die
Lehre
📚 What does "die Lehre" mean?
The word die Lehre is a feminine noun in German and has several meanings:
- Apprenticeship / Vocational Training 🧑🔧: This is the most common meaning, especially in the context of trades and crafts. It refers to the period during which someone learns a profession practically and theoretically, often in a company and a vocational school (Berufsschule).
Example: Er macht eine Lehre als Schreiner. (He is doing an apprenticeship as a carpenter.) - Doctrine / Teaching / Tenet 🧑🏫: This meaning refers to a system of principles, opinions, or dogmas that are taught, often in a philosophical, religious, or scientific context. It can also simply mean the act of teaching or the content of the instruction.
Example: Die Lehren Buddhas sind weit verbreitet. (The teachings of Buddha are widespread.) Die Lehre von der Evolution. (The theory/doctrine of evolution.) - Lesson / Moral 🤔: Something learned from an experience (often a negative one).
Example: Das war mir eine Lehre fürs Leben! (That was a lesson for life for me!) - Gauge / Jig (less common, technical/physical) 🌌: In certain technical or physical contexts, "Lehre" can also refer to a standardized cavity or measuring device (Messlehre) used to check dimensions. This meaning is more specific and less common in everyday language than the others.
Example: Mit dieser Lehre prüft man den Innendurchmesser. (With this gauge, one checks the inner diameter.)
🚨 Attention: The meaning 'emptiness' or 'void' is usually expressed by the word die Leere, not die Lehre. Although they sound similar, they are different words.
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 Lehre
The noun "die Lehre" is feminine. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Lehre |
| Genitive | der | Lehre |
| Dative | der | Lehre |
| Accusative | die | Lehre |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Lehren |
| Genitive | der | Lehren |
| Dative | den | Lehren |
| Accusative | die | Lehren |
📝 Example Sentences
- (Apprenticeship): Nach der Schule begann sie sofort eine Lehre zur Kauffrau.
(After school, she immediately started an apprenticeship as a businesswoman/clerk.) - (Doctrine): Die Universität verbreitet die neuesten wissenschaftlichen Lehren.
(The university disseminates the latest scientific teachings.) - (Lesson): Aus Fehlern zieht man oft die besten Lehren.
(One often draws the best lessons from mistakes.) - (Gauge): Der Mechaniker verwendet eine spezielle Lehre, um die Passung zu prüfen.
(The mechanic uses a special gauge to check the fit.)
💡 How to Use "die Lehre"?
- Berufsausbildung (Apprenticeship): Very common when talking about the German dual training system (company + vocational school). Synonyms here are often die Ausbildung (training) or die Berufsausbildung (vocational training). "Eine Lehre machen" (to do an apprenticeship) is a fixed phrase.
- Lehrsatz/Doktrin (Doctrine/Teaching): More common in formal, academic, philosophical, or religious contexts. Refers to established principles or beliefs. Here, die Doktrin, der Lehrsatz, or die Theorie are often more specific.
- Lektion (Lesson): Used to describe an insight gained from experience. "Eine Lehre daraus ziehen" (to draw a lesson from it) is a common phrase.
- Messwerkzeug (Gauge): Specific to technical fields (e.g., mechanical engineering). Here, die Messlehre is often clearer.
Compared to der Unterricht (instruction, classes), die Lehre (as doctrine/teaching) refers more to the content or system of knowledge, while Unterricht describes the process of teaching and learning. Die Ausbildung is a more general term for any form of training, whereas die Lehre specifically implies the traditional vocational apprenticeship.
🧠 Mnemonics for "die Lehre"
For the Article: Think: DIE (the) most important foundation for a career is often DIE Lehre (apprenticeship). The word ends in -e, which is very common for feminine nouns in German.
For the Meanings: You can do a Lehre (apprenticeship) to learn how to lehren (teach) or to understand the Lehre (doctrine) of a subject. And sometimes the most important Lehre (lesson) in life is that you can learn something from Leere (emptiness - similar sound, different word!).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for "die Lehre"
Synonyms
- For Apprenticeship: die Ausbildung (training), die Berufsausbildung (vocational training), die Lehrzeit (apprenticeship period, dated)
- For Doctrine/Teaching: die Doktrin, der Lehrsatz (tenet), das Dogma, die Theorie, die Erkenntnis (insight, knowledge), der Grundsatz (principle), die Unterweisung (instruction)
- For Lesson: die Lektion, die Erfahrung (experience), die Erkenntnis (insight), die Moral (moral of the story)
- For Gauge: die Messlehre (measuring gauge), die Schablone (template), das Kaliber (caliper/gauge)
Antonyms
- For Apprenticeship: die Ungelerntheit (lack of training/skill), die Inkompetenz (incompetence, indirectly)
- For Doctrine/Teaching: die Praxis (practice, vs. theory), die Ignoranz (ignorance), der Irrtum (error), das Chaos (as absence of doctrine/order)
- For Lesson: die Unbelehrbarkeit (unteachability)
- For Gauge: (no direct antonym)
⚠️ Similar, but Different Words
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Meister seinen Lehrling: "Kannst du mir mal den Hobel bringen?"
Der Lehrling: "Ja, Meister! Den groben oder den feinen?"
Meister: "Bring erstmal den groben, ich hoble mir sowieso gleich in den Finger!"
(Translation: The master asks his apprentice: "Can you bring me the plane?"
The apprentice: "Yes, master! The rough one or the fine one?"
Master: "Bring the rough one first, I'm about to plane my finger anyway!")
(Relates to Lehre as apprenticeship in a craft)
✍️ Poem about "die Lehre"
Die Lehre hat viel Sinn,
(Die Lehre makes much sense,)
Als Azubi, da gehst du hin.
(As an apprentice, you go there.)
Du lernst den Job von früh bis spät,
(You learn the job from dawn till late,)
Damit die Zukunft gut besteht.
Doch auch als Satz, fest und bekannt,
(But also as a tenet, firm and known,)
Wird die Lehre oft genannt.
(Die Lehre is frequently shown.)
Von Weisen alt, von neuem Denken,
(From sages old, from newest thought,)
Will sie Erkenntnis uns schenken.
Und manchmal, nach 'nem schweren Fall,
(And sometimes, after a hard fall,)
Ist sie die Lektion, überall.
(It is the lesson, known to all.)
Die Lehre, die das Leben schreibt,
(Die Lehre, which life does write,)
Damit man klüger weiter treibt.
🧩 Little Riddle
Ich bin ein Weg, oft drei Jahr' lang,
(I am a path, often three years long,)
Beginn im Handwerk meinen Gang.
(In crafts I start my journey strong.)
Ich bin auch Wissen, alt und neu,
(I am also knowledge, old and new,)
Als Lektion bleib ich dir treu.
(As a lesson, I remain true to you.)
Mal bin ich Werkzeug, passgenau.
(Sometimes I'm a tool, precisely made now.)
Mit 'die' steh ich da, sei schlau!
(With 'die' I stand here, be smart!)
Was bin ich? / What am I?
(... die Lehre)
🗝️ Further Information
- Etymology: The word "Lehre" comes from the Old High German word "lēra", which is related to the verb "lēren" (to teach). The root originally meant "to make know", "to announce".
- Word Formation: "Lehre" is a nominalization (forming a noun) of the verb "lehren".
- Compounds: There are many compound words with "Lehre", e.g., Lehrbuch (textbook), Lehrplan (curriculum), Lehrstelle (apprenticeship position), Lehrmeister (master craftsman/teacher), Lehrling (apprentice), Irrlehre (heresy), Geheimlehre (secret doctrine), Glaubenslehre (doctrine of faith), Rechtslehre (legal doctrine), Kunstlehre (art theory), Messlehre (gauge).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Lehre?
The noun "Lehre" is always feminine. The correct article is die Lehre.