vorratskeller für Wein: (Storage cellar for wine) - Describes the function but is more cumbersome.
- (rarely:) Vinothek: More often a wine shop or wine bar, but can include a storage area.
Antonym Concepts (Opposites):
- Dachboden: (Attic) - Spatially the opposite of a cellar (up vs. down).
- Heizungskeller: (Boiler room / heating cellar) - A cellar with opposite conditions (warm vs. cool).
- Ladenfläche: (Retail space) - Place of sale, not storage.
⚠️ Caution: A normal Keller is not automatically a Weinkeller. A Weinkeller is specifically for wine.
😄 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Gast den Kellner: "Haben Sie einen guten Tropfen im Keller?" Antwortet der Kellner: "Ja, seit gestern tropft das Dach im Weinkeller!"
English Translation: A guest asks the waiter: "Do you have a good drop (of wine) in the cellar?" The waiter replies: "Yes, since yesterday the roof in the wine cellar has been dripping (tropft)!" (Note: "Tropfen" means "drop", both for liquid and slang for a good wine. The joke plays on the literal meaning of "tropfen" - to drip.)
📜 Poem about the Wine Cellar
German:
Tief unter dem Haus, kühl und alt,
liegt der Schatz, der die Sinne umwallt.
Der Weinkeller ruht, still und fein,
hütet Flaschen voll edelstem Wein.
Hier reift der Tropfen, Jahr um Jahr,
bis er wird köstlich, wunderbar.
Ein Ort der Ruhe, dunkel, sacht,
hat über den Wein stets gut gewacht.
English Translation:
Deep beneath the house, cool and old,
lies the treasure, senses enfold.
The wine cellar rests, quiet and fine,
guarding bottles of the noblest wine.
Here the drop matures, year by year,
until it becomes delicious, held dear.
A place of peace, dark and gentle,
has always watched over the wine, monumental.
🧩 Riddle Time
German:
Ich bin ein Raum, meist tief und kühl,
geborgen vor dem Sonnenspiel.
Ich horte Schätze, flüssig, klar oder rot,
biete edlen Tropfen sicheren Hort.
Mein Name sagt schon, was ich hege,
für Kenner bin ich wichtiger als Wege.
Was bin ich? (Lösung: Der Weinkeller)
English Translation:
I am a room, usually deep and cool,
sheltered from the sun's bright rule.
I hoard treasures, liquid, clear or red,
offer noble drops a safe stead.
My name reveals what I embrace,
for connoisseurs, I'm a vital space.
What am I? (Answer: Der Weinkeller / The wine cellar)
💡 Other Interesting Facts
Word Composition:
The word "Weinkeller" is a compound noun (Kompositum), formed from:
- Wein: (Wine) - The alcoholic beverage made from grapes.
- Keller: (Cellar) - An underground or partially underground room of a building.
Cultural Significance:
A well-stocked Weinkeller is often considered a status symbol or a sign of connoisseurship and a culture of enjoyment in German-speaking countries.
Optimal Conditions:
Ideally, a Weinkeller maintains a constant temperature between 10-14°C (50-57°F), a humidity level of 60-75%, and is dark and free from vibrations.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Weinkeller?
The German word "Weinkeller" is masculine. The correct article is always der Weinkeller (in the nominative singular). The plural is "die Weinkeller". It refers to a cellar used for storing wine.