die  Hexe

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈhɛksə/

🧙‍♀️ What does 'Hexe' mean?

The German word die Hexe (feminine) means witch. It refers to a woman believed to have magical powers, often found in the context of fairy tales (Märchen), legends (Sagen), or historical superstition. Originally often negatively connotated and associated with harmful magic (Schadenszauber), especially during the witch trials (Hexenverfolgungen), the term can nowadays also be used more neutrally or even playfully (e.g., for Carnival (Karneval), Halloween, or in fantasy literature).

⚠️ In modern colloquial German, 'Hexe' can also be used pejoratively for a quarrelsome, mean, or unpleasant woman. However, this usage is often offensive and should be avoided.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📚 Grammar & Declension: Die Hexe

The noun 'Hexe' is feminine. The article is die. It follows the weak declension pattern for feminine nouns.

Example Sentences

1. Im Märchen fliegt die Hexe auf einem Besen. (In the fairy tale, the witch flies on a broomstick.)
2. Die Kinder verkleideten sich zu Halloween als Hexen und Zauberer. (The children dressed up as witches and wizards for Halloween.)
3. Der Glaube an Hexen war im Mittelalter weit verbreitet. (The belief in witches was widespread in the Middle Ages.)
4. Man erzählte sich Geschichten von der Hexe im dunklen Wald. (People told stories about the witch in the dark forest.)

💬 How is 'Hexe' used?

The term 'Hexe' is used in various contexts:

• Fairy Tales & Folklore: The classic usage, often as an antagonist (e.g., in 'Hansel and Gretel' - 'Hänsel und Gretel').
• History: In connection with the historical witch trials (Hexenverfolgungen).
• Fantasy: In books, films, and games as a character with magical abilities, who doesn't necessarily have to be evil.
• Celebrations: As a costume for occasions like Halloween or Walpurgis Night (Walpurgisnacht).
• Colloquial (pejorative): As an insult for a woman (⚠️ Caution, highly negative and often misogynistic!).
• Metaphorical: Rarely, also for someone very skilled or 'as if by magic' good at something (e.g., "Sie ist eine wahre Hexe am Computer." - "She's a real wizard/whizz at the computer."). This usage is less common, though.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'Hexe'

Article Mnemonic: Many feminine German nouns end in '-e', just like 'die Hexe'. Picture a typical fairy tale witch – she is female, so it's die Hexe.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a witch casting a spell, maybe shouting "Hex! Hex!" like in some German children's stories (e.g., Bibi Blocksberg). The 'Hex' sound in the word links it to magic/witchcraft.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

Words causing confusion

• Nixe: Mermaid/water nymph. A female water spirit, not a witch.
• Elfe/Elbin: Elf (female). Mythical beings, often associated with nature, different kind of magic.

😄 A Little Joke

German:

Frage: Was ist das Lieblingsgetränk einer Hexe?

Antwort: Ein Zaubertrank... oder einfach nur Hexen-Tee!

English Translation:

Question: What is a witch's favorite drink?

Answer: A magic potion... or just witches' brew/tea! ☕ (Hexen-Tee literally means 'witch tea')

📜 Poem about a 'Hexe'

German:

Die Hexe

Auf dem Besen, schnell und sacht,
fliegt die Hexe durch die Nacht.
Mit spitzem Hut und Krummernas',
braut im Kessel irgendwas.
Mal gut, mal böse, wie's grad passt,
im Märchenwald ein Dauergast.

English Translation:

The Witch

On the broomstick, quick and light,
flies the witch through the night.
With pointed hat and crooked nose,
in the cauldron, something she brews.
Sometimes good, sometimes bad, as fits the mood,
in the fairy tale forest, a permanent guest, understood.

❓ Riddle

German:

Ich reite auf 'nem Besenstiel,
koche Tränke, gar nicht viel.
Hab 'nen Kater, schwarz wie Pech,
und wohne tief im Wald, ganz frech.
Manchmal bin ich alt und krumm,
manchmal auch nur märchenhaft dumm.

Wer bin ich?

Lösung: Die Hexe

English Translation:

I ride upon a broomstick handle,
brew potions, quite the scandal.
Have a cat as black as pitch,
and live deep in the woods, quite the snitch.
Sometimes I am old and bent,
sometimes just foolishly in fairy tales sent.

Who am I?

Answer: The Witch (Die Hexe)

💡 Other Interesting Facts

• Etymology: The word 'Hexe' comes from Old High German 'hagzissa' or 'hagazussa', which probably meant 'fence rider' or 'she who sits on the hedge/boundary'. This might suggest a connection to the wilderness or the spirit world.
• Cultural Significance: Figures like the witch from 'Hansel and Gretel', the Brocken witch (associated with Walpurgisnacht), and modern interpretations in books (e.g., Harry Potter series) shape the image of the Hexe.
• Related Terms: Hexenschuss (literally 'witch's shot', means lumbago or sudden severe back pain), Hexenwerk ('witchcraft', used to mean something inexplicable or very complicated), Hexenjagd ('witch hunt', meaning an unjustified persecution of a group).