die
Dose
🥫 What does "die Dose" mean?
The German word die Dose primarily has two meanings:
- A container: Usually cylindrical and made of metal (Blech - tinplate), less commonly cardboard or plastic, used for storing food (Konservendose - food can, Getränkedose - beverage can) or other items. Example: eine Dose Erbsen (a can of peas), eine Dose Cola (a can of Coke).
- An electrical socket/outlet: A device in the wall for connecting electrical appliances. Example: Der Stecker passt nicht in die Dose (The plug doesn't fit into the socket). 🔌
Context is crucial to understand the intended meaning.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
📊 Grammar: Declension of "Dose"
"Dose" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Dose |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Dose |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Dose |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Dose |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Dosen |
| Genitive | der | Dosen |
| Dative | den | Dosen |
| Accusative | die | Dosen |
💡 Short Example Sentences
- (Container): Ich öffne die Dose mit dem Thunfisch. (I open the can with the tuna.)
- (Container): Im Regal stehen viele bunte Dosen. (There are many colorful cans on the shelf.)
- (Socket): Das Ladekabel steckt in der Dose. (The charging cable is plugged into the socket.)
- (Socket): Wir brauchen mehr Dosen in diesem Raum. (We need more sockets in this room.)
🗣️ Using "die Dose" in Context
- Context 'Container': Often used in relation to food (Konservendose, Getränkedose, Blechdose - can, tin, beverage can) or smaller storage containers (Tabakdose - tobacco tin, Teedose - tea caddy). Common verbs: öffnen (to open), schließen (to close), leeren (to empty), kaufen (to buy).
- Context 'Socket': Used in technical or everyday language for electrical connections (Wanddose - wall socket, Anschlussdose - junction box). Common verbs: einstecken (to plug in), herausziehen (to unplug), installieren (to install). Note: In some regions (especially Southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland), the word "Steckdose" is more common and specific for electrical outlets; using just "Dose" might occasionally be ambiguous there.
- Idiom: The German equivalent of "to open Pandora's box" is "Die Büchse der Pandora öffnen". "Büchse" is a synonym for "Dose" as a container. A less common idiom is "eine Dose Mitleid haben" (to have a can/bit of pity).
🧠 Mnemonics for "die Dose"
Article Mnemonic: Think of the feminine ending "-e". Many German nouns ending in "-e" are feminine, including die Dose. Picture a woman elegantly opening a Dose (can) or plugging her phone into a Dose (socket).
Meaning Mnemonic: "Dose" sounds a bit like the English word "closed". A container (Dose) is often closed, and a socket (Dose) is like a "closed" access point to electricity that you "open" with a plug.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Words)
- For container: die Büchse (can/box), der Behälter (container), die Konserve (canned food/can), die Blechbüchse (tin can), (regional/colloquial) die Schachtel (box)
- For socket: die Steckdose (socket/outlet - more common/specific), der Anschluss (connection), die Wanddose (wall socket), die Anschlussdose (junction box)
⚠️ Watch out! Potential Confusion
Don't confuse die Dose with die Dosis (noun, feminine): a specific quantity or dose, e.g., of medicine. Example: die tägliche Dosis Vitamin C (the daily dose of vitamin C).
😄 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Elektrikerlehrling seinen Meister: "Ist diese Dose spannungsfrei?" Meister: "Nein, wieso?" Lehrling: "Nur so, weil meine Haare schon wieder so komisch zu Berge stehen!" ⚡️
English: The electrician apprentice asks his master: "Is this socket dead (voltage-free)?" Master: "No, why?" Apprentice: "Oh, just because my hair is standing on end again!" ⚡️
📜 Poem about the Dose
German:
Ob Erbsen, Mais, ob Ananas,
Die Blechfrau hält den Inhalt nass.
Die Dose, rund und oft aus Zinn,
Bewahrt den Schatz, der steckt darin.
Doch auch im Haus, an jeder Wand,
Find'st du sie, reichst ihr die Hand,
Mit einem Stecker, klar und rein,
So fließt der Strom ins Heim hinein.
English Translation:
Be it peas, corn, or pineapple's grace,
The tin woman keeps contents in place.
The can (die Dose), round and often of tin,
Guards the treasure held within.
But also indoors, on every wall,
You find her, ready for your call,
With a plug, so neat and clean,
Power flows into the home scene.
❓ A Little Riddle
German:
Ich habe oft einen Deckel, aber keinen Kopf.
Ich gebe Saft, aber habe keinen Baum.
Ich kann aus Blech sein oder in der Wand wohnen.
Was bin ich?
English:
I often have a lid, but no head.
I give juice, but have no tree.
I can be made of tin or live in the wall.
What am I?
Lösung / Answer: die Dose (the can / the socket)
✨ More about Die Dose
- Word Origin (Wortherkunft): The word "Dose" comes from Middle High German "dose". Its exact origin is unclear but possibly related to an Old High German word for "container" or "box".
- Compounds (Zusammensetzungen): There are many compound words specifying the meaning: Konservendose (food can), Getränkedose (beverage can), Bierdose (beer can), Coladose (coke can), Farbdose (paint tin), Tabakdose (tobacco tin), Teedose (tea caddy), Keksdose (cookie jar/tin) (as containers) and Steckdose (socket), Wanddose (wall socket), Herdanschlussdose (cooker connection box), Netzwerkdose (network socket), Antennendose (antenna socket) (as connections).
- Material: While food cans are mostly made of tinplate or aluminum, electrical sockets are typically made of plastic with metal contacts.
Summary: is it der, die or das Dose?
The German word "Dose" is feminine. The correct article is always "die": die Dose (in singular) and die Dosen (in plural). It primarily refers to a container (like a can or tin) or an electrical socket/outlet.