die  Delle

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈdɛlə/

🎯 What exactly is a 'Delle'?

Die Delle (noun, feminine) refers to a small, usually unwanted depression or indentation in a surface. You often find them on cars after a minor accident, but also on other objects like tin cans, furniture, or even fruit.

Imagine lightly pressing your thumb into a soft apple – the small hollow that forms is a Delle. It's the opposite of a Beule, which is an outward bulge.

⚠️ Attention: Do not confuse 'Delle' (dent) with 'Beule' (bump)!

• Delle: Indentation inwards.
• Beule: Protrusion outwards.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Die Delle

'Delle' is a feminine noun, so the definite article is 'die'. It is declined regularly.

Declension

Example Sentences

1. Nach dem Hagel hatte das Auto viele kleine Dellen im Dach.
   (After the hail, the car had many small dents in the roof.)
2. Ich habe aus Versehen eine Delle in die Kühlschranktür gemacht.
   (I accidentally made a dent in the refrigerator door.)
3. Der Gutachter untersuchte die Tiefe der Delle am Kotflügel.
   (The assessor examined the depth of the dent on the fender.)
4. Mit einer kleinen Delle im Lebenslauf fand er trotzdem schnell einen Job (here more metaphorical).
   (Despite a small dent/blemish in his resume, he quickly found a job.)

🚗 When do you talk about a 'Delle'?

The term die Delle is most commonly used in the context of vehicles, especially after parking bumps or hail damage.

• Cars & Vehicles: Eine Delle im Blech (a dent in the sheet metal), in der Stoßstange (in the bumper), an der Tür (on the door).
• Metal objects: Dellen in tin cans, pots, brass instruments.
• Other surfaces: Eine Delle in a wooden door, in plaster, sometimes in soft material like a pillow (temporary).
• Figurative meaning: Sometimes 'Delle' is used metaphorically for a small setback, a dip (e.g., in statistics, in success). Example: "Die Verkaufszahlen hatten im letzten Quartal eine kleine Delle." (Sales figures had a small dip last quarter.)

Compared to 'Mulde' (hollow, trough), a Delle is usually smaller and often undesirably caused by external impact. A 'Vertiefung' (depression, cavity) is a more general term. 'Eindrückung' (indentation) emphasizes the act of pressing in.

💡 Mnemonics for 'Delle'

Article Mnemonic (die): Imagine you have to die if you make a Delle in the queen's (feminine -> die) precious car.

Meaning Mnemonic (dent): A Delle looks like a little dell (a small valley or hollow) on a surface.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Words

Potential for Confusion:

• Beule: The exact opposite! Pay attention whether it goes inward (Delle) or outward (Beule).

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Mechaniker den Kunden: "Haben Sie die Delle selbst reingemacht?"
Antwortet der Kunde: "Nein, die war schon drin, als ich dagegen gefahren bin!"

Translation: The mechanic asks the customer: "Did you make the dent yourself?"
The customer replies: "No, it was already there when I drove into it!"

✒️ Poem about a 'Delle'

Im Lack, so glatt und rein,
schlug leider etwas ein.
Nun ist da, man sieht es schnelle,
eine kleine, ärgerliche Delle.
Nicht tief, nicht groß, doch sie ist da,
ein Makel, wunderbar?
Nein, ärgerlich, das ist doch klar.

Translation:
In the paint, so smooth and pure,
something unfortunately struck.
Now it's there, you see it quickly,
a small, annoying dent (Delle).
Not deep, not large, yet it is there,
a flaw, wonderful?
No, annoying, that is clear.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich bin kein Loch, doch geh' ich rein.
An Autos bin ich oft nicht fein.
Das Gegenteil von mir wölbt sich vor.
Was bin ich wohl, direkt am Tor (des Autos)?

Translation:
I'm not a hole, but I go inwards.
On cars, I'm often not fine.
My opposite bulges outwards.
What am I, right at the gate (of the car)?

Solution: die Delle (the dent)

ℹ️ More Tidbits

Etymology: The word 'Delle' is related to the Low German word 'delle', meaning 'small valley' or 'depression in the terrain'. There is also a relationship to the word 'Tal' (valley).

Compounds: The word 'Delle' rarely appears in compound nouns. One usually says 'eine Delle im Kotflügel' (a dent in the fender) rather than 'Kotflügeldelle'. An exception is the 'Dellendoktor' or 'Beulendoktor' (dent doctor), a specialist for removing such damage without repainting (Paintless Dent Repair - PDR).