die
Glocke
🔔 What does 'die Glocke' mean?
The German word die Glocke primarily refers to a cup-shaped, usually metal instrument that produces a sound when struck. It has several meanings:
- Church bell: A large bell in a church tower, used to call people to service or indicate the time. (Kirchenglocke)
- Doorbell: A smaller bell or electric device at a door. (Türklingel/Hausglocke - nowadays often just Klingel for electric ones).
- Alarm bell: Signals danger (e.g., fire alarm - Alarmglocke).
- Handbell: A small bell held in the hand (e.g., formerly used in schools - Handglocke).
- Cheese cover/dome: A bell-shaped cover, usually glass or plastic, to keep cheese fresh. (Käseglocke)
- Diving bell: An open-bottomed chamber allowing divers to work underwater. (Tauchglocke)
The primary and most common meaning is the sound-producing instrument.
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 of 'die Glocke'
The noun "Glocke" is feminine. The article is die.
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun | (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Glocke | (the bell) |
| Genitive | der | Glocke | (of the bell) |
| Dative | der | Glocke | (to/for the bell) |
| Accusative | die | Glocke | (the bell) |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun | (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Glocken | (the bells) |
| Genitive | der | Glocken | (of the bells) |
| Dative | den | Glocken | (to/for the bells) |
| Accusative | die | Glocken | (the bells) |
📖 Examples
- Nominative: Die Glocke läutet zur Mittagszeit. (The bell rings at noon.)
- Genitive: Der Klang der Glocke ist weithin hörbar. (The sound of the bell can be heard far and wide.)
- Dative: Wir lauschen der Glocke andächtig. (We listen devoutly to the bell.)
- Accusative: Man kann die Glocke schon von Weitem sehen. (You can see the bell from afar.)
- Plural: Zu Weihnachten hört man viele Glocken läuten. (At Christmas, you hear many bells ringing.)
🗣️ How to use 'die Glocke'?
"Die Glocke" is used in various contexts:
- Ecclesiastical context: "Die Glocken von St. Michael rufen zum Gebet." (The bells of St. Michael's call to prayer.) Clearly refers to church bells.
- Time indication: "Wir treffen uns Punkt acht Uhr, wenn die Glocke schlägt." (We'll meet at eight o'clock sharp when the bell strikes.) Refers to the hour strike of a tower clock.
- Signal/Alarm: "Die Alarmglocke schrillte durch das Gebäude." (The alarm bell shrilled through the building.)
- Everyday (household): "Stell den Käse bitte unter die Käseglocke." (Please put the cheese under the cheese cover.)
- Idioms:
- "Etwas an die große Glocke hängen": (lit. 'to hang something on the big bell') To make something public, often something private or unpleasant. Example: "Er wollte seine finanziellen Probleme nicht an die große Glocke hängen." (He didn't want to publicize his financial problems.)
- "Wissen, was die Glocke geschlagen hat": (lit. 'to know what the bell has struck') To know what's up, understand the (often serious) situation. Example: "Als der Chef ihn ins Büro rief, wusste er, was die Glocke geschlagen hat." (When the boss called him into the office, he knew what was up.)
⚠️ Note: A modern electric doorbell is usually just called "Klingel", even though the word "Glocke" is historically related. "Ich habe geklingelt, aber niemand hat aufgemacht." (I rang the bell, but nobody answered.) is more common than using "Glocke" unless it's an actual old mechanical bell.
🧠 Mnemonics
Article Mnemonic
Think of the shape of a bell (die Glocke). Many feminine German nouns end in 'e', so let the 'e' remind you it's 'die Glocke'.
Meaning Mnemonic
A bell makes a sound like "kloc-kloc" or "dong". The German word Glocke sounds a bit like the "kloc-kloc" sound it might make. Imagine the clapper hitting the bell: Klock! Glocke!
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning)
⚠️ Similar, but different words
- Glöckchen: Diminutive form of Glocke, meaning a little bell.
- Klöppel: The clapper inside the bell that strikes it to produce the sound.
😂 A Little Bell Joke
DE: Warum hat die Glocke aufgehört zu läuten?
Sie hatte Läutehemmung!
EN: Why did the bell stop ringing?
It had stage fright! (Pun on 'Läutehemmung' - ringing inhibition/shyness, sounds like 'Leutehemmung' - shyness around people/stage fright)
📜 Poem about the Bell
DE:
Im Turm so hoch, aus Erz gemacht,
Die Glocke überm Städtchen wacht.
Mal ruft sie laut, mal klingt sie fein,
zum Festtag oder nur zum Sein.
Ihr heller Ton durch Lüfte schwebt,
Ein Klang, der Hoffnung neu belebt.
EN:
In tower high, of bronze it's made,
The bell watches o'er town and glade.
Sometimes it calls out loud, sometimes rings low,
For feast days or just life's flow.
Its bright sound through the air does roam,
A chime that brings new hope back home.
❓ Riddle
DE:
Ich hänge oft hoch oben,
werd' für mein Klingen sehr geloben.
Mal ruf' ich zur Kirch', mal zur Stund',
mal deck' ich Käse ab, ganz rund.
Was bin ich?
→ Die Glocke
EN:
I often hang up high,
Praised for my ringing sound nearby.
Sometimes I call to church, or tell the hour,
Sometimes I cover cheese, with all my power (shape).
What am I?
→ The bell (die Glocke)
✨ More Interesting Facts about 'die Glocke'
- Etymology: The word "Glocke" comes from Old High German "glocka" or "clocca", likely onomatopoeic in origin (imitating the sound).
- Famous Work: Friedrich Schiller's ballad "Das Lied von der Glocke" (The Song of the Bell) is one of the most famous German poems, describing the process of bell casting and reflecting on human life.
- Material: Traditionally, bells (Glocken) are cast from bronze (an alloy of copper and tin - Bronze).
- Largest Bell: The largest freely swinging church bell in the world is the St. Peter's Bell ("Dicker Pitter" - Fat Peter) in Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom).
Summary: is it der, die or das Glocke?
The word 'Glocke' is feminine, so the correct article is die Glocke. The plural is die Glocken.