die
Hüfte
🦴 What exactly is die Hüfte?
Die Hüfte (noun, feminine) refers to the lateral area of the human trunk between the lowest rib cage and the thigh bone. It includes the hip joint (das Hüftgelenk) and the surrounding muscles and bone structures.
There is only this one article (die) for this word, so there's no risk of confusion regarding meaning based on the article. 💃 It means 'hip'.
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: Die Hüfte in Detail
The noun "Hüfte" is feminine. Here is the declension (die Deklination):
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Hüfte |
| Accusative | die | Hüfte |
| Dative | der | Hüfte |
| Genitive | der | Hüfte |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Hüften |
| Accusative | die | Hüften |
| Dative | den | Hüften |
| Genitive | der | Hüften |
Example Sentences
- Sie hat Schmerzen in der rechten Hüfte. (She has pain in her right hip.)
- Der Tänzer bewegte seine Hüften rhythmisch zur Musik. (The dancer moved his hips rhythmically to the music.)
- Das Baby saß auf der Hüfte seiner Mutter. (The baby sat on its mother's hip.)
- Die Form der Hüften kann je nach Körperbau variieren. (The shape of the hips can vary depending on body type.)
🚶♀️ How to use "Hüfte"?
"Hüfte" is mainly used in anatomical and medical contexts to describe the specific body part.
- Anatomy/Medicine: Talking about the hip joint (das Hüftgelenk), hip pain (Hüftschmerzen), hip surgery (Hüft-OP), or generally describing this area of the body.
- Everyday Language: Describing movements (e.g., in dancing: die Hüften schwingen - to swing one's hips), clothing that sits on the hips (Hüfthose - low-rise pants), or carrying someone (ein Kind auf der Hüfte tragen - to carry a child on one's hip).
- Fashion: In the context of cuts and fits of clothing (e.g., hüftbetont - hip-emphasizing).
⚠️ Don't confuse "Hüfte" with "Becken" (das Becken - pelvis). Although anatomically closely related, das Becken refers to the entire bony structure, while die Hüfte typically refers to the outer, lateral area including soft tissues.
🧠 Mnemonics for Hüfte
- Article Mnemonic: Many feminine body parts in German end in -e (die Nase, die Schulter, die Wade...). Imagine a woman (feminine) elegantly swinging her hip (Hüfte) – it ends in -e, so it's die Hüfte.
- Meaning Mnemonic: Think of doing the Hula-Hoop – it swings around your hips. The 'H' helps you remember Hüfte. Or, it sounds a bit like 'hoofed it' - you use your legs connected to your hips to 'hoof it' (walk/run).
🔁 Similar and Opposing Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Beckenbereich (seitlich) (more descriptive: pelvic area (lateral))
- Hüftregion (more technical: hip region)
Note: There isn't a perfect single synonym in common usage.
Similar but Different Words
😂 A Little Hip Joke
DE: Warum tragen Skelette keine Hüfthosen?
Weil sie nicht die nötigen Hüften dafür haben – nur die Knochen!
EN: Why don't skeletons wear low-rise pants (Hüfthosen)?
Because they don't have the hips for it – just the bones!
✍️ Poem about the Hip
DE:
Die Hüfte, stark und doch galant,
Verbindet Rumpf mit Beines Land.
Sie trägt uns durch das Leben weit,
Mal schmerzt sie, mal schwingt sie befreit.
Im Tanz zeigt sie Rhythmus und Schwung,
Ein wichtiger Teil, für Alt und Jung.
EN:
The hip, so strong and yet gallant,
Connects the trunk with leg's land.
It carries us through life so wide,
Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it glides.
In dance, it shows rhythm and swing,
An vital part, the joy it brings.
❓ Riddle Time
DE:
Ich bin ein Teil von deinem Schwung,
Verbinde Bauch und Beinensprung.
Manchmal trag' ich ein Kind ganz nah,
Im Plural schwingen wir, wunderbar!
Was bin ich?
... Die Hüfte (oder die Hüften)
EN:
I'm part of your energetic swing,
Connecting torso and the leap legs bring.
Sometimes I carry a child held near,
In plural, we sway, wonderfully clear!
What am I?
... The hip (or the hips) (Die Hüfte / Die Hüften)
💡 More Interesting Facts
- Etymology: The word "Hüfte" comes from the Old High German word "huf" (plural "huffi"), which had a similar meaning.
- Compound Words: There are many German words formed with "Hüfte", e.g.:
- das Hüftgelenk (hip joint)
- der Hüftspeck (literally 'hip bacon', meaning love handles / fat around the hips)
- die Hüftprothese (hip prosthesis)
- der Hüftschwung (hip swing/sway)
- die Hüfthose (low-rise pants/trousers, hipsters)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Hüfte?
The word "Hüfte" (hip) is feminine, so the correct article is always die. There is only this one form: die Hüfte / die Hüften (the hip / the hips).