die  Reine

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʁaɪ̯nə/

📖 What does 'die Reine' mean?

'Die Reine' is a feminine noun in German. It derives from the adjective 'rein' (pure) and primarily has two meanings:

• The pure one (literal, female): Refers to a woman or female being who is considered pure, innocent, chaste, or immaculate. This meaning often has philosophical, religious, or ethical connotations. Example: Sie galt als die Reine unter ihnen. (She was considered the pure one among them.)
• The Queen (archaic/poetic): In older language or literary contexts, 'die Reine' can also be used as a synonym for 'die Königin' (the queen), often emphasizing her noble or pure origin/disposition. Example: Die Reine bestieg den Thron. (The queen ascended the throne.) (This usage is uncommon today; one would say 'die Königin').

🚨 Attention: The second meaning is rare and mostly confined to historical or poetic texts. In modern German, 'die Reine' almost exclusively refers to the first meaning.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Reine

'Die Reine' is a substantivized adjective (an adjective turned into a noun) and is declined like a weak feminine noun.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

📝 Example Sentences

1. Im Märchen verkörpert sie oft die Reine und Unschuldige.
   (In fairy tales, she often embodies the pure and innocent one.)
2. Man sprach voller Ehrfurcht von der Reinen.
   (People spoke of the pure one with reverence.)
3. Der Dichter widmete sein Werk der Reinen.
   (The poet dedicated his work to the pure one.)
4. Die Legende erzählt von den Reinen, die im verborgenen Tal lebten.
   (The legend tells of the pure ones who lived in the hidden valley.)

💡 Usage and Context

'Die Reine' is mainly used in contexts emphasizing purity, innocence, or moral integrity.

• Religious/Spiritual Context: Often referring to holy or virtuous female figures.
• Philosophical/Ethical Context: Discussing concepts like purity of heart or soul.
• Literary/Poetic Context: As a stylistic device for characterization or as an (outdated) term for a queen.
• Everyday Language: Rather rare, mostly used ironically or in fixed expressions (which are hardly common anymore). One would more likely say "eine reine Seele" (a pure soul) or "sie ist sehr rein" (she is very pure).

Compared to die Unschuldige (the innocent one), die Reine often emphasizes a more comprehensive, deeper purity that goes beyond mere naivety. Die Keusche (the chaste one) specifically focuses on sexual abstinence.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'die Reine'

Article Aid: Most German nouns ending in '-e' that describe people and come from adjectives are feminine (die Große, die Kleine, die Schöne...). So, remember 'die' Reine fits this pattern.

Meaning Aid: Think of the English word 'reign' (like a queen's reign) which sounds similar to 'Rein-e'. This helps remember the archaic meaning 'queen'. For the main meaning, 'pure one', think of 'rain' washing things clean, making them 'rein' (pure). Since it's 'die Reine', picture a pure queen washed by rain.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Watch out: Don't confuse die Reine with der Rhein (the river Rhine, masculine) or der Rain (a field boundary, masculine).

😂 A Little Joke

Deutsch: Warum hat die Königin aufgehört, Seife zu benutzen? Sie wollte lieber 'die Reine' im übertragenen Sinne bleiben!

English: Why did the queen stop using soap? She preferred to remain 'the Pure one' ('die Reine') in a figurative sense!

📜 A Short Poem

Deutsch:
Im Land der Tugend, hell und klar,
lebt sie, die Reine, wunderbar.
Ihr Herz ist lauter, ohne Trug,
ein Vorbild, weise und auch klug.
Ob Krone oder schlichtes Kleid,
ihr Wesen strahlt Reinheit weit.

English:
In virtue's land, so bright and clear,
Lives she, the Pure one, held so dear.
Her heart is honest, free from guise,
A model figure, clever, wise.
Whether crown or simple dress,
Her being radiates pureness.

🧩 Riddle

Deutsch:
Ich trage oft Weiß, doch bin kein Schnee,
manchmal Krone, doch kein König, oh weh.
Mein Name klingt wie 'sauber', ganz klar.
Wer bin ich, sag an, wunderbar?

Lösung: die Reine

English:
I often wear white, but am not snow,
Sometimes a crown, but no king, you know.
My name sounds like 'clean', it's quite clear.
Who am I, tell me, my dear?

Solution: die Reine (the pure one / the queen)

➕ Additional Information

• Word Formation: 'Die Reine' is an example of substantivization, where an adjective ('rein' - pure) is turned into a noun by adding an article ('die') and capitalizing it.
• Masculine Form: The male equivalent is 'der Reine' (the pure one, male).
• Adjective: The underlying adjective 'rein' has many meanings: clean, unmixed, pure, innocent, clear, absolute, etc.