die
Eizelle
🥚 What exactly is an Eizelle?
The German word die Eizelle (Latin Ovum) refers to the female germ cell in organisms with sexual reproduction (oogamy). It's a cell that fuses with a male germ cell (das Spermium - sperm) during fertilization to form a zygote (die Zygote), from which a new organism can develop.
In German, the word Eizelle is always feminine, so the article is always die.
- Biological meaning: Carrier of the maternal genetic information.
- Context: Primarily used in biological, medical, and scientific contexts.
🚨 There are no other articles or meanings for this word. The assignment is clear.
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 in Detail: Die Eizelle
The noun „Eizelle“ is feminine. Therefore, the correct article is always „die“.
Declension of die Eizelle (The Egg Cell)
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Eizelle |
| Genitive | der | Eizelle |
| Dative | der | Eizelle |
| Accusative | die | Eizelle |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Eizellen |
| Genitive | der | Eizellen |
| Dative | den | Eizellen |
| Accusative | die | Eizellen |
💡 Application Examples
- Die Eizelle ist die größte menschliche Zelle.
(The egg cell is the largest human cell.) - Die Befruchtung der Eizelle findet normalerweise im Eileiter statt.
(The fertilization of the egg cell normally takes place in the fallopian tube.) - Nach der Befruchtung beginnt sich die Eizelle zu teilen.
(After fertilization, the egg cell begins to divide.) - Forscher untersuchen die Entwicklung von Eizellen im Labor.
(Researchers study the development of egg cells in the lab.)
🌐 How to Use "die Eizelle"?
The term „Eizelle“ is primarily used in specific technical contexts:
- Biology & Medicine: In texts about Fortpflanzung (reproduction), Genetik (genetics), Embryologie (embryology), and Gynäkologie (gynecology).
- Science & Research: During discussions about Fruchtbarkeit (fertility), künstliche Befruchtung (in vitro fertilization, IVF), or Stammzellforschung (stem cell research).
- Education: In biology class (Biologieunterricht) to explain human or animal reproduction.
In general conversation (allgemeiner Sprachgebrauch), the word is less common, except when discussing topics like pregnancy or fertility treatments.
Comparison:
🧠 How to Remember "die Eizelle"
For the article: Think of "die Zelle" (the cell) – many biological terms ending in '-e' indicating a unit are feminine in German. Since die Eizelle is a special type of cell, it remains feminine: die Eizelle. Or think of die Henne (the hen) which lays das Ei (the egg) - associate the female source with the female germ cell.
For the meaning: The word is composed of Ei (egg) and Zelle (cell). It's the 'egg cell' that represents the beginning of new life.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Eizelle
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Oozyte / Oocyte: Technical term from biology, often used synonymously, but strictly speaking refers to precursor stages of the mature egg cell.
- Weibliche Keimzelle: A descriptive alternative (female germ cell).
- Ovum: Latin technical term, used internationally.
Antonyms (Opposite in the context of reproduction):
- Samenzelle: The male germ cell (sperm cell).
- Spermium: Another term for Samenzelle (sperm).
⚠️ Attention: Do not confuse with "das Ei" in the sense of a chicken egg or bird egg!
😄 A Little Joke
Treffen sich zwei Eizellen im Eileiter. Sagt die eine: „Puh, ganz schön was los hier heute!“ Sagt die andere: „Ja, anscheinend ist heute großer Andrang auf die freien Plätze!“ 😉
Translation: Two egg cells meet in the fallopian tube. One says, "Phew, it's really busy here today!" The other says, "Yeah, apparently there's a big rush for the available spots today!" 😉
📜 The Egg Cell in Verse
Im Körper tief verborgen, rund und klein,
Wartet die Eizelle, um Leben zu sein.
Ein winz'ger Anfang, voll Potenzial,
Trägt Zukunft in sich, schicksalhaft und real.
Kommt dann der Partner, schnell herbeigeschwommen,
Ist neues Leben endlich angekommen.
Translation:
Hidden deep inside the body, round and small,
Waits the egg cell, to be life for all.
A tiny start, full of potential's might,
Carries future within, fateful and real and bright.
Then comes the partner, swimming swiftly near,
New life has finally arrived, it's clear.
❓ Little Riddle
Ich bin eine Zelle, doch kein Gefängnisraum.
Ich trage die Hälfte für den Lebenstraum.
Ich warte geduldig, bis mein Partner erscheint,
Damit aus uns beiden dann Neues vereint.
Was bin ich?
Riddle in English:
I am a cell, but not a prison space.
I carry half for the dream of life's embrace.
I wait patiently until my partner appears,
So that from us both, something new steers.
What am I?
Solution: die Eizelle (the egg cell)
💡 Additional Information
Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung):
The word "Eizelle" is a compound noun, formed from:
- Ei: Refers here to the origin or germ function, similar to an egg.
- Zelle: The basic biological building block of life (cell).
Trivia:
- The human egg cell, with a diameter of about 0.11 to 0.14 millimeters, is one of the largest cells in the human body and just barely visible to the naked eye. (Die menschliche Eizelle ist mit etwa 0,11 bis 0,14 Millimetern Durchmesser eine der größten Zellen im menschlichen Körper und gerade noch mit bloßem Auge sichtbar.)
- In contrast, the sperm cell is the smallest human cell. (Im Gegensatz dazu ist das Spermium die kleinste menschliche Zelle.)
Summary: is it der, die or das Eizelle?
The word "Eizelle" refers to the female germ cell (ovum/egg cell) and is always feminine in German. Therefore, the correct article is definitively die Eizelle.