die  Pille

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈpɪlə/

💊 What does "die Pille" mean?

The German word die Pille (feminine) primarily has two meanings:

• Medicine form: A small, solid, usually round or oval dosage form for medications to be swallowed. Synonyms include Tablette or Dragee.
• Contraceptive (colloquial): Very often, "die Pille" is used as a short form for die Antibabypille (the birth control pill), a hormonal contraceptive for women.

🚨 Attention: Context is crucial for understanding the meaning. If someone says "Ich muss meine Pille nehmen" (I have to take my pill), it could mean either. However, in conversations about family planning or women's health, it usually refers to the birth control pill.

Article rules for der, die, and das

The grammar of "die Pille" 🧐

"Pille" is a feminine noun. The definite article is always die.

Declension

Here's how 'die Pille' changes in the different German cases:

Example Sentences

1. Der Arzt verschrieb mir kleine, weiße Pillen gegen die Kopfschmerzen.
   (The doctor prescribed small, white pills for the headache.)
2. Sie nimmt die Pille seit fünf Jahren zur Verhütung.
   (She has been taking the pill for five years for contraception.)
3. Hast du meine Pille auf dem Nachttisch gesehen?
   (Have you seen my pill on the nightstand?)
4. Die Wirkung der Pille setzt nach wenigen Tagen ein.
   (The effect of the pill starts after a few days.)

How and when to use "die Pille"? 💡

The usage of "Pille" heavily depends on the context:

• In a medical context: Here, "Pille" generally refers to a solid form of medication. You might hear about Kopfschmerzpillen (headache pills), Schlafpillen (sleeping pills), or someone asking: "Wie viele Pillen muss ich nehmen?" (How many pills do I have to take?).
• In the context of contraception: Here, it almost always means the birth control pill (Antibabypille). Phrases like "die Pille nehmen" (to take the pill), "die Pille absetzen" (to stop taking the pill), "die Pille vergessen" (to forget the pill) are very common.
• Colloquially/Figuratively: Sometimes "Pille" is used slightly pejoratively for tablets in general ("Schon wieder Pillen schlucken?" - Taking pills again?). There's also the idiom "eine bittere Pille schlucken" (to swallow a bitter pill), which means having to accept something unpleasant.

Compared to 'Tablette', 'Pille' often sounds a bit smaller or more specific (especially when referring to the contraceptive). 'Dragee' refers to a coated tablet.

Memory Aids for "die Pille" 🤔

1. Article Mnemonic: Think of die Frau (the woman), who typically takes die Pille (the birth control pill). The word Frau is feminine (die) – so die Pille is also feminine. Coincidentally, most forms of medication in German are feminine (die Tablette, die Kapsel, die Spritze), which helps generally!

2. Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a tiny ball or 'pellet' that you have to swallow. "Pille" sounds a bit like 'pellet'. The most famous 'Pille' for many is the small contraceptive pill.

Similar and Contrasting Terms 🔄

⚠️ Watch out: Don't confuse "Pille" with "Pupille" (pupil of the eye).

A Little Joke 😄

German: Warum hat die Pille schlechte Laune?
Weil sie immer geschluckt wird!

English: Why is the pill in a bad mood?
Because it always gets swallowed! (Also means 'gets put up with/accepted grudgingly' in a figurative sense, adding a slight pun)

Poem about the Pill 📜

German:
Klein und rund, im bunten Kleid,
liegst du für die Krankheitszeit.
Manchmal bitter, manchmal süß,
schenkst Gesundheit oder auch Verdrieß?
Am Morgen oft, ganz routiniert,
wird die Pille schnell geschluckt, ganz ungeniert.
Ein Helferlein, so heißt es doch,
man nimmt dich ein und hofft dann noch.

English Translation:
Small and round, in colourful dress,
you lie there for times of sickness.
Sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet,
do you grant health or just defeat?
Often in the morning, routine-led,
the pill is quickly swallowed, without dread.
A little helper, so they say,
you take it in and hope away.

Who am I? 🤔

German:
Ich bin klein, oft rund und bunt,
und tu' dir manchmal Gutes kund.
Man schluckt mich meistens mit Bedacht,
hab' manchem schon Gesundheit bracht.
Besonders Frauen kenn'n mich gut,
ich schenke ihnen neuen Mut.

Wer bin ich?

English Translation:
I am small, often round and colourful,
and sometimes do you good things dutiful.
One usually swallows me with care,
I've brought health to many, beyond compare.
Especially women know me well,
I grant them new courage, truth to tell.

Who am I?

Answer: Die Pille (The Pill)

Other Interesting Facts 🤓

• Word Origin: The word "Pille" comes from the Latin word "pilula", meaning "small ball".
• Compound Words: There are many compound words with "Pille" in German, e.g.:
  • Antibabypille (birth control pill)
  • Schlafpille (sleeping pill)
  • Kopfschmerzpille (headache pill)
  • Vitaminpille (vitamin pill)
  • "Pille danach" (morning-after pill)
• Cultural Significance: The introduction of the birth control pill ("die Pille") in the 1960s had an enormous impact on society, particularly on the sexual self-determination of women.