die  Kate

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈkaːtə/

🏠 What exactly is a Kate?

Die Kate (noun, feminine) refers to a small, simple house or cottage, often with only one storey and traditionally covered with a thatched roof (Stroh- oder Reetdach). Katen were typical dwellings for poorer people in the countryside, especially in Northern Germany.

They are often found in rural areas or in historic village centres. The term can also be used slightly pejoratively for a very modest or dilapidated small house.

⚠️ There are no other articles for "Kate" in this meaning. It is always die Kate.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Kate

The noun "Kate" is feminine. Here is the declension:

📝 Example Sentences

• Die alte Kate am Deich gehört meinen Großeltern. (The old cottage by the dike belongs to my grandparents.)
• Früher lebten viele Fischerfamilien in einfachen Katen. (In the past, many fishing families lived in simple cottages.)
• Wir machten Urlaub in einer gemütlichen Kate an der Ostsee. (We vacationed in a cozy cottage on the Baltic Sea.)
• Der Sturm deckte das Dach der Kate ab. (The storm blew the roof off the cottage.)

🗣️ How to Use "Kate"?

The term "Kate" is mainly used to describe a small, often older and simple house in the countryside. It carries a slightly nostalgic or rustic connotation.

• Context: Rural areas, historical descriptions, coastal regions (North Sea and Baltic Sea), fairy tales.
• Distinction: A Kate is typically smaller and simpler than a Haus (house). It is often more specific than a Hütte (hut, cabin), as it usually served as a permanent residence (unlike, for example, a hunting lodge). A Kotten is a very similar term, also often used for a small tenant farmer's house.
• Regional Distribution: Particularly common in Northern Germany (Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony).

🧠 Mnemonics for Kate

Article Mnemonic: Imagine die Queen (feminine!) Kate living in a simple cottage. Both 'Queen' and 'Kate' (the person) are female, helping you remember die Kate (the cottage). The word also ends in -e, which is common for feminine nouns.

Meaning Mnemonic: Think of a cat (Katze) living in a small, simple house - a Kate.

↔️ Similar and Opposite Words

Caution: Do not confuse with the English first name "Kate"!

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Städter den Bauern: "Sagen Sie mal, zieht es in Ihrer Kate nicht schrecklich?"
Antwortet der Bauer: "Ach was, nur wenn der Wind von draußen kommt!"

Translation:
The city dweller asks the farmer: "Tell me, isn't it terribly drafty in your cottage?"
The farmer replies: "Nah, only when the wind comes from outside!"

📜 Poem about the Kate

Am Deich, ganz klein und krumm,
steht eine Kate, alt und stumm.
Das Reetdach moosig, grün und schwer,
die Fenster blicken auf das Meer.
Drin wohnt die Ruhe, schlicht und rein,
so soll’s in einer Kate sein.

Translation:
By the dike, so small and bent,
Stands a cottage, old and silent spent.
The thatched roof mossy, green, and deep,
The windows to the ocean peep.
Inside dwells peace, simple and pure,
That's how a cottage should endure.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin klein und steh' auf dem Land,
hab oft ein Dach aus Stroh zur Hand.
Bin einfacher als ein großes Haus,
wer wohnt hier wohl? Finde es heraus!
Mein Artikel ist feminin, merk es dir,
was bin ich? Sag es mir!

Translation:
I am small and stand in the land,
Often have a roof of straw at hand.
I'm simpler than a large house, true,
Who might live here? Find the clue!
My article is feminine, remember this right,
What am I? Tell me with all your might!

Solution: die Kate

💡 Other Interesting Facts

Etymology: The word "Kate" comes from Low German ("kate", "kote") and originally referred to a small, simple house or hut, often owned by a small farmer or day laborer (Kötter, Kätner).

Typical Features: Besides their small size and simple construction, thatched roofs (Reet- oder Strohdächer) are very typical for traditional Katen, especially in Northern Germany.