die
Schublade
❓ What is a Schublade?
Die Schublade (feminine noun) primarily refers to a movable, open container that can be pushed into and pulled out of a piece of furniture (like a cupboard, desk, or chest of drawers) to store things. It's the German word for a drawer.
Figuratively, the phrase „in eine Schublade stecken“ (to put someone/something into a drawer) is used to express that someone or something is being superficially judged and categorized based on a cliché or prejudice. It means to pigeonhole someone.
- Meaning 1: Piece of furniture for storage (literal) - drawer
- Meaning 2: Stereotype, cliché, prejudice (figurative) - pigeonhole
🚨 Pay attention to the context to understand the correct meaning!
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.
🧐 German Grammar Corner: Die Schublade
The word „Schublade“ is a feminine noun. The correct article is die.
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Schublade | eine Schublade |
| Genitive | der Schublade | einer Schublade |
| Dative | der Schublade | einer Schublade |
| Accusative | die Schublade | eine Schublade |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Schubladen | Schubladen |
| Genitive | der Schubladen | Schubladen |
| Dative | den Schubladen | Schubladen |
| Accusative | die Schubladen | Schubladen |
Example Sentences
- Ich lege meine Socken in die oberste Schublade. (I put my socks in the top drawer.)
- Die unterste Schublade klemmt ein wenig. (The bottom drawer jams a little.)
- Man sollte Menschen nicht einfach in Schubladen stecken. (One shouldn't simply pigeonhole people.)
- Er wurde sofort in die Schublade „faul“ gesteckt. (He was immediately pigeonholed as 'lazy'.)
🤔 Using "Schublade" in Context
The literal meaning of „Schublade“ clearly refers to the part of furniture:
- In a kitchen, there's often a Besteckschublade (cutlery drawer).
- At a desk, you often keep pens in a Schublade.
The figurative meaning is more common in discussions about social issues, prejudice, or criticism of oversimplification:
- „Denk nicht in Schubladen!“ means "Don't think in stereotypes!" or "Don't pigeonhole!"
- If someone says „Das ist unterste Schublade“, they mean something is low-brow, tasteless, or rock bottom (morally or in quality). It translates to "That's the lowest of the low."
There's little risk of confusion, as the context usually makes the meaning clear. The word „Lade“ is an older or regional variant for Schublade.
💡 Memory Aids for "Schublade"
Article Mnemonic: Imagine DIana, Princess of Wales 👸, hiding her secrets in DIE Schublade. (Feminine names often end in -a, helping remember the feminine 'die').
Meaning Mnemonic: You have to shove (schieben) a drawer to open or close it -> Schublade. Figuratively, when you mentally 'shove' someone aside into a category, you put them in a mental Schublade (pigeonhole).
🔄 Similar & Opposite Terms
Synonyms
- For furniture part: Lade (drawer, older/regional), Fach (compartment), Auszug (pull-out)
- For pigeonhole/cliché: Stereotyp (stereotype), Vorurteil (prejudice), Klischee (cliché), Pauschalurteil (blanket judgement), Schema (scheme, pattern)
- For „unterste Schublade“: Niveaulosigkeit (lack of class), Geschmacklosigkeit (tastelessness)
Antonyms
- For pigeonhole/cliché: Differenzierung (differentiation), Individualität (individuality), Offenheit (openness), Unvoreingenommenheit (open-mindedness, impartiality)
- For furniture part: (Direct antonym difficult) Regal (shelf), offenes Fach (open compartment) (as a contrast to closed)
⚠️ Be careful: „Fach“ can also mean a school subject or a field of expertise.
😄 A Little Laugh
Warum hat der Komiker seine Witze in der Schublade?
(Why does the comedian keep his jokes in the drawer?)
Damit er immer einen auf Lager hat!
(So he always has one 'in stock'! - 'auf Lager haben' means 'to have in stock', and 'Lade' is part of Schublade)
📜 Poetic Drawer
In dunkler Kammer, still und schlicht,
verbirgt ein Möbelstück sein Licht.
Man zieht sie raus, man schiebt sie rein,
die Schublade, mal groß, mal klein.
Sie birgt Geheimnisse und Kram,
und manchmal auch ein Vorurteil, grausam und lahm.
Drum öffne sie mit Bedacht und Sinn,
was liegt wohl wirklich tief darin?
--- English Translation ---
In a dark chamber, quiet and plain,
A piece of furniture hides its light's domain.
You pull it out, you push it in,
The drawer, sometimes large, sometimes thin.
It holds secrets and various stuff,
And sometimes prejudice, cruel and rough.
So open it with care and thought,
What truly lies deep within, sought?
🧩 Who am I?
Ich habe keinen Mund, doch schlucke viel,
von Socken, Stiften bis zum Spiel.
Man zieht mich auf, man schiebt mich zu,
in Möbeln finde ich meine Ruh'.
Doch Achtung, steck nicht schnell hinein,
ein Vorurteil, das könnt' ich auch sein!
--- English Translation ---
I have no mouth, yet I swallow a lot,
From socks and pens to games you've got.
You pull me open, you push me closed,
In furniture, my rest is posed.
But beware, don't quickly put inside,
A prejudice, which I can also hide!
Answer: Die Schublade (The drawer / The pigeonhole)
📌 Interesting Facts about Schublade
Word Composition: The word „Schublade“ is composed of:
- schieben: to push/shove - the action used to open and close it.
- Lade: an older word for a container, often box-like (related to „laden“ - to load).
Culturally: The concept of „Schubladendenken“ (literally 'drawer thinking', meaning 'pigeonholing') is internationally recognized and criticizes the tendency to categorize complex individuals or situations into simplistic boxes.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Schublade?
The word "Schublade" is feminine. The correct article is die Schublade. It refers to a drawer in furniture or, figuratively, to a stereotype or pigeonhole.