die  Kammer

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈkamɐ/

🚪 What does 'die Kammer' mean?

The word die Kammer (feminine) has several meanings in German:

• Small Room: Often a side room in an apartment, e.g., a Abstellkammer (storage room), Speisekammer (pantry), or Schlafkammer (bedchamber). Historically, it was often the only heatable room. Example: “Die alte Truhe steht in der Kammer.” (The old chest is in the chamber/small room.)
• Cavity (Technical/Biological): An enclosed cavity in a technical device or an organ. Example: “Das Herz hat vier Kammern (Herzkammern).” (The heart has four chambers.)
• Institution/Board/Chamber: A professional representative body or a part of a parliament. Example: “Er ist Mitglied der Ärztekammer.” (He is a member of the Medical Association/Chamber.) or “Die zweite Kammer des Parlaments tagt heute.” (The second chamber of parliament is meeting today.)

⚠️ Pay attention to the context to understand the correct meaning!

📐 Grammar Deep Dive: Declining 'die Kammer'

Die Kammer is a feminine noun. Here are the declension tables:

Example Sentences

1. Die kleine Kammer neben der Küche dient als Speisekammer. (The small chamber next to the kitchen serves as a pantry.)
2. Die Funktion der Kammer ist es, Vorräte zu lagern. (The function of the chamber is to store supplies.)
3. In der Kammer ist es meist kühl. (It is usually cool in the chamber.)
4. Wir müssen die Kammer aufräumen. (We have to tidy up the chamber.)
5. Die alten Häuser hatten oft mehrere kleine Kammern. (The old houses often had several small chambers.)
6. Die Struktur der Kammern im Herzen ist komplex. (The structure of the chambers in the heart is complex.)
7. Die Entscheidungen werden in den Kammern getroffen. (The decisions are made in the chambers/committees.)
8. Das Gesetz betrifft beide Kammern des Parlaments. (The law affects both chambers of parliament.)

🏛️ Context is Key: Using 'die Kammer'

The use of die Kammer depends heavily on the context:

• In the Household: When talking about a Kammer, it usually means a small, simple room, often without a window or heating (Abstellkammer - storage room, Besenkammer - broom closet). It often sounds a bit more old-fashioned than Zimmer. A Zimmer is generally a living room or bedroom.
• In Biology/Technology: Here, Kammer refers to a defined cavity (Herzkammer - heart chamber, Luftkammer - air chamber, Brennkammer - combustion chamber).
• In Political/Legal/Economic Fields: Here, Kammer stands for institutions like the Industrie- und Handelskammer (IHK) (Chamber of Industry and Commerce), Handwerkskammer (Chamber of Crafts), Ärztekammer (Medical Association), Anwaltskammer (Bar Association), or parts of parliaments (e.g., in a bicameral system).

There's little risk of confusion, as the context is usually clear. 'Zimmer' is the more general term for a room in a building.

🧠 Memory Hooks for 'die Kammer'

Article Mnemonic: Think of die Tür (the door) leading to the Kammer. Many barriers or entrances like doors are feminine in German, helping you remember die Kammer.

Meaning Mnemonic: A Kammer can be many things: small like a little room (Kämmerchen), vital like a heart chamber (Herzkammer), or decisive like a council chamber (Ratskammer). It always encloses something – space, blood, or decisions. Think of it as a 'chamber' holding something important.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Kammer

Similar but Different Words

• Der Kämmerer: A masculine noun for a person, historically often a chamberlain or treasurer at court, or still today in municipalities. Not to be confused with die Kammer.
• Das Zimmer: The general term for a room in a building, usually larger and more comfortable than a Kammer.

😂 A Little Joke about die Kammer

Auf Deutsch: Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: „Können Sie mit einem Computer umgehen?“ Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: „Ja, aber aus der Kammer kriege ich ihn nicht mehr raus!“

In English: The boss asks the new employee: “Can you handle a computer?” The employee replies: “Yes, but I can’t get it out of the chamber/small room anymore!” (A pun on 'umgehen mit' meaning 'to handle' or 'to go around')

📜 A Poem about die Kammer

Auf Deutsch:
Die Kammer klein, oft dunkel, still,
Verborgen hält, was man nicht sehen will.
Doch auch im Herzen, stark und rein,
schlägt eine Kammer, ist nicht allein.
Und wo Gesetz und Recht man spricht,
hat auch die Kammer ihr Gewicht.

In English:
The chamber small, often dark and still,
Holds hidden what one doesn't want revealed at will.
But also in the heart, strong and pure,
beats a chamber, it's not alone, for sure.
And where law and justice have their say,
the chamber also holds its sway.

❓ Riddle Me This: What is 'die Kammer'?

Auf Deutsch:
Ich kann ein kleiner Raum sein, kaum Licht herein.
Ich kann im Herzen wohnen, oder ein Gremium sein.
Manchmal treffe ich Entscheidungen, wichtig und schwer.
Sag, wer bin ich, rate sehr!

In English:
I can be a small room, with hardly any light.
I can reside in the heart, or be a committee with might.
Sometimes I make decisions, important and grave.
Tell me, who am I? Be brave!

Solution: die Kammer

ℹ️ More about 'die Kammer'

• Etymology: The word comes from the Latin camera or camara, which originally meant 'vault' or 'vaulted room'. It entered German via the Greek kamára (vault).
• Compound Words: There are many compound words with „Kammer“, reflecting its various meanings: Schatzkammer (treasure chamber), Rumpelkammer (junk room), Herzkammer (heart chamber), Vorkammer (antechamber), Brennkammer (combustion chamber), Gaskammer (gas chamber), Stimmkammer (vocal chamber), Handelskammer (Chamber of Commerce), Anwaltskammer (Bar Association), Ratskammer (council chamber), Parlamentskammer (parliamentary chamber).
• Dunkelkammer: A special room for developing photos (darkroom), which must be completely light-proof.