die
Regel
📜 What does "die Regel" mean?
The word die Regel (feminine) has several meanings in German:
- Rule, regulation, guideline: This is the most common meaning. It describes an instruction or principle that dictates how something should be done or what is allowed. Examples: Spielregeln (game rules), Verkehrsregeln (traffic rules), Grammatikregeln (grammar rules). Example: Beim Schach gibt es klare Regeln. (Chess has clear rules.)
- Menstruation / Period: In colloquial use, "die Regel" is often used as a synonym for a woman's monthly period. Example: Sie hat ihre Regel bekommen. (She got her period.)
- Norm, standard, general case: Often used in the phrase "in der Regel", it means "normally", "usually", "as a rule". Example: In der Regel stehe ich um 7 Uhr auf. (As a rule, I get up at 7 am.)
⚠️ Attention: The context usually makes the intended meaning clear. In medical or biological contexts, it often refers to menstruation, while in legal, social, or game-related contexts, it refers to rules or regulations.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Wisdom, power, rules → mostly feminine.
📊 Grammar & Declension of "die Regel"
"Regel" is a feminine noun. The article is die.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Regel |
| Genitive | der | Regel |
| Dative | der | Regel |
| Accusative | die | Regel |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Regeln |
| Genitive | der | Regeln |
| Dative | den | Regeln |
| Accusative | die | Regeln |
Example Sentences
- Jedes Spiel hat seine eigenen Regeln. (Every game has its own rules.) - Plural, meaning: rule/regulation
- Man muss sich an die Regel halten. (One must stick to the rule.) - Singular, meaning: rule/regulation
- Ihre Regel ist oft unregelmäßig. (Her period is often irregular.) - Singular, meaning: menstruation
- In der Regel frühstücken wir gemeinsam. (As a rule / Usually, we have breakfast together.) - Fixed phrase, meaning: normally
- Es gibt Ausnahmen von dieser Regel. (There are exceptions to this rule.) - Singular, meaning: norm/rule
💡 How to use "die Regel"?
The use of "die Regel" heavily depends on the context:
- Formal Contexts (Laws, Regulations): Here, "Regel" refers to official provisions or guidelines. Synonyms like "Vorschrift" (regulation) or "Bestimmung" (provision) can also be used. Example: Die Hausordnung enthält wichtige Regeln für alle Mieter. (The house rules contain important regulations for all tenants.)
- Informal Contexts (Games, Social): Refers to agreed-upon or unwritten norms. Example: Eine goldene Regel ist, andere so zu behandeln, wie man selbst behandelt werden möchte. (A golden rule is to treat others as you would like to be treated.)
- Medical/Personal Context: Often means menstruation here. It's rather colloquial. More formal terms are "Menstruation" or "Periode". Example: Sprich mit deinem Arzt, wenn deine Regel ausbleibt. (Talk to your doctor if your period is late.)
- Expressing Normality: The phrase "in der Regel" is very common and means "normally" or "usually". Example: Das Geschäft schließt in der Regel um 18 Uhr. (The shop usually closes at 6 pm.)
Distinction from similar words:
- Gesetz (Law): Is a formal, state-established rule with legal binding. A Regel can be more general.
- Vorschrift (Regulation): Similar to Regel, often more detailed and specific, e.g., in technical areas.
- Norm (Standard/Norm): Often refers to a standard or average (e.g., social norm, technical standard DIN).
🧠 Memory Aids for "die Regel"
Article Mnemonic (die): Think of "die Ordnung" (the order) or "die Struktur" (the structure). A Regel creates order, and both words are feminine in German. Alternatively, remember that women have "die Regel" (their period).
Meaning Mnemonic (Rule/Period/Normality): Imagine a strict female teacher (die Lehrerin) enforcing die Klassenregeln (the class rules). But sometimes she's understanding when a student has her Regel (period). And in der Regel (as a rule), she's punctual.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for "Regel"
Synonyms:
- For Rule/Norm: die Vorschrift (regulation), die Richtlinie (guideline), das Gebot (commandment), das Prinzip (principle), der Grundsatz (principle), die Norm (norm), der Standard (standard)
- For Menstruation: die Menstruation, die Periode, die Monatsblutung (monthly bleeding), die Tage (the days, coll.)
- For Normality (in der Regel): normalerweise (normally), gewöhnlich (usually), üblicherweise (customarily), im Allgemeinen (in general)
Similar but potentially confusing words:
😄 A Little Joke
Warum sind Mathematiker so schlecht im Fußball?
(Why are mathematicians so bad at football?)
Weil sie immer versuchen, die Abseitsregel zu beweisen!
(Because they always try to prove the offside rule!)
✍️ Poem about "die Regel"
Ob im Spiel, im Text, im Leben,
(Whether in game, in text, in life,)
Die Regel soll uns Ordnung geben.
(The rule should give us order.)
Mal streng, mal nur ein sanfter Brauch,
(Sometimes strict, sometimes just a gentle custom,)
Periodisch kommt sie manchmal auch.
(Periodically it sometimes comes too.)
Sie lenkt den Fluss, zeigt klar die Bahn,
(It guides the flow, clearly shows the path,)
So fängt viel Gutes mit ihr an.
(Thus much good begins with it.)
Doch merke wohl, es gibt sodann,
(But note well, there is then,)
Die Ausnahme von Zeit zu wann.
(The exception from time to time.)
🤔 Little Riddle
Ich habe keinen Körper, doch ich lenke dein Tun.
(I have no body, yet I guide your actions.)
Ich bin im Spiel, im Gesetz, lass selten dich ruhn.
(I'm in the game, in the law, rarely let you rest.)
Für Frauen komm ich monatlich, das ist bekannt.
(For women I come monthly, that is known.)
Normalerweise bin ich da, im ganzen Land.
(Usually I am there, throughout the land. [referring to 'in der Regel'])
Was bin ich?
(What am I?)
Lösung / Solution: die Regel
🧐 More about "Regel"
Word Compounds: "Regel" is part of many compound words:
- Spielregel: Game rule
- Grundregel: Basic rule, fundamental principle
- Faustregel: Rule of thumb (lit. fist rule)
- Ausnahmeregelung: Exception clause, special arrangement
- Regelwerk: Set of rules, framework
- regelmäßig: Adjective - regular(ly)
- unregelmäßig: Adjective - irregular(ly)
Etymology: The word comes from the Latin "regula" (straight stick, ruler, standard, rule).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Regel?
The German word "Regel" is always feminine. The correct article is die Regel. It has multiple meanings: rule/regulation, menstruation (period), or the normal case (in the phrase "in der Regel" - as a rule/usually).