die
Schilddrüse
🦋 What exactly is 'die Schilddrüse'?
Die Schilddrüse is the German word for the thyroid gland. It's a vital endocrine gland located in the neck of humans (and vertebrates), below the larynx (Kehlkopf). Its shape often resembles a butterfly or a shield, which is where the name comes from (Schild = shield + Drüse = gland).
Its main function is the production and storage of hormones (especially thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3)), which regulate many important metabolic processes in the body, including energy consumption, growth, and body temperature.
There is only one article for this word: die Schilddrüse (feminine).
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: Declension of 'die Schilddrüse'
The word "Schilddrüse" is a feminine noun. It is declined as follows:
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Schilddrüse |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Schilddrüse |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Schilddrüse |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Schilddrüse |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Schilddrüsen |
| Genitive | der | Schilddrüsen |
| Dative | den | Schilddrüsen |
| Accusative | die | Schilddrüsen |
💡 Example Sentences
- Die Schilddrüse produziert wichtige Hormone.
(The thyroid gland produces important hormones.) - Eine Untersuchung der Schilddrüse wird empfohlen.
(An examination of the thyroid gland is recommended.) - Der Arzt tastete der Schilddrüse vorsichtig nach Knoten ab.
(The doctor carefully palpated the thyroid gland for nodules. - Note: Dative case here is less common in this specific phrasing than the accusative: Der Arzt tastete die Schilddrüse ab.) - Man kann die Schilddrüse bei bestimmten Erkrankungen vergrößert sehen.
(One can see the thyroid gland enlarged in certain diseases.) - Probleme mit den Schilddrüsen sind relativ häufig.
(Problems with thyroid glands are relatively common.)
🗣️ Usage in Daily Life and Technical Jargon
The term "Schilddrüse" is primarily used in a medical context, but also in general conversation when discussing health.
- Medical field: Doctors, biologists, and patients talk about die Schilddrüse in connection with diagnoses (e.g., Schilddrüsenunterfunktion - hypothyroidism, Schilddrüsenüberfunktion - hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto-Thyreoiditis, Schilddrüsenkrebs - thyroid cancer), examinations (Ultraschall - ultrasound, Szintigraphie - scintigraphy), and treatments (medications like L-thyroxine, surgery - Operation).
- Everyday language: You might hear the term when someone talks about their health problems ("Ich habe Probleme mit der Schilddrüse." - I have problems with my thyroid.) or about symptoms associated with the thyroid (e.g., Müdigkeit - fatigue, Gewichtszunahme/-abnahme - weight gain/loss, Nervosität - nervousness).
Important: Don't confuse die Schilddrüse with the Nebenschilddrüsen (parathyroid glands). Although located nearby, they have different functions (regulating calcium balance).
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Remembering the Article
Think: Many glands ('Drüsen') in German are feminine ('die'), like 'die Bauchspeicheldrüse' (pancreas). So, it's also die Schilddrüse! ♀️
↔️ Synonyms and Related Terms
Synonyms
Related Terms (not direct antonyms)
- Nebenschilddrüse(n): parathyroid gland(s) - Located near the thyroid, but with different functions.
- Schilddrüsenhormone: thyroid hormones - The substances produced by the gland (T3, T4).
- Schilddrüsenunterfunktion (Hypothyreose): hypothyroidism - Condition where too few hormones are produced.
- Schilddrüsenüberfunktion (Hyperthyreose): hyperthyroidism - Condition where too many hormones are produced.
- Kropf (Struma): goiter - Visible enlargement of the thyroid gland.
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt der Arzt den Patienten: "Haben Sie manchmal das Gefühl, Ihre Schilddrüse diskutiert lauter als Sie?"
Patient: "Nein, aber sie mischt sich ständig in meinen Stoffwechsel ein!"
Translation:
The doctor asks the patient: "Do you sometimes feel like your thyroid gland argues louder than you?"
Patient: "No, but it's constantly interfering with my metabolism!"
📜 Poem about the 'Schilddrüse'
Im Hals, da sitzt sie, klein und fein,
Die Schilddrüse, selten allein.
Mit Hormonen, T3 und T4,
Regelt sie den Stoffwechsel hier.
Mal schnell, mal langsam, taktet sie den Lauf,
Passt auf den Energiehaushalt auf.
Translation:
In the neck, it sits, small and fine,
The thyroid gland, seldom alone.
With hormones, T3 and T4,
It regulates the metabolism here.
Sometimes fast, sometimes slow, it sets the pace,
Watches over the energy balance with grace.
❓ Little Riddle
Ich sitze am Hals, bin aber kein Schmuck.
Ich sehe wie ein Schmetterling aus, hab' aber keinen Ruck.
Ich steuere dein Tempo, mal langsam, mal schnell.
Wer bin ich, sag's mir auf der Stell'!
Translation:
I sit at the neck, but am not jewelry.
I look like a butterfly, but have no fluttery.
I control your pace, sometimes slow, sometimes fast.
Who am I, tell me, make it last!
Solution: Die Schilddrüse (The thyroid gland)
🧩 Additional Information
- Word Composition: The word is composed of "Schild" (shield - due to its shape) and "Drüse" (gland - an organ that produces secretions).
- Jodmangel (Iodine Deficiency): A lack of iodine in the diet can lead to an enlargement of the thyroid gland (Kropf or goiter) and hypothyroidism.
- Häufigkeit (Frequency): Thyroid diseases are among the most common endocrine disorders.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Schilddrüse?
The German word "Schilddrüse" is always feminine. The correct article is die: die Schilddrüse (singular) and die Schilddrüsen (plural).