die  Garderobe

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɡaʁdəˈʁoːbə/

🧥 What Exactly is a Garderobe?

The German word die Garderobe has several meanings:

• Cloakroom / Coat Rack / Entryway Area: The most common use refers to the place or piece of furniture (e.g., a stand or hook rail) in the entrance area of an apartment, house, or public building (restaurant, theatre, museum) where coats, jackets, scarves, and hats are left. Sometimes the entire room is called this (die Garderobe = the room where you check coats).
• Wardrobe (Collection of Clothes): It can also refer to a person's entire collection of clothes, their clothing inventory, or their outfit for a specific occasion. Example: "Sie hat eine sehr elegante Garderobe." (She has a very elegant wardrobe.)
• Dressing Room (Theatre/Film): In the context of theatre or film, die Garderobe is the room where actors apply makeup and change costumes.

🚨 Important: Although it can be a piece of furniture, it's not the same as a Kleiderschrank (wardrobe closet), which is usually in the bedroom and used for storing all types of clothing.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar: Die Garderobe in Detail

The noun Garderobe is feminine. Therefore, the article is always die.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Häng bitte deinen Mantel an die Garderobe.
   (Please hang your coat on the coat rack.)
2. Im Theater gab es eine bewachte Garderobe für die Mäntel der Besucher.
   (In the theatre, there was an attended cloakroom for the visitors' coats.)
3. Für den Ball erneuerte sie ihre gesamte Garderobe.
   (She updated her entire wardrobe for the ball.)
4. Der Schauspieler saß nervös in seiner Garderobe.
   (The actor sat nervously in his dressing room.)

💡 How to Use "Garderobe"?

The use of die Garderobe heavily depends on the context:

• At Home: Usually the area right inside the front door with hooks, a stand, or a small cabinet for jackets and shoes.
• Public Places: Often a separate room or counter where you can leave clothing for a fee (Garderobengebühr) or for free (e.g., in theatres, museums, clubs). A Garderobenfrau (cloakroom attendant - female) or Garderobenmann (cloakroom attendant - male) often works there.
• Fashion: When talking about a person's clothing, Garderobe refers to their style or entire collection. People talk about Sommergarderobe (summer wardrobe) or Wintergarderobe (winter wardrobe).
• Theatre/Film: Refers to the performers' dressing and preparation room.

Distinction:

• Kleiderschrank: A closed piece of furniture, usually in the bedroom or dressing room, for storing all clothes.
• Garderobe: Often open (hooks, stand) or a small cabinet in the entrance area, primarily for outerwear (jackets, coats) that you put on/take off when entering/leaving the house. Or the other meanings (clothing collection, theatre room).

🧠 Mnemonics for Garderobe

Article Mnemonic (die): Imagine dee elegant lady hanging her expensive robe on dee Garde-robe. The word ends in '-e', which is often (but not always!) a sign of feminine nouns in German.

Meaning Mnemonic: Think of a royal guard (Garde) protecting (garder) your valuable robes (Robe = clothes) – either at the door (cloakroom), in your entire collection (wardrobe), or backstage (theatre dressing room).

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but different words:

• Kleiderschrank: As explained above, primarily for storage in the bedroom.
• Kommode: Chest of drawers, usually for folded laundry.

😂 A Little Joke

Ein Gast im Restaurant fragt den Kellner: "Wo ist denn bitte die Garderobe?"
Antwortet der Kellner: "Gleich neben der Essensausgabe. Aber keine Sorge, wir verwechseln die Jacken nie mit den Schnitzeln!"

--- Translation ---

A guest in a restaurant asks the waiter: "Where is the cloakroom, please?"
The waiter replies: "Right next to the food counter. But don't worry, we never mix up the jackets with the schnitzels!"

📜 Poem about the Garderobe

Die Garderobe, still und stumm,
nimmt Jacken auf, dreht sich nicht um.
Ob nass vom Regen, kalt vom Wind,
hier jedes Kleidungsstück Schutz find'.
Im Theater, still und fein,
lässt Künstler sie bereit dort sein.
Ein Ort für Hülle, Stoff und Zier,
die Garderobe, dank sei ihr.

--- Translation ---

The Garderobe, silent and mute,
takes jackets in, doesn't turn about.
Whether wet from rain, cold from wind,
here every garment shelter finds within.
In theatre, quiet and fine,
it lets artists be ready on time.
A place for cover, fabric, grace,
the Garderobe, thank you for this space.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich steh' im Flur, mal schlicht, mal schön,
An mir kannst du die Jacken seh'n.
Im Theater bin ich auch zu Haus,
Mal dient' ich Stars zum Kleider-Tausch.
Ich bin die Sammlung deiner Pracht,
An Kleidung, die dir Freude macht.

Wer bin ich?

--- Translation & Clues ---

I stand in the hall, sometimes plain, sometimes grand,
On me, you can see jackets close at hand.
In the theatre, I am also found,
Sometimes serving stars for costume rounds.
I am the collection of your splendor bright,
Of clothing that brings you delight.

What am I?
(Solution: die Garderobe)

Tidbits for the Curious

Word Origin (Etymology): The word Garderobe comes from French. It is composed of garder (to guard, to keep) and robe (robe, dress). So, originally, it was a place for the safekeeping of garments.

Interesting Fact: In some contexts, especially historically, Garderobe could also refer to a toilet (similar to 'cloakroom' in British English). However, this meaning is uncommon in modern German.

Personnel: The person working at a public cloakroom is called die Garderobiere / der Garderobier or more commonly die Garderobenfrau / der Garderobenmann (cloakroom attendant).