die  Birne

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈbɪʁnə/

🍐💡 What exactly is a 'Birne'?

The German word die Birne has two primary meanings:

1. The fruit (pear): A sweet, juicy pome fruit, typically with a characteristic shape – bulbous at the bottom and tapering towards the top. It grows on a Birnbaum (pear tree). (Example: Ich esse gern eine reife Birne zum Nachtisch. - I like eating a ripe pear for dessert.)
2. The light bulb: Colloquially used for an incandescent lamp or other electric light source, often called this because of its similar shape to the fruit. (Example: Die Birne in der Lampe ist durchgebrannt. - The light bulb in the lamp has burnt out.)
3. Colloquial for head: Sometimes 'Birne' is used informally for the human head, often slightly derogatorily or humorously. (Example: Pass auf, dass du dir nicht die Birne stößt! - Be careful not to bump your head! / Der hat doch eine weiche Birne! - He's a bit soft in the head!)

🚨 Important: Even with different meanings, the article always remains die.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Birne

The noun 'Birne' is feminine. Here is its declension:

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

💡 Example Sentences

• Nominative: Die Birne fiel vom Baum. (The pear fell from the tree.) / Die Birne leuchtet hell. (The light bulb shines brightly.)
• Genitive: Der Geschmack der Birne ist süß. (The taste of the pear is sweet.) / Die Fassung der Birne ist locker. (The socket of the light bulb is loose.)
• Dative: Ich gebe der Birne noch Zeit zum Reifen. (I give the pear more time to ripen.) / Mit der neuen Birne funktioniert die Lampe wieder. (The lamp works again with the new bulb.)
• Accusative: Er kauft die Birne auf dem Markt. (He buys the pear at the market.) / Wechselst du bitte die Birne aus? (Could you please change the light bulb?)

📝 Usage in Context

The use of 'Birne' strongly depends on the context:

• In the supermarket or garden: Here, it almost always refers to the fruit 🍐. ("Ein Kilo Birnen, bitte." - "A kilo of pears, please.", "Der Birnbaum trägt dieses Jahr viele Birnen." - "The pear tree bears many pears this year.")
• When discussing lighting or electrics: This refers to the light bulb 💡. ("Wir brauchen eine neue 60-Watt-Birne." - "We need a new 60-watt bulb.", "Die Scheinwerferbirne am Auto ist kaputt." - "The headlight bulb on the car is broken.")
• Colloquially (head): Used more in informal conversations, often with a slightly negative or humorous connotation. ("Er hat eins auf die Birne bekommen." - "He got hit on the head.", "Was geht in deiner Birne vor?" - "What's going on in your head?")

⚠️ Confusion is rare as the context is usually clear. The term 'Glühbirne' is more specific for the light bulb, but is often replaced by 'Birne'.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'die Birne'

Article Mnemonic: Think of the typical shape of the fruit: it's rounded, soft, feminine – just like die Birne. Or imagine a fairy (die Fee - feminine) holding a glowing light bulb (Birne 💡).

Meaning Mnemonic: Picture a light bulb shaped exactly like a juicy pear 🍐. A luminous fruit! This connects both main meanings.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar but different words

• Beere (die): A different type of fruit, e.g., Erdbeere (strawberry), Himbeere (raspberry). Don't confuse them!

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt eine Glühbirne die andere: "Warum bist du so traurig?"
Antwortet die andere: "Ach, mein Freund hat mit mir Schluss gemacht. Ich bin völlig fassungslos!"

(One light bulb asks the other: "Why are you so sad?"
The other replies: "Oh, my boyfriend broke up with me. I'm completely socket-less!" [Note: "fassungslos" means aghast/speechless, but contains "Fassung" which means socket/holder])

📜 Poem about the Birne

Die Birne, klug und fein

Ob süße Frucht am Baum so schwer,
Ob Licht sie spendet, hell und hehr,
Die Birne, feminin und klar,
Erleuchtet Gaumen und das Jahr.
Mal hängt sie still, mal leuchtet's licht,
Vergiss den Artikel "die" bloß nicht!

(The Pear/Bulb, clever and fine
Whether sweet fruit on the tree so heavy,
Or light it gives, bright and stately,
The Birne, feminine and clear,
Illuminates the palate and the year.
Sometimes it hangs still, sometimes light shines bright,
Just don't forget the article "die", alright!)

❓ Riddle Time

Ich habe eine Form, mal rundlich, mal lang.
Manchmal häng' ich am Zweig, ein süßer Gesang.
Manchmal im Zimmer spend' ich hellen Schein,
Dreht man mich richtig in die Fassung hinein.

Was bin ich?

(I have a shape, sometimes roundish, sometimes long.
Sometimes I hang on a branch, a sweet song.
Sometimes in the room, I provide bright light,
If you screw me correctly into the socket tight.

What am I?)
... Die Birne (in both meanings: pear and light bulb)

🤓 Trivia & More

• Word Origin: The word 'Birne' comes from the Latin 'pirum'.
• Compound Words: Birnbaum (pear tree - der), Birnensaft (pear juice - der), Glühbirne (light bulb - die), Birnenkompott (pear compote - das), birnenförmig (pear-shaped - adjective).
• Idioms: "Mit Birnen Äpfel vergleichen" (to compare apples and oranges/pears - comparing two incomparable things), "Weiche Birne haben" (to have a soft pear/head - to be not very intelligent), "Eins auf die Birne kriegen" (to get one on the pear/head - to get hit on the head).