die
Körpergröße
📏 What does "die Körpergröße" mean?
Die Körpergröße (feminine noun) refers to the measure of the height of a human or animal body, measured from the top of the head (Scheitel) to the soles of the feet (Sohle) in humans, or analogously in animals. In English, this translates to body height or stature.
- It's a physical unit of length, typically given in centimeters (cm) or meters (m).
- It's rarely used figuratively.
⚠️ Note that it's a compound word: Körper (body) + Größe (size, height). The article die comes from the base word Größe (die Größe).
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 in Detail: die Körpergröße
"Die Körpergröße" is a feminine noun.
Declension
Here's how it declines (changes form based on case and number):
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article | (English Meaning) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Körpergröße | eine Körpergröße | the/a body height |
| Genitive | der Körpergröße | einer Körpergröße | of the/a body height |
| Dative | der Körpergröße | einer Körpergröße | to/for the/a body height |
| Akkusative | die Körpergröße | eine Körpergröße | the/a body height |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article | (English Meaning) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Körpergrößen | - Körpergrößen | the/(-) body heights |
| Genitive | der Körpergrößen | - Körpergrößen | of the/(-) body heights |
| Dative | den Körpergrößen | - Körpergrößen | to/for the/(-) body heights |
| Akkusative | die Körpergrößen | - Körpergrößen | the/(-) body heights |
Note: There is no indefinite article in the plural in German.
Example Sentences
- Die durchschnittliche Körpergröße in Deutschland ist gestiegen.
(The average body height in Germany has increased.) - Der Arzt notierte die Körpergröße des Patienten.
(The doctor noted the patient's body height.) - Für die Achterbahn gibt es eine Mindest-Körpergröße.
(There is a minimum height requirement for the roller coaster.) - Die Körpergrößen der Kinder wurden verglichen.
(The children's body heights were compared.)
🗣️ How is "Körpergröße" used?
The term die Körpergröße is quite specific and is mainly used in the following contexts:
- Medicine & Biology: During check-ups, for documenting growth, in studies (Studien).
- Everyday Life: When buying clothes (Kleiderkauf), talking about appearance (Aussehen), measuring children (Kinder messen).
- Statistics & Demographics: For collecting population data (Bevölkerungsdaten).
- Sports: Often a relevant factor for certain disciplines.
- Safety Regulations: E.g., for amusement park rides (Fahrgeschäfte) or child car seats (Kindersitze).
Compared to just "Größe", "Körpergröße" unambiguously refers to the physical height of a living being. "Größe" alone can also refer to other dimensions, abstract concepts (e.g., company size - Unternehmensgröße), or clothing sizes (Kleidergrößen).
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic: The base word is "die Größe" (the size/height). Think of feminine things often having the article 'die'. Since height (Größe) is 'die', the compound word Körpergröße is also 'die'. Imagine measuring die Queen's height - die Körpergröße.
Meaning Mnemonic: Think of measuring your body (Körper) to get its size (Größe) in terms of height – that's your Körpergröße.
🔄 Synonyms & Opposites
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
Antonyms (Opposite Concepts)
There isn't a direct single antonym. Instead, one talks about:
- geringe Körpergröße / kleine Körpergröße (low/small body height) vs. große Körpergröße (tall/large body height)
- Kleinwuchs (dwarfism - as a medical term)
Potential for Confusion
- Kleidergröße: Refers to clothing sizes.
- Gewicht / Körpergewicht: (weight / body weight) - A different body measurement.
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Arzt den Patienten: "Wie ist Ihre Körpergröße?"
Patient: "1 Meter 80, Herr Doktor."
Arzt: "Und mit Schuhen?"
Patient: "Mit Schuhen bin ich Anwalt."
Translation:
Doctor asks the patient: "What's your height (Körpergröße)?"
Patient: "1 meter 80, Doctor."
Doctor: "And with shoes?"
Patient: "With shoes, I'm a lawyer."
(This is a pun/play on words, as being 'a lawyer' sounds a bit like 'taller' in some contexts, but mostly it's just absurd humor based on misinterpreting the question contextually.)
📜 Poem about Körpergröße
Vom Scheitel bis zur Sohle,
ob klein, ob groß, spielt keine Rolle.
Die Körpergröße, Maß am Band,
ist Teil von uns, in jedem Land.
Ein Wert in Zentimetern klar,
mal wächst er schnell, mal langsam gar.
Translation:
From crown down to the sole,
whether small or tall, plays no role.
Body height, measured by the tape,
is part of us, in every shape.
A value clear in centimeters,
sometimes it grows fast, sometimes it lingers.
❓ A Little Riddle
Ich messe dich von Kopf bis Fuß,
bin mal ein Riese, mal nur Gruß.
Im Pass steh' ich, beim Arzt bekannt,
mal groß, mal klein, im ganzen Land.
Was bin ich?
Translation:
I measure you from head to toe,
Sometimes a giant, sometimes just hello.
In the passport I stand, known by the doc,
Sometimes tall, sometimes small, around the block.
What am I?
Solution: die Körpergröße (body height)
🧩 Other Information
Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung):
The word "Körpergröße" is a compound noun (Kompositum), made up of:
The grammatical gender (feminine) is determined by the base word "Größe".
Cultural Note: Body height (Körpergröße) can be perceived differently across cultures and often plays a role in social perceptions.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Körpergröße?
The word "Körpergröße" is feminine. The correct article is die Körpergröße. It refers to the physical height of a person or animal.