die
Komödie
🎭 What Exactly is a Komödie?
The German noun die Komödie (feminine, plural: die Komödien) primarily refers to a genre in literature, theatre, and film that aims to make the audience laugh. It typically has a happy ending and often deals with human weaknesses or societal issues in a humorous way.
In a broader sense, die Komödie can also describe a funny, absurd, or lighthearted event in real life.
🚨 There's only this one article for this word.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ie → almost always feminine.
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar Check: Die Komödie
The noun "Komödie" is feminine. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Komödie |
| Genitive | der | Komödie |
| Dative | der | Komödie |
| Accusative | die | Komödie |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Komödien |
| Genitive | der | Komödien |
| Dative | den | Komödien |
| Accusative | die | Komödien |
Example Sentences:
- Wir haben gestern Abend eine lustige Komödie im Kino gesehen.
(We watched a funny comedy at the cinema last night.) - Shakespeare schrieb sowohl Tragödien als auch Komödien.
(Shakespeare wrote tragedies as well as comedies.) - Die ganze Situation entwickelte sich zu einer unfreiwilligen Komödie.
(The whole situation turned into an involuntary comedy.) - Das Theaterstück war als Komödie angekündigt, aber es gab auch ernste Momente.
(The play was announced as a comedy, but there were serious moments too.)
🎬 When and How to Use "Komödie"?
The term die Komödie is mainly used in the following contexts:
- Arts & Culture: To denote plays, films, or literary works aiming for humor and a positive outcome. (Example: "Diese Komödie war ein großer Erfolg an den Kinokassen." - This comedy was a big box office success.)
- Colloquial Speech: To describe a very funny, absurd, or chaotic situation. (Example: "Die Verwechslung der Koffer am Flughafen war eine reine Komödie!" - The mix-up with the suitcases at the airport was a real comedy!)
- Contrast: Often used in contrast to die Tragödie (tragedy), which deals with serious themes and usually ends badly.
Sometimes the term is used slightly pejoratively to portray a situation as ridiculous or unprofessional ("Mach doch keine Komödie daraus!" means something like "Don't make such a fuss!" or "Don't make a scene!").
💡 Mnemonics for "die Komödie"
Article Mnemonic: Think of related feminine words in German like die Szene (the scene), die Aufführung (the performance), die Vorstellung (the show) - many words related to theatre and film are feminine, including die Komödie.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a 'comedy' makes you 'come-over-dee' laughing. Or link it to the English word 'comedy' - they sound very similar and mean the same thing.
😂 Laughter & Seriousness: Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Lustspiel: Classic term for a light-hearted play.
- Schwank: Often a coarser, more folksy type of comedy.
- Posse: An exaggerated, often slapstick-like comedy.
- Filmkomödie / TV-Komödie: Specific to the medium (film/TV comedy).
- Spaß, Ulk (ugs.): Fun, joke (when referring to a funny situation).
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Tragödie: Tragedy (serious play with a tragic ending).
- Drama: General term for serious plays/films.
- Trauerspiel: Older term for tragedy.
⚠️ Similar Words:
- Komiker/in: Comedian (male/female); someone who writes or performs in comedies or makes people laugh.
- komisch: Adjective meaning "funny" or "strange/odd".
😄 A Little Comedy Joke
Fragt der Regisseur den Hauptdarsteller der Komödie: "Können Sie auch ernste Rollen spielen?"
Antwortet der Schauspieler: "Ich weiß nicht, ich musste dabei immer lachen."
(The director asks the lead actor of the comedy: "Can you also play serious roles?"
The actor replies: "I don't know, I always had to laugh.")
✍️ Verses Full of Merriment
Die Komödie, leicht und froh,
vertreibt das Grau, macht Herzen froh.
Mit Witz und Charme, 'nem Augenzwinkern,
lässt sie uns Sorgen kurz versinken.
Ein Held, der stolpert, irrt und lacht,
hat uns schon oft den Tag gebracht.
Am Ende wird oft alles gut,
Das hebt den Geist und gibt uns Mut!
(The comedy, light and gay,
chases the grey, makes hearts feel gay.
With wit and charm, a little wink,
it lets our worries briefly sink.
A hero who stumbles, errs, and laughs,
has often brightened our paths.
In the end, things often turn out right,
That lifts the spirit and gives us might!)
🤔 Riddle Time
Ich bring' dich zum Lachen, auf der Bühn' und im Saal,
verwickle die Helden, manchmal total.
Mein Ende ist glücklich, selten fatal.
Ich bin das Gegenteil von der Tragödienqual.
Was bin ich?
(I make you laugh, on stage and in the hall,
I entangle the heroes, sometimes completely.
My ending is happy, rarely fatal.
I am the opposite of the agony of tragedy.
What am I?) (Answer: die Komödie / the comedy)
🧩 More about Komödie
Word Origin: The word "Komödie" comes from the Greek word κωμῳδία (kōmōdía). It is composed of κῶμος (kômos), meaning "festive procession, revelry," and ᾠδή (ōdḗ) meaning "song" or "poem." Originally, comedies were cheerful songs during festive processions.
Subgenres: There are many subgenres of comedy, e.g., Slapstick, Satire, Parody, Romantische Komödie (RomCom), Schwarze Komödie (Black Comedy), Screwball-Komödie (Screwball Comedy), etc.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Komödie?
The German word Komödie is always feminine. The correct article is die Komödie. The plural is die Komödien.