die
Schau
🧐 What Exactly is "die Schau"?
The German word die Schau (feminine) has several meanings, often related to seeing or presenting something:
- Exhibition, Show, Display: This is a common meaning. A Schau can be an art exhibition (Kunstausstellung), a fashion show (Modenschau), a trade show (Leistungsschau), or a fair (Messe). Example: Morgen besuchen wir die große Autoschau. (Tomorrow we'll visit the big car show.)
- The Sight, The View, The Display: It can also refer to the act of looking or the sight itself, often in fixed expressions. Example: Er stellte seine teure Uhr zur Schau. (He put his expensive watch on display / He showed off his expensive watch.)
- (Informal) Fuss, Spectacle, Act: Sometimes Schau is used colloquially to describe exaggerated or conspicuous behavior. Example: Mach doch nicht so eine Schau deswegen! (Don't make such a fuss about it!)
- (Archaic/Regional) Look, Gaze: Less commonly, it can simply mean a look or a gaze. Example: Eine kurze Schau genügte ihm. (A brief look was enough for him.)
🚨 Attention: Don't confuse the noun die Schau with the imperative form of the verb schauen (to look): Schau! (Look!).
✍️ Grammar of "die Schau" in Detail
The noun die Schau is feminine. Here is the declension in the singular. The plural form die Schauen is rather uncommon and usually used only in specific contexts (e.g., animal shows - Tierschauen, trade shows - Leistungsschauen) or for the meaning 'look/gaze'. Often, synonyms like Ausstellungen (exhibitions) or Vorführungen (shows/performances) are used instead.
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Schau | eine Schau |
| Genitive | der Schau | einer Schau |
| Dative | der Schau | einer Schau |
| Accusative | die Schau | eine Schau |
| Case | Definite Article |
|---|---|
| Nominative | die Schauen |
| Genitive | der Schauen |
| Dative | den Schauen |
| Accusative | die Schauen |
Example Sentences
- Die Modenschau in Paris war beeindruckend. (The fashion show in Paris was impressive.)
- Er stellte seinen Reichtum gerne zur Schau. (He liked to show off his wealth. / He liked putting his wealth on display.)
- Sie zog eine große Schau ab, nur weil sie warten musste. (She put on a big act/made a big fuss just because she had to wait.)
- Der Preis der Schau war ein Pokal. (The prize of the show was a trophy.) (Genitive)
- Wir geben der Schau eine gute Bewertung. (We give the show a good rating.) (Dative)
🗣️ How "die Schau" is Used
The usage of die Schau strongly depends on the context:
- Exhibitions/Events: Frequently found in compound words like Modenschau (fashion show), Tierschau (animal show), Leistungsschau (trade show, showcase), Autoschau (car show). Here, it clearly means an organized event for presentation.
- Zur Schau stellen: A very common phrase meaning to put something on display, often in a boastful or conspicuous way (e.g., wealth, knowledge, emotions).
- Eine Schau abziehen/machen: Colloquial phrase for putting on an act, making a scene, or behaving theatrically. Can have a negative connotation (someone makes an unnecessary fuss) or be appreciative (someone delivers a great performance).
- Jemandem die Schau stehlen: Means to steal someone's thunder, to take the attention away from someone else, to be better or more noticeable than the person who was supposed to be the center of attention.
Compared to Ausstellung (exhibition), Schau is often a bit more general or can refer to smaller events. Vorführung (demonstration, performance) emphasizes the active process of showing. Blick (look, gaze) is more specific to the act of seeing.
🧠 Mnemonics for "die Schau"
-
Article Mnemonic: Think of the English word show. It sounds similar to Schau. Now imagine a glamorous woman (feminine) putting on a great show. Die Schau is feminine. Or link it to die Modenschau (the fashion show). Many nouns ending in -schau are feminine.
-
Meaning Mnemonic: The word comes from the verb schauen (to look, to see). So, a Schau is something you look at (anschauen) or something that is put on display (zur Schau gestellt). Think: "Look! What a great show!" -> "Schau mal, was für eine tolle Schau!"
↔️ Opposites and Similar Words
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- For "exhibition/show": die Ausstellung (exhibition), die Vorführung (show, performance, demonstration), die Präsentation (presentation), die Messe (fair, trade show), das Spektakel (spectacle), die Vorstellung (performance, show)
- For "sight/display": der Anblick (sight, view), die Zurschaustellung (display, ostentation), die Parade (parade, also fig. for showing off), die Demonstration (demonstration)
- For "fuss/act": das Getue (fuss), das Aufheben(s) (fuss), das Theater (drama, fuss, lit. theatre), die Szene (scene, act)
- For "look/gaze": der Blick (look, gaze), das Ansehen (sight)
Antonyms (Opposites):
- For "putting on display": das Verstecken (hiding), die Verbergung (concealment), die Verschleierung (veiling, concealment), die Geheimhaltung (secrecy)
- For "fuss/act": die Zurückhaltung (restraint), die Bescheidenheit (modesty), die Unauffälligkeit (inconspicuousness)
⚠️ Similar but Different Words:
😂 A Little Joke About "Schau"
DE: Fragt der Lehrer: "Fritzchen, was ist eine Tierschau?"
Fritzchen: "Wenn die Löwen die Dompteure zur Schau stellen!"
EN: The teacher asks: "Fritzchen, what is an animal show (Tierschau)?"
Fritzchen: "When the lions put the tamers on display (zur Schau stellen)!"
✍️ Poem About "die Schau"
DE:
Auf dem Markt, 'ne bunte Schau,
Obst und Gemüse, ach wie schlau
Präsentiert für jedermann,
Dass man es gut sehen kann.
Im Museum, still und rein,
Stellt man Kunst zur Schau hinein.
Alte Meister, neues Werk,
Jedes Bild ein starker Berg.
Doch wer nur prahlt und Getue macht,
Hat oft wenig eingebracht.
Stiehl nicht andern ihre Schau,
Sei bescheiden, klug und schlau!
EN Translation:
At the market, a colourful show,
Fruit and veggies, oh how cleverly
Presented for everyone,
So that one can see it well.
In the museum, quiet and pure,
Art is put on display inside.
Old masters, new work,
Every picture a strong mountain.
But who only boasts and makes a fuss,
Has often brought little in.
Don't steal others' thunder (lit: show),
Be modest, smart and clever!
❓ Riddle Time
DE:
Ich kann eine Messe sein, ganz groß,
Oder nur Getue, bloß.
Man stellt mich gern zur ______, wenn man prahlt,
Und manchmal werd' ich bunt bemalt.
Man stiehlt mich auch, welch eine Qual!
Was bin ich? Na klar, die Schau!
EN Translation:
I can be a fair, quite grand,
Or just a fuss, across the land.
People like to put me on ______, when they boast,
And sometimes I'm colourfully painted, a vibrant host.
People steal me too, oh what a pain!
What am I? Of course, die Schau!
🌐 More Interesting Facts
Word Formation: The noun die Schau is derived from the verb schauen (to look). It's a process called nominalization (Substantivierung).
Compounds: Schau is a very productive base word for compound nouns (Komposita). Well-known examples include:
- Modenschau (fashion show)
- Leistungsschau (trade show, showcase)
- Tierschau (animal show)
- Autoschau (car show)
- Vorschau (preview)
- Umschau (review, look-around)
- Rückschau (retrospective, review)
Idioms: As mentioned in the "Usage" section, "zur Schau stellen" (to put on display/show off) and "jemandem die Schau stehlen" (to steal someone's thunder/show) are very common idioms.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Schau?
The German noun Schau is feminine. The correct article is die Schau. It most often means show, exhibition, display, or colloquially fuss, act.