die
Schwester
👩👧👧 What does “die Schwester” mean?
The word die Schwester (feminine) has several meanings in German:
- Female sibling: The most common meaning is a female person who shares the same parents or at least one parent with another person. (Your sister)
- Nurse: A job title for a female caregiver in medical facilities (hospitals, doctor's offices, etc.). Officially often called "Gesundheits- und Krankenpflegerin", but "Schwester" is very common colloquially. (A nurse)
- Nun: A woman who is a member of a religious community or order. (A sister in a convent)
🚨 Attention: Although there are different meanings, the article is always die, as it always refers to a female person.
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.
📊 Grammar of “die Schwester” in Detail
The noun „die Schwester“ is feminine. Here are the declension tables:
| Case | Article | Word |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Schwester |
| Genitive | der | Schwester |
| Dative | der | Schwester |
| Accusative | die | Schwester |
| Case | Article | Word |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Schwestern |
| Genitive | der | Schwestern |
| Dative | den | Schwestern |
| Accusative | die | Schwestern |
Example Sentences 📝
- Meine Schwester wohnt in Berlin.
(My sister lives in Berlin.) - Die Schwester hat mir den Verband gewechselt.
(The nurse changed my bandage.) - Die Schwestern des Klosters beten jeden Morgen.
(The sisters/nuns of the convent pray every morning.) - Im Krankenhaus arbeiten viele freundliche Schwestern.
(Many friendly nurses work in the hospital.)
🗣️ When and how to use “die Schwester”?
- In a family context: When talking about one's female siblings. Example: "Ich habe zwei Schwestern und einen Bruder." (I have two sisters and one brother.)
- In a medical context: Colloquially for female nurses. Note: The official job title is more complex ("Gesundheits- und Krankenpflegerin"), but "Schwester" is very common in everyday language and usually understood, even if male nurses (who are called "Pfleger") are present. Example: "Können Sie bitte die Schwester rufen?" (Could you please call the nurse?)
- In a religious context: For members of female religious orders (nuns). Example: "Schwester Maria leitet den Chor." (Sister Maria leads the choir.)
Comparison: The male counterpart is "der Bruder" (brother/sibling) or "der Pfleger" (male nurse). For nuns, the direct male counterpart isn't "Bruder" in the church sense (that would be "der Bruder" or "der Mönch" - monk). The general term for siblings regardless of gender is "die Geschwister" (plural).
🧠 Mnemonics for “die Schwester”
Article Mnemonic: Think of "Schwester". It ends in "-er", which often suggests masculine nouns (like 'Lehrer', 'Bäcker'), BUT a sister is always female. Femininity requires the feminine article: die Schwester.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a caring person. She could be your Schwester in the family, looking after you. She could be the Schwester (nurse) in the hospital, caring for patients. Or she could be the Schwester (nun) in the convent, caring for spiritual matters. Always a female, often in a caring role.
🔁 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Words):
- For sibling: (No direct synonyms, rather paraphrases like "weibliches Geschwisterkind" - female sibling child)
- For nurse: die Krankenschwester, die Pflegerin, die Krankenpflegerin, die Gesundheits- und Krankenpflegerin (official term)
- For nun: die Ordensschwester, die Nonne, die Klosterfrau
⚠️ Similar Words (Potential Confusion):
- Die Schwieger- (e.g., Schwiegermutter - mother-in-law): Refers to relatives by marriage, not blood relatives like die Schwester.
- Die Geschwister (plural): Refers to brothers and sisters together, or multiple siblings in general.
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt der Arzt die aufgeregte junge Schwester: „Haben Sie dem Patienten das Beruhigungsmittel gegeben?“
Antwortet die Schwester: „Ja, Herr Doktor.“
Fragt der Arzt weiter: „Und wirkt es schon?“
Schwester: „Bestimmt gleich, er versucht gerade, sich mit dem Kamm die Haare zu föhnen!“
Translation:
The doctor asks the flustered young nurse: "Did you give the patient the sedative?"
The nurse replies: "Yes, Doctor."
The doctor asks further: "And is it working yet?"
Nurse: "It must be about to, he's currently trying to blow-dry his hair with a comb!"
📜 Poem about die Schwester
Die Schwester, Hand in Hand im Leben,
Mal Streit, mal Trost, mal sanftes Geben.
Im Krankenhaus mit weißem Kittel,
Lindert Schmerz, ist wichtiges Mittel.
Im Kloster still, dem Glauben nah,
die Schwester ist für andere da.
Translation:
The sister, hand in hand through life,
Sometimes strife, sometimes comfort, sometimes gentle giving.
In the hospital with a white coat,
Eases pain, is an important resource.
Quiet in the convent, close to faith,
the sister is there for others.
🤔 Little Riddle
Ich teile Eltern mit dir,
Helf im Spital, das glaube mir,
Im Kloster find' ich meinen Frieden.
Wer bin ich wohl, in diesen Liedern?
Translation:
I share parents with you,
Help in the hospital, believe me true,
In the convent, I find my peace.
Who am I, in verses like these?
(Answer: die Schwester)
ℹ️ Additional Information
- Etymology: The word "Schwester" comes from the Old High German "swester" and has Indo-European roots possibly pointing to a female relative on the mother's side.
- Compounds: The word forms many compounds, e.g., Zwillingsschwester (twin sister), Halbschwester (half-sister), Stiefschwester (stepsister), Krankenschwester (nurse), Oberschwester (head nurse), Ordensschwester (nun/sister).
- Cultural Significance: The relationship between sisters is often a theme in literature and film, symbolizing closeness but also rivalry. The term "Schwester" in medical and religious contexts expresses care and community.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Schwester?
The word "Schwester" is always feminine. Therefore, the correct article is exclusively die: die Schwester (singular) and die Schwestern (plural). This applies to all its meanings (sibling, nurse, nun).