die  Plage

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈplaːɡə/

😥 What does "die Plage" mean?

The word die Plage (feminine) primarily describes two things in German:

• Major misfortune or catastrophe: Often refers to a widespread disease (Seuche - epidemic/plague), a natural disaster, or a massive infestation of pests. Think of the biblical plagues (die biblischen Plagen) or a locust plague (Heuschreckenplage).
• Something or someone very annoying: A person (often a child, then called a Plagegeist - nuisance/pest), a thing, or a condition perceived as extremely bothersome, troublesome, or irritating.

⚠️ Note: Although it sounds negative, it's sometimes used slightly exaggeratedly or jokingly for everyday annoyances.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "die Plage" in Detail

"Plage" is a feminine noun. Here are the declension tables:

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

Example Sentences

• Die Mücken sind diesen Sommer eine echte Plage. (The mosquitoes are a real nuisance this summer.)
• Der kleine Bruder kann manchmal eine ziemliche Plage sein. (The little brother can be quite a pest sometimes.)
• Im Mittelalter litten die Menschen unter schrecklichen Plagen wie der Pest. (In the Middle Ages, people suffered from terrible plagues like the Black Death.)
• Wir müssen uns vor den jährlichen Heuschreckenplagen schützen. (We have to protect ourselves from the annual locust plagues.)

💡 How to Use "die Plage"?

"Die Plage" is mostly used in contexts expressing disaster, annoyance, or great nuisance.

• Serious Contexts: Epidemics (die Pest als Plage - the plague as a scourge), natural disasters, pest infestations (die Rattenplage - rat infestation, die Mückenplage - mosquito nuisance), biblical narratives (die zehn Plagen Ägyptens - the ten plagues of Egypt).
• Everyday Use (often slightly exaggerated): For persistent annoyances (Diese Baustelle ist eine Plage! - This construction site is a nuisance!) or for tiresome people, especially children (Mein Neffe ist ein kleiner Plagegeist, aber liebenswert. - My nephew is a little pest, but adorable.).

Distinction from similar words:

• Ärger (annoyance, trouble): Refers more to a short-term feeling or situation. A Plage is often more persistent and severe.
• Last (burden, load): Emphasizes the weight or burden something represents. A Plage emphasizes the disruptive factor or suffering more.

🧠 Mnemonics for Plage

Article Mnemonic: Many negative things or forces of nature are feminine in German: die Krankheit (illness), die Katastrophe (catastrophe), die Seuche (epidemic), die Qual (torment)... and also die Plage. Think of a 'plaguing' witch (die Hexe - the witch).

Meaning Mnemonic: The word sounds very similar to the English word "plague," which is a direct translation for the meaning "epidemic" (Seuche). Imagine how much a "plague" *plagues* people (plagen = to plague, to pester).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar but potentially misleading words:

• Plagiat (plagiarism): The unlawful appropriation of someone else's intellectual property. Sounds similar but has nothing to do with Plage.

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Lehrer: "Was ist die schlimmste Plage für einen Schüler?"
Antwortet Fritzchen: "Ferienende, Herr Lehrer!"

Teacher asks: "What is the worst plague for a student?"
Little Fritz answers: "The end of the holidays, Sir!"

✍️ Poem about a Nuisance

Die Mücken summen, welch eine Plage,
Sie stechen frech bei Nacht und Tage.
Ein Surren hier, ein Jucken dort,
Man wünscht sie schnell an einen andren Ort.
Ob Seuche, Lärm, ob kleiner Geist,
Die Plage ist's, was uns zerreißt.

The mosquitoes buzz, what a plague,
They bite cheekily day and night.
A whirring here, an itching there,
One quickly wishes them elsewhere.
Be it plague, noise, or little pest,
The nuisance is what tears us apart.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich komme oft in Scharen,
Kann Ernten ganz verfahren.
Mal bin ich klein, mal groß und schwer,
Bring Unglück oft und Ärger sehr.
Bin lästig, mühsam, ungeliebt,
Eine Qual, die's häufig gibt.

Was bin ich?

I often come in swarms,
Can ruin entire harvests.
Sometimes I'm small, sometimes big and heavy,
Often bring misfortune and much trouble.
I'm annoying, tedious, unloved,
A torment that often exists.

What am I?

Solution: die Plage (the plague/nuisance)

🧩 Other Information

Word Compounds (Wortzusammensetzungen): "Plage" is often part of compound nouns that specify the type of plague or nuisance:

• Mückenplage (mosquito nuisance/plague)
• Heuschreckenplage (locust plague)
• Rattenplage (rat infestation/plague)
• Landplage (general term for a plague affecting the country/land)
• Plagegeist (annoying person, pest)

Cultural Reference: The most famous plagues are probably the ten biblical plagues (die zehn biblischen Plagen) which, according to the Old Testament, afflicted Egypt.