die  Kante

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈkantə/

📐 What does "die Kante" mean?

Die Kante (noun, feminine) primarily refers to the outer edge, the borderline, or the sharp transition between two surfaces of an object.

• Physical Edge: The edge of a table (Tischkante), a step (Treppenkante), a piece of paper, or another object. Example: "Vorsicht, stoß dich nicht an der scharfen Kante des Schranks!" (Careful, don't bump into the sharp edge of the cupboard!)
• Geometric Edge: In geometry, the line where two faces of a solid (e.g., a cube) meet.
• Colloquial Meanings:
  • Hohe Kante: Savings, nest egg. Example: "Er hat etwas auf der hohen Kante für schlechte Zeiten." (He has something put aside on the 'high edge' for bad times.) 💰
  • Sich die Kante geben: To get heavily drunk. Example: "Am Wochenende haben sie sich wieder ordentlich die Kante gegeben." (They really got wasted again ('gave themselves the edge') on the weekend.) 🍻
  • Auf Kante genäht (sein): Something is calculated very tightly (often financially). Example: "Das Budget für das Projekt ist auf Kante genäht." (The budget for the project is 'sewn on edge' / very tight.)
  • Klare Kante zeigen: To take a clear stance, to speak one's mind unequivocally. Example: "In der Debatte zeigte die Politikerin klare Kante." (In the debate, the politician showed a 'clear edge' / took a clear stance.)

🚨 It's important to consider the context to understand the correct meaning, especially with colloquial phrases.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "die Kante" in Detail

The word "Kante" is a feminine noun. The article is die.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die Kante des Buches ist leicht beschädigt. (The edge of the book is slightly damaged.)
2. Die Schärfe der Kante überraschte ihn. (The sharpness of the edge surprised him.)
3. Er saß auf der Kante des Bettes. (He sat on the edge of the bed.)
4. Ich sehe die scharfe Kante. (I see the sharp edge.)
5. Die Kanten des Würfels sind alle gleich lang. (The edges of the cube are all the same length.)
6. Die Bearbeitung der Kanten erfordert Präzision. (Processing the edges requires precision.)
7. Sie schliff an den rauen Kanten. (She sanded the rough edges.)
8. Wir müssen alle Kanten abrunden. (We need to round off all the edges.)

💡 How to Use "Kante"?

The usage of "Kante" depends heavily on the context:

• Literally: Describes physical edges or borders. Very common in everyday life (Tischkante - table edge, Bordsteinkante - curb) and in technical or geometric descriptions.
• Figuratively/Colloquially: Here, there are fixed idioms:
  • "auf der hohen Kante haben" (to have savings, lit. 'to have on the high edge')
  • "sich die Kante geben" (to get drunk, lit. 'to give oneself the edge')
  • "auf Kante genäht sein" (to be calculated very tightly, lit. 'sewn on edge')
  • "jemandem die Kante geben" (to fire someone, kick someone out - rather outdated or regional, lit. 'to give someone the edge')
  • "klare Kante zeigen" (to take a clear stance, lit. 'to show clear edge')

Distinction from similar words:

• Ecke (corner): Refers to the point where edges (or lines/surfaces) meet. A Kante is a line, an Ecke is a point.
• Rand (edge, border, rim): Often synonymous with Kante, but Rand can also refer to a broader area around something (e.g., Stadtrand - outskirts of a city). Kante is often sharper, more defined.
• Grenze (border, boundary): Mostly used for larger, often abstract or geographical dividing lines (Landesgrenze - country border), whereas Kante is more common for objects.

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Kante"

Article Mnemonic (die): Most German nouns ending in -e are feminine, including die Kante. Think of the English word 'dainty' - a dainty edge might be feminine, helping you remember 'die' Kante.

Meaning Mnemonic (Edge/Drunk/Savings): Imagine you CAN'T (sounds like Kante) balance on the sharp EDGE of a table because you drank too much ('sich die Kante geben'). But luckily, you CAN'T spend all your money because you have savings 'auf der hohen Kante'. This links the edge meaning with the idioms.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words (Beware of Confusion!)

• Kante (as past participle - gekantet): The past participle of the verb kanten (to edge something, to tilt something). Example: Das Blech wurde gekantet. (The sheet metal was edged/bent.)
• Kante (Surname): A German last name.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Lehrer: "Wer kann mir einen Satz mit 'hohe Kante' bilden?"
Meldet sich Fritzchen: "Wenn Bergsteiger oben ankommen, sehen sie eine hohe Kante!"

Translation:
The teacher asks: "Who can make a sentence with 'hohe Kante' (savings)?"
Little Fritz says: "When mountaineers reach the top, they see a high edge (hohe Kante)!"

📜 Poem about the Kante

Am Tisch, da ist die Kante klar,
Stößt man sich an, ist's schmerzhaft, wahr.
Manch einer legt Geld auf die hohe,
Und gibt sich am Abend die volle... Kante.

Sei's scharf, sei's rund, sie grenzt das Ding,
Die Kante, ja, sie hat 'nen Swing.
Im Leben zeigt man klare Kante dann,
Wenn man zu seiner Meinung steht als Mann (oder Frau)!

Translation:
At the table, the edge is clear,
If you bump it, it hurts, that's true, dear.
Some put money on the 'high edge' (save),
And in the evening, get completely... wasted ('give themselves the edge').

Be it sharp, be it round, it defines the thing,
The edge, yes, it has a swing.
In life, you show a 'clear edge' then,
When you stand by your opinion like a real man (or woman)!

❓ Riddle

Ich bin der Rand, doch nicht der Saum,
An mir endet oft ein Raum.
Manch Sparer legt auf mich was drauf,
Und Trinker geben sich an mir zuhauf.

Wer bin ich?
... Die Kante

Translation:
I am the edge, but not the hem,
Often a space ends at me then.
Some savers put something on me high,
And drinkers give themselves to me nearby.

Who am I?
... The Kante (edge)

🧩 Other Interesting Facts

Word Compounds: "Kante" is part of many compound words, which are often very descriptive:

• Bordsteinkante: Curb (edge of the sidewalk).
• Tischkante: Table edge.
• Dachkante: Roof edge.
• Schnittkante: Cutting edge (the edge created by cutting).
• Vorderkante / Hinterkante: Leading edge / Trailing edge.

Origin: The word "Kante" comes from Middle Low German/Middle Dutch "kante", meaning "side, edge," and is likely related to the Latin "canthus" (wheel rim, corner of the eye).