die  Sippe

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈzɪpə/

📖 What does "die Sippe" mean?

Die Sippe (noun, feminine) originally refers to an extended family community or a clan, meaning a group of people connected by blood ties or ancestry. The term often has a historical or anthropological context (e.g., germanische Sippen - Germanic clans).

⚠️ Nowadays, "Sippe" can also be used pejoratively or ironically to describe a group of people (often perceived as unpleasant or cliquey), especially a family or a tightly-knit group.

• Meaning 1: Clan, kindred, extended family (often historical/anthropological)
• Meaning 2: (Colloquial, often pejorative) Family, entourage, clique, gang

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "die Sippe" in Detail

The word "Sippe" is a feminine noun. The article is "die".

Example Sentences:

1. In alten germanischen Gesellschaften war die Sippe die wichtigste soziale Einheit.
   (In old Germanic societies, the clan/kin group was the most important social unit.)
2. Er brachte seine ganze Sippe zur Hochzeit mit.
   (He brought his entire kin/family/'clan' to the wedding. - can be neutral or slightly ironic)
3. Ich habe keine Lust, mich mit dieser ganzen Sippe auseinanderzusetzen.
   (I don't feel like dealing with that whole bunch/gang/'clan'. - rather pejorative)

🗣️ How to use "Sippe"?

The usage of "Sippe" heavily depends on the context:

• Historical/Anthropological: Here, the term is neutral and describes a lineage group or clan (e.g., die Sippen der alten Germanen - the clans of the ancient Germanic tribes).
• Biology: Less commonly, the term is used in biology to denote a taxonomic group (outdated, usually *Taxon* today).
• Colloquial (Neutral to slightly ironic): Sometimes used for one's own or someone else's (large) family, often with a slightly humorous or detached undertone (e.g., die ganze Sippe kommt zu Besuch - the whole clan/bunch is coming to visit).
• Colloquial (Pejorative): Often, "Sippe" is used negatively to portray a group (family, friends, colleagues) as cliquey, unpleasant, or backward (e.g., Diese korrupte Sippe beherrscht die Stadt. - This corrupt gang/clan controls the city). Here it resembles words like *Bande* (gang) or *Clique*.

Comparison:

• Familie: The neutral and most common term for the nuclear family or close relatives.
• Verwandtschaft: Refers to all relatives, often more neutral and comprehensive than *Familie*.
• Clan: Similar to *Sippe*, often used for non-European or historical/literary lineage groups (e.g., Scottish clans).

🚨 Pay attention to the context to avoid misunderstandings, as the negative connotation is quite common today.

🧠 Mnemonics for Sippe

Article Mnemonic: Imagine a family reunion where everyone has to zip (sounds like Sipp-) their lips because she (feminine = die) is the boss. Die Sippe.

Meaning Mnemonic: Think of people *sipping* from the same cup at a large family gathering - that's the Sippe (clan/kin group). Or think of the English word *sibling* - it shares roots with *Sippe* and relates to family.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words:

• Sippschaft: Very similar to Sippe, often used pejoratively as well.
• Sippenhaft: (Kollektivhaftung, kin liability) Legal term (historical, esp. Nazi era) where relatives are punished for the actions of a family member.

😂 A Little Joke

German: Warum nehmen Ameisen nie Verwandte auf?
Weil sie sonst eine riesige Sippe wären!

English: Why do ants never take in relatives?
Because otherwise, they'd be a huge Sippe (clan/kin)! (Play on words - 'riesig' means huge, but it sounds a bit like 'relative' in some contexts, although the joke relies more on the 'huge number of relatives' idea)

✍️ Poem about the Sippe

German:
Von nah und fern, aus alter Zeit,
kommt sie zusammen, steht bereit.
Die Sippe hält, in Freud und Leid,
durch Blutsband stark, für alle Ewigkeit.
Doch sprich das Wort mit Bedacht,
mal Clan, mal Spott bei Tag und Nacht.

English Translation:
From near and far, from ancient times,
it gathers together, ready it chimes.
The Sippe holds, in joy and pain,
by blood-bond strong, forever to remain.
But speak the word with care and thought,
sometimes clan, sometimes mockery brought.

❓ Riddle

German:
Ich bin ein Band, geknüpft durch Blut,
mal alt und ehrenhaft, mal voller Wut.
Im Geschichtsbuch steh' ich oft,
manchmal wirst du von mir verhöhnt, unverhofft.
Ich bin mehr als Familie, größer als der Clan,
wer bin ich? Sag's, wenn du es erraten kannst!

English:
I am a bond, tied by blood,
Sometimes old and honorable, sometimes full of mud (figurative for anger/negativity).
In history books, I often stand,
Sometimes you're mocked by me, right out of hand.
I am more than family, larger than the clan,
Who am I? Tell me, if you can!

Solution: die Sippe

💡 Other Information

Etymology: The word "Sippe" comes from the Old High German word "sippia" or "sibba", which meant "kinship", "peace", or "kin group". It is related to the English word "sibling" and the old word "gossip" (originally "god-sib", godparent, later tattletale).

Historical Context: In many early cultures, especially among Germanic tribes, the *Sippe* was the fundamental social, legal, and economic unit, providing protection and support, but also entailing obligations such as blood feuds or *Sippenhaftung* (kin liability).