die
Niere
🩸 What exactly is a Niere?
Die Niere (noun, feminine) primarily refers to one of a pair of organs in vertebrates (including humans) responsible for filtering blood and producing urine. It plays a vital role in detoxifying the body and regulating fluid balance.
Sometimes the term is also used for the corresponding organ of animals, especially when used as food (e.g., Kalbsniere - calf's kidney).
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 Insights for die Niere
The word "Niere" is a feminine noun. The article is die.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Niere |
| Genitive | der | Niere |
| Dative | der | Niere |
| Accusative | die | Niere |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Nieren |
| Genitive | der | Nieren |
| Dative | den | Nieren |
| Accusative | die | Nieren |
📝 Example Sentences
- Die rechte Niere schmerzt ein wenig.
(The right kidney hurts a little.) - Der Arzt untersucht die Funktion der Nieren.
(The doctor examines the function of the kidneys.) - Man kann auch mit nur einer Niere gut leben.
(One can live well with just one kidney.) - Gesunde Ernährung ist wichtig für die Nieren.
(A healthy diet is important for the kidneys.)
💬 How to use "Niere"?
"Niere" is mainly used in the following contexts:
- Medicine & Anatomy: Describing the human or animal organ, its function, and diseases (e.g., Niereninsuffizienz - kidney failure, Nierenstein - kidney stone).
- Culinary: As a term for kidneys from butchered animals that are prepared as food (e.g., "Saure Nierchen" - sour kidneys, a traditional dish).
- Idiomatic expressions: The phrase "etwas geht jemandem an die Nieren" literally means "something goes to someone's kidneys," but idiomatically means that something affects someone deeply, either emotionally or physically (it gets under one's skin, it's harrowing).
⚠️ There is little risk of confusion, as the word is very specific and almost exclusively refers to the organ.
🧠 Mnemonics for "die Niere"
Article Mnemonic: Many feminine German nouns end in '-e', especially body parts. Think: die Nase (nose), die Zunge (tongue), and die Niere. Remember it ends with 'e', so it's likely 'die'.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine your kidneys are *near* ('Nier') your bladder, working hard. Or think of the shape: a kidney bean looks a bit like an ear ('Nier' sounds vaguely like 'ear' if you squint your... ears?).
🔄 Synonyms & Related Terms
Synonyms:
- Filterorgan (filtering organ - technical, descriptive)
- Harnorgan (urinary organ - partially, as the kidney produces urine)
- Ren (Latin technical term, plural: Renes)
Antonyms:
Direct antonyms do not exist for organ names like "Niere".
Related Terms (Examples):
- Nierenstein: Kidney stone.
- Nierenversagen: Kidney failure.
- Nierenbecken: Renal pelvis (part of the kidney that collects urine).
- Nebenniere: Adrenal gland (an endocrine gland located on top of the kidney, but with a different function). ⚠️ Don't confuse it with the kidney itself!
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Arzt den Patienten: "Haben Sie Probleme mit den Nieren?"
Patient: "Nein, Herr Doktor, mit den Nieren komme ich klar – nur mit dem Aufstehen morgens hapert's!"
Translation:
The doctor asks the patient: "Do you have problems with your kidneys?"
Patient: "No, doctor, I manage fine with my kidneys – it's just getting up in the morning that's the problem!" (This is a play on words, as 'Nieren' sounds a bit like 'nieder' as in 'niederlegen' - to lie down, contrasting with getting up).
📜 Poem about the Kidney
Ein kleines Organ, doch o wie fein,
filtert das Blut, macht alles rein.
Tag und Nacht, ganz ohne Ruh,
arbeitet die Niere immerzu.
Sie hält den Körper frisch und klar,
ein Wunderwerk, das ist doch wahr!
Translation:
A small organ, but oh how fine,
Filters the blood, makes everything clean.
Day and night, without any rest,
Works the kidney, always put to the test.
It keeps the body fresh and clear,
A miracle, that much is dear!
❓ A Little Riddle
Ich komme meist im Doppelpack,
hab Form wie eine Bohne, sag ich flach.
Ich reinige dein Blut bei Tag und Nacht
und sorge für die Urinfracht.
Was bin ich?
Translation:
I usually come in a two-pack,
Have the shape of a bean, to be exact.
I clean your blood day and night
And take care of the urine freight.
What am I?
Solution: die Niere (the kidney)
💡 Other Information
- Form: Kidneys (Nieren) have a characteristic bean shape.
- Quantity: Humans normally have two kidneys, located on either side of the spine.
- Word Origin: The word "Niere" derives from the Old High German "nioro" and is related to similar words in other Germanic languages.
- Nierenspende (Kidney Donation): Because they are paired organs, live donation of a kidney is possible.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Niere?
The German word "Niere" for the organ (kidney) is always feminine. The correct article is die Niere.