die
Lanze
🗡️ What exactly is a 'Lanze'?
The German noun die Lanze (feminine, article 'die') refers to a pole weapon used primarily for thrusting. It typically consists of a long wooden shaft and a metal tip (die Spitze).
Historically, die Lanze was an important weapon for cavalry (die Kavallerie), especially for knights (die Ritter) in the Middle Ages, but it was also used by foot soldiers (die Fußsoldaten). It's often distinguished from a Speer (spear), which can also be designed for throwing (werfen), whereas die Lanze is primarily for thrusting (stoßen).
🚨 Attention: In German, 'die Lanze' is clearly feminine. There are no other articles for this word.
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: 'Die Lanze' in Detail
The noun 'Lanze' is feminine. Here is its declension (Deklination):
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Lanze |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Lanze |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Lanze |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Lanze |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Lanzen |
| Genitive | der | Lanzen |
| Dative | den | Lanzen |
| Accusative | die | Lanzen |
📜 Example Sentences
- Der Ritter senkte die Lanze zum Angriff. (The knight lowered the lance to attack.)
- Die Spitze der Lanze glänzte in der Sonne. (The tip of the lance gleamed in the sun.)
- Mit der Lanze stieß er den Gegner vom Pferd. (With the lance, he pushed the opponent off the horse.)
- Er trug die Lanze stolz voran. (He proudly carried the lance forward.)
- Im Museum waren viele alte Lanzen ausgestellt. (Many old lances were exhibited in the museum.)
💬 How to Use 'die Lanze'?
The term 'Lanze' is primarily used in a historical context when talking about knights (Ritter), the Middle Ages (Mittelalter), tournaments (Turniere), or ancient warfare (alte Kriegsführung).
There is also the idiom (die Redewendung) eine Lanze für jemanden brechen
, which means 'to stand up for someone' or 'to defend someone' (literally 'to break a lance for someone').
- Historical: Die Ritter trugen schwere Rüstungen und kämpften mit Lanzen. (The knights wore heavy armor and fought with lances.)
- Metaphorical: Er hat auf der Versammlung eine Lanze für die Umwelt gebrochen. (He stood up for the environment at the meeting.)
Difference from 'Speer': While 'Speer' often serves as a more general term for a pole weapon (including throwing spears - Wurfspeer), 'Lanze' more specifically refers to the thrusting weapon of cavalry or heavy infantry.
🧠 Mnemonics for 'Lanze'
Article 'die': Think of 'die' as in 'to die' – facing a knight with a lance could be deadly! Alternatively, many weapons in German are feminine (die Waffe, die Pistole, die Bombe), maybe visualize a powerful queen (feminine) wielding die Lanze.
Meaning 'lance/spear': The German word Lanze sounds a bit like 'lance'. Imagine a knight needing to 'launch' his Lanze forward in a joust.
↔️ Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (Similar words)
Antonyms (Opposing concepts)
- Schild (der/das): Shield - used for defense against weapons like the lance.
- Kurzwaffe (die): Short weapon - for close combat (e.g., sword, dagger) as opposed to the long weapon 'Lanze'.
- Distanzwaffe (die): Ranged weapon - e.g., bow, crossbow (attack from a distance vs. thrusting weapon).
⚠️ Be careful with the distinction between Lanze and Speer – usage isn't always strictly separate.
😄 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Schmied den Ritter: "Soll ich Eure Lanze schärfen?" Antwortet der Ritter: "Nein danke, ich kämpfe heute gegen einen Wattebausch!"
English: The blacksmith asks the knight: "Shall I sharpen your lance?" The knight replies: "No thanks, I'm fighting a cotton ball today!"
📜 Poem about the 'Lanze'
German:
Die Lanze lang, aus starkem Holz,
Des Ritters ganzer Stolz.
Mit Eisenspitze, scharf und blank,
Sie bricht durch Schild und Panzer bang.
Im Turnier, ein harter Stoß,
Die Lanze trifft, das Schicksal groß.
English Translation:
The lance so long, of sturdy wood,
The knight's entire pride it stood.
With iron tip, so sharp and bright,
Through shield and armor breaks with might.
In tournament, a heavy thrust,
The lance connects, fate is discussed.
❓ Riddle Time
German:
Ich bin lang und meist aus Holz gemacht,
Ein Ritter hat mich oft zur Schlacht gebracht.
Meine Spitze glänzt aus Metall,
Ich diene zum Stoß, auf jeden Fall.
Was bin ich?
English:
I am long and mostly made of wood,
A knight often brought me to where battles stood.
My tip gleams, made of metal bright,
I serve for thrusting, with all my might.
What am I?
Solution: die Lanze (the lance)
💡 More Interesting Facts
Etymology: The word 'Lanze' comes from the Old High German word 'lanza', which was likely borrowed from Celtic. Even then, it referred to a thrusting weapon.
Famous Lances: The 'Heilige Lanze' (Holy Lance) is a famous relic that was part of the Imperial Regalia (Reichskleinodien) of the Holy Roman Empire.
Materials: Lance shafts were typically made from robust woods such as ash (Esche).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Lanze?
The German word "Lanze" is feminine, so the correct article is die Lanze. The plural form is die Lanzen.