die
Schülerin
📚 What does "die Schülerin" mean?
Die Schülerin refers to a female person attending a school, especially a primary or secondary school (Grundschule, Hauptschule, Realschule, Gymnasium). It is the female equivalent of der Schüler (male student).
It describes a person who is learning and being taught, typically of school age or during secondary education.
🚨 Important: At universities or colleges, female students are generally called Studentinnen, not Schülerinnen.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Women → almost always feminine.
Caution: Most professions also have their feminine forms (e.g. die Polizistin). Some words can also have two forms: der/die Deutsche, der/die Kranke.
-in → mostly feminine.
All persons and professions ending in -in are feminine. Other -in nouns can be der/die/das.
Understanding the Grammar of "Schülerin" 🤓
"Schülerin" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
Singular Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Schülerin |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Schülerin |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Schülerin |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Schülerin |
Plural Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Schülerinnen |
| Genitive | der | Schülerinnen |
| Dative | den | Schülerinnen |
| Accusative | die | Schülerinnen |
Example Sentences
- Die Schülerin macht ihre Hausaufgaben. (The (female) student does her homework.)
- Das Buch gehört der Schülerin. (The book belongs to the (female) student.)
- Der Lehrer gibt der Schülerin eine gute Note. (The teacher gives the (female) student a good grade.)
- Ich sehe die Schülerin auf dem Schulhof. (I see the (female) student in the schoolyard.)
- Die Schülerinnen gehen gemeinsam zur Bibliothek. (The (female) students go to the library together.)
When to use "Schülerin"? 🤔
The term die Schülerin is used to refer to female individuals attending a general education school (e.g., Grundschule, Gymnasium).
- Context: Primarily in the school environment, in conversations about education, children, and adolescents.
- Distinction: A woman attending a university is a Studentin. A person in vocational training might be called an Auszubildende or Azubi (female).
- Formality: The word is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Memory Aids for "die Schülerin" 💡
Article Mnemonic: "Schülerin" ends in "-in", which is typical for many feminine occupations and person descriptions in German (like Lehrerin, Ärztin). Female persons = article "die". Think: The suffix '-in' makes it feminine, so it gets die article.
Meaning Mnemonic: The word contains "Schule" (school). A Schülerin is a female person who goes to Schule. The "-in" ending signals the female form.
Synonyms & Antonyms for Schülerin 🔄
Synonyms (Words with similar meaning):
- Lernende: (Learner) - More general term for someone who learns (can also be outside school).
- (Colloquial, depending on context): Schulmädchen (Schoolgirl) - Often sounds a bit dated or diminutive.
Similar Terms:
A Little Joke 😄
Lehrerin: "Fritzchen, nenne mir drei Tiere, die in Australien leben."
Schülerin: "Ein Koala und zwei Kängurus, Frau Lehrerin!"
Translation:
Teacher: "Fritzchen (common placeholder name), name three animals that live in Australia."
Student: "One koala and two kangaroos, Miss Teacher!"
Poem about a Schülerin ✒️
Im Klassenzimmer, still und fein,
sitzt eine Schülerin, klug und klein.
Mit Stift und Heft, so lernt sie gern,
die Welt zu fassen, nah und fern.
Die Tafel zeigt, was wichtig ist,
sie hört gut zu, zu jeder Frist.
Die Schülerin, mit wachem Sinn,
zieht aus dem Wissen den Gewinn.
Translation:
In the classroom, quiet and fine,
sits a (female) student, clever and petite.
With pen and notebook, she likes to learn,
to grasp the world, near and far.
The blackboard shows what is important,
she listens well, at every moment.
The (female) student, with an alert mind,
draws benefit from knowledge.
Who am I? A Riddle 🤔
Ich trage einen Ranzen schwer,
lauf morgens zur Schule her.
Ich lerne Lesen, Schreiben, Rechnen,
und muss manchmal über Aufgaben ächzen.
Ich bin weiblich, jung zumeist,
wer weiß, wie man mich auf Deutsch heißt?
Translation:
I carry a heavy schoolbag,
I walk to school in the morning.
I learn reading, writing, arithmetic,
and sometimes have to groan over tasks.
I am female, usually young,
who knows what I am called in German?
Solution: die Schülerin
Additional Information 🧐
Word Formation
The word "Schülerin" is a derivative:
- Root: Schule (school)
- Derivation 1: Schüler (male person attending school, derived with suffix -er)
- Derivation 2: Schülerin (female person, derived from Schüler with the feminizing suffix -in)
Cultural Context
In Germany, the term "Schülerin" is strongly associated with the general education school system. The distinction from "Studentin" (university student) is clearly defined.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Schülerin?
The word "Schülerin" is feminine. The correct article is always die (die Schülerin, die Schülerinnen).