die  Sitzbank

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈtsɪtsbaŋk/

🛋️ What exactly is a Sitzbank?

Die Sitzbank (noun, feminine) refers to a long piece of furniture that offers seating for several people at the same time. It typically has no backrest or a continuous one, and sometimes armrests. You can find Sitzbänke (plural) in many places: in parks (Parks), gardens (Gärten), waiting rooms (Wartezimmern), public transport (öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln), or even in homes (Wohnungen).

The word is composed of sitzen (to sit) and Bank (bench). Since die Bank (in the sense of a seat, not the financial institution) is feminine, die Sitzbank is also feminine.

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Sitzbank

The noun "Sitzbank" is feminine. The article is "die". Here is the declension:

📝 Example Sentences

• Im Park stand eine alte Sitzbank unter einem Baum.
  (An old bench stood under a tree in the park.)
• Wir setzten uns auf die gemütliche Sitzbank im Garten.
  (We sat down on the cozy bench in the garden.)
• Die Kinder malten auf der Sitzbank.
  (The children were drawing on the bench.)
• Viele neue Sitzbänke wurden am Bahnhof aufgestellt.
  (Many new benches were installed at the train station.)

💡 How to use "Sitzbank"?

"Die Sitzbank" is an everyday word used to describe a long seat for several people.

• Context: Often used in relation to public spaces (Parkbank - park bench, Wartebank - waiting bench), gardens (Gartenbank - garden bench), churches (Kirchenbank - pew), or inside the home (Eckbank - corner bench, often in kitchens).
• Distinction: A Stuhl is a chair for one person. A Sessel is usually an upholstered armchair for one person. A Sofa or Couch is similar but generally larger, upholstered, and typically found in a living room. Die Bank can also mean the financial institution, but context usually clarifies the meaning. A Werkbank is a workbench for crafting, not a seat.
• Typical Verbs: auf einer Sitzbank sitzen (to sit on a bench), sich auf eine Sitzbank setzen (to sit down on a bench), eine Sitzbank aufstellen (to set up/install a bench), eine Sitzbank streichen (to paint a bench).

🧠 Mnemonics for Sitzbank

Article Mnemonic: Think of die Bank (the piece of furniture, not the financial institution). Both are places where you might linger, and both are feminine in German. A Sitzbank is a specific type of Bank, so it stays feminine: die Sitzbank.

Meaning Mnemonic: The word tells you directly: It's a Bank (bench) for Sitzen (sitting). Simple as that!

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Lehrer: "Warum sind die Tage im Sommer länger?"
Antwortet Fritzchen: "Weil die Wärme alles ausdehnt, auch die Tage! Und deshalb passen auch mehr Leute auf die Sitzbank im Park!" 😄

Teacher asks: "Why are the days longer in summer?"
Little Fritz answers: "Because heat expands everything, including the days! And that's why more people fit on the park bench too!" 😄

📜 Poem about a Sitzbank

Die Sitzbank im Park, so alt und grau,
lädt ein zum Verweilen, komm, setz dich schlau.
Sie hört Geschichten, Tag für Tag,
von Freude, Sorgen, mancher Plag'.
Ein stiller Zeuge, fest und breit,
für eine kleine Rast bereit.

(Translation):
The bench in the park, so old and grey,
invites you to linger, come, sit smartly, pray.
It hears stories, day by day,
of joy, sorrow, many a fray.
A silent witness, firm and wide,
ready for a little rest inside.

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich biete Platz für mehr als einen,
steh' oft im Park, bei Sonnenschein.
Man sitzt auf mir, um auszuruhn,
hab meist vier Beine, was tu ich nun?

Wer bin ich? ... Die Sitzbank

(Translation):
I offer space for more than one,
Often stand in the park, in the sun.
People sit on me to rest,
I usually have four legs, put to the test.

Who am I? ... The Bench (Die Sitzbank)

✨ Other Interesting Facts

Word Composition:

The word "Sitzbank" is a compound noun, formed from:

• The verb stem of sitzen (to sit)
• The noun die Bank (the bench)

Cultural Note: Sitzbänke often serve a social function in German-speaking countries and elsewhere. They are meeting points (Treffpunkte), places for communication (Orte der Kommunikation), or simply spots for observing one's surroundings. Their design can range from very simple to artistically valuable.