die  Gans

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɡans/

🦢 What does "die Gans" mean?

The word die Gans (plural: die Gänse) primarily refers to a large waterfowl from the duck family (Entenvögel). Geese are known for their long necks and often loud honking or cackling (Geschnatter).

• Biological meaning: Refers to the animal itself, both in the wild and as livestock (Hausgans).
• Culinary meaning: Often refers to the meat of the goose, especially as a festive roast (e.g., Weihnachtsgans - Christmas goose, Martinsgans - St. Martin's goose).
• Figurative meaning (less common, often derogatory): Can colloquially refer to a simple-minded or naive (usually female) person (e.g., "Du dumme Gans!" - "You silly goose!"). ⚠️ This usage is often condescending.

📝 Grammar: The Declension of "die Gans"

"Gans" is a feminine noun. Here are the declension tables for singular and plural:

Example Sentences

1. Die Gans schnattert laut im Garten. (The goose is cackling loudly in the garden.)
2. Der Braten von der Gans schmeckt köstlich. (The roast goose tastes delicious.)
3. Wir füttern die Gänse am Teich. (We are feeding the geese at the pond.)
4. Die Federn der Gänse sind weich. (The feathers of the geese are soft.)
5. Nenn sie bitte nicht "dumme Gans", das ist unhöflich. (Please don't call her a "silly goose", that's impolite.)

🗣️ How to use "die Gans"?

"Die Gans" is used in various contexts:

• Everyday life: When talking about the animal seen in parks, on farms, or in nature. ("Schau mal, da schwimmen Gänse!" - "Look, there are geese swimming!")
• Cooking/Eating: Especially around Christmas (Weihnachten) or St. Martin's Day (Martinstag, November 11th), the "Martinsgans" or "Weihnachtsgans" is a traditional dish. ("Zu Weihnachten gibt es bei uns immer Gans." - "We always have goose for Christmas.")
• In idioms (Redewendungen):
  • "Eine dumme Gans": A simple-minded, naive person (usually female); similar to "silly goose" but often more negative.
  • "Da lachen ja die Gänse!" (outdated): That's ridiculous / unbelievable!
  • "Die Gans, die goldene Eier legt, schlachtet man nicht.": Don't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.
• In fairy tales and stories: Well-known examples include the Grimm fairy tale "Die goldene Gans" (The Golden Goose) or the story of Nils Holgersson, who travels on a goose.

Compared to an Ente (duck), a Gans is typically larger and has a longer neck.

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Gans"

Article Mnemonic: Many bird names in German are feminine: die Amsel (blackbird), die Drossel (thrush), die Meise (titmouse), die Taube (dove) – and also die Gans. Think of the elegant female bird - *she* is die Gans.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a goose making a sound like "Gaaaahns" - that's Gans. Or think of how a goose *goes on* walks: **G**oes **on s**hore -> Gans.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but different words

• Gaze (die): A fine, transparent fabric (gauze). Sounds similar, but unrelated to the bird.
• Gunst (die): Favour, goodwill.

😂 A Little Joke

German: Fragt eine Gans die andere: "Glaubst du an ein Leben nach Weihnachten?"

English: One goose asks another: "Do you believe in life after Christmas?"

✍️ Poem about the Goose

Die kluge Gans / The Clever Goose

Die Gans, sie watschelt stolz und breit, (The goose, it waddles proud and wide,)
Verkündet schnatternd ihre Zeit. (Announces cackling its own time.)
Ob auf dem Hof, ob wild am See, (Be it on the farm, or wild by the lake,)
Tut's Fliegen manchmal richtig weh? (Does flying sometimes really ache?)

Sie zieht in Formation, ganz schlau, (It flies in formation, very sly,)
Am Himmel, grau in grau. (In the sky, grey in grey.)
Und kommt Sankt Martin oder Christ, (And comes St. Martin or Christmas Day,)
Manch eine auf dem Teller ist. (Many a one is on the plate, they say.)

Doch sag nicht "dumme Gans" zu ihr, (But don't say "silly goose" to her,)
Sie ist ein kluges, wachsames Tier! (She is a clever, watchful creature!)

❓ Riddle Time

Ich hab' Federn, doch kein Kissen,
(I have feathers, but no pillow,)
Einen langen Hals zum Wissen,
(A long neck for knowing, just so,)
Schnattre laut, wenn's mir gefällt,
(I cackle loud when I'm content,)
Zu Sankt Martin werd' ich oft bestellt.
(For St. Martin's, I'm often sent.)

Wer bin ich? / Who am I?

Lösung / Solution: die Gans (the goose)

💡 Other Interesting Facts

• Word Composition: The word "Gans" is a base word. However, it can be part of compound nouns, such as Gänsebraten (roast goose), Gänsefeder (goose feather), Gänsemarsch (single file line, lit. 'goose march'), Gänsehaut (goosebumps), Gänsewein ('goose wine' = water), Gänseblümchen (daisy, lit. 'little goose flower').
• Cultural Significance: Geese play roles in many cultures, from the sacred geese of Rome that warned against attackers to the Martinsgans tradition in German-speaking countries.
• Gänsehaut (Goosebumps): The phenomenon where body hair stands on end (due to cold or fear) is called this because the skin resembles that of a plucked goose.