die
Pistole
🔫 What exactly is a Pistole?
Die Pistole (noun, feminine) refers to a handgun or pistol, typically operable with one hand. It differs from a Revolver in that the chamber and barrel form a single unit, and the cartridges are usually housed in a magazine within the grip.
There is only this one article for the word in the sense of a firearm. ⚠️ Be careful: Confusion with similar terms like Revolver is possible, although there are technical differences.
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 Spotlight: Die Pistole
The word "Pistole" is a feminine noun. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Word |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Pistole |
| Genitive | der | Pistole |
| Dative | der | Pistole |
| Accusative | die | Pistole |
| Case | Article | Word |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Pistolen |
| Genitive | der | Pistolen |
| Dative | den | Pistolen |
| Accusative | die | Pistolen |
📝 Example Sentences
🎯 How to Use "Pistole"?
The term "Pistole" is mainly used in the context of weapons. Here are some typical use cases:
- Security Forces: Police and military carry service pistols (Dienstpistolen).
- Sport Shooting: There are special sport pistols (Sportpistolen) for competitions.
- Crime: Unfortunately, pistols also often appear in crime reports.
- History: Historical pistols are collector's items or museum exhibits.
- Colloquial Use: Sometimes the term is also used for other spraying or dispensing devices (e.g., "Heißklebepistole" - hot glue gun, "Spritzpistole" - spray gun, "Wasserpistole" - water pistol). In these cases, the article remains "die".
Compared to "Gewehr" (rifle, a long gun) or "Revolver" (another type of handgun), "Pistole" refers to a specific type of short handgun.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
For the Article: Most weapon designations in German are feminine (die Waffe - the weapon, die Kanone - the cannon, die Bombe - the bomb). Remember: Die dangerous Pistole - the 'e' ending fits well with 'die', and 's' in dangerous reminds of the feminine 'die'. (Okay, a bit of a stretch, but feminine words often end in -e). Or think: Die means 'the' (feminine), and a pistol is something she might carry (just a memory trick, not literal!).
For the Meaning: Imagine someone aiming a Pistol very Precisely at a target. The double 'P' sound helps recall the word.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Handfeuerwaffe: A general term including pistols and revolvers (handheld firearm).
- Schusswaffe: An even broader term for firearms that shoot projectiles.
- Knarre (ugs.): Colloquial, often derogatory term (gat, piece).
- Revolver: Technically different, but sometimes used synonymously.
Antonyms (Opposing concepts):
- Sicherheit: Security/safety, the concept potentially threatened by weapons.
- Frieden: Peace, a state without armed conflict.
- Entwaffnung: Disarmament, the act of removing weapons.
- There are no direct antonyms, as it is an object.
⚠️ Similar sounding, but different words:
😂 A Little Joke
German: Warum hat der Cowboy seine Pistole mit ins Restaurant genommen?
Er hatte gehört, es gäbe dort "Scharfschützen"!
English: Why did the cowboy take his pistol to the restaurant?
He heard they had "Scharfschützen" there! (This is a pun: "Scharfschütze" means sniper/marksman, but "scharf schießen" can figuratively mean 'to shoot sharp/spicy food' in a very stretched sense, or it just sounds funny because of the direct translation of 'sharp shooter' in a food context.) A better English equivalent might be: He heard they had 'shooters' (drinks) or 'hot shots' (important people or spicy food).
📜 Poem about the Pistole
German:
Aus Stahl geformt, kühl in der Hand,
Die Pistole, bekannt im ganzen Land.
Ein Werkzeug scharf, mit Knall und Blitz,
Verlangt Respekt und festen Sitz.
Ob Sport, ob Schutz, ob dunkle Tat,
Ihr Ruf eilt ihr stets weit voraus.
English:
Shaped from steel, cool in the hand,
Die Pistole, known throughout the land.
A tool so sharp, with bang and flash,
Demands respect and a firm grasp.
Whether sport, protection, or dark deed,
Its reputation always takes the lead.
❓ Little Riddle
German:
Ich bin kurz, doch kann laut knallen,
Man sieht mich oft in Westernhallen.
Man hält mich fest in einer Hand,
Bin als Waffe wohlbekannt.
Was bin ich?
English:
I am short, but can bang loudly,
You often see me in Western movie settings.
You hold me firmly in one hand,
I am well-known as a weapon throughout the land.
What am I?
(Answer: die Pistole / a pistol)
⚙️ Trivia & Word Details
Etymology (Word Origin)
The word "Pistole" likely came into German via French (pistolet) from either Italian (pistolese, referring to a dagger or later a firearm from the city of Pistoia) or Czech (píšťala meaning “pipe, tube”).
Compound Words
"Pistole" forms part of many compound words in German:
- Wasserpistole: Water pistol/gun (toy).
- Gaspistole: Gas pistol (blank-firing or irritant gas weapon).
- Signalpistole: Flare gun.
- Heißklebepistole: Hot glue gun.
- Nagelpistole: Nail gun.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Pistole?
The German word for pistol/handgun is unambiguously feminine. The correct article is always die Pistole.