die
Sohle
🦶 What's behind 'die Sohle'?
The word die Sohle (plural: die Sohlen) is a feminine noun in German and has several meanings:
- Sole of the foot: The underside of the human or animal foot. 👣
German Example: Kitzel mich nicht an der Fußsohle! (Don't tickle the sole of my foot!) - Sole of a shoe: The bottom part of a shoe that touches the ground. 👟
German Example: Meine Schuhsohlen sind schon ganz abgelaufen. (My shoe soles are already completely worn out.) - Valley floor / Bottom of a body of water: The lowest area of a valley or the bed of a river or lake. 🏞️
German Example: Wir wanderten entlang der Talsohle. (We hiked along the valley floor.) Die Gewässersohle des Baches ist steinig. (The bed of the stream is stony.)
⚠️ Important: There are no other articles for "Sohle". It is always die Sohle.
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.
The Grammar of 'die Sohle' 🧐
"Sohle" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun | English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die | Sohle | the sole |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der | Sohle | of the sole |
| Dative (To whom/what?) | der | Sohle | to/for the sole |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die | Sohle | the sole |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun | English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Sohlen | the soles |
| Genitive | der | Sohlen | of the soles |
| Dative | den | Sohlen | to/for the soles |
| Accusative | die | Sohlen | the soles |
Example Sentences
- Nominative: Die Sohle meines Stiefels ist sehr dick.
(The sole of my boot is very thick.) - Genitive: Das Profil der Sohle gibt guten Halt.
(The tread of the sole provides good grip.) - Dative: Ich spüre einen Stein unter der Sohle.
(I feel a stone under the sole.) - Accusative: Der Schuster repariert die Sohle.
(The cobbler is repairing the sole.) - Plural Dative: Mit diesen dünnen Sohlen wird mir kalt.
(I get cold with these thin soles.)
When and How to Use 'die Sohle'?
The usage of "Sohle" heavily depends on the context:
- Everyday life (Shoes/Feet): In this context, "Sohle" is very common. People talk about Schuhsohlen (shoe soles), Brandsohlen (insoles), Gummisohlen (rubber soles), or the Fußsohle (sole of the foot). Idioms like "eine flotte Sohle aufs Parkett legen" (to dance well/energetically, literally 'to lay a quick sole onto the parquet') or "auf leisen Sohlen" (on quiet soles, meaning stealthily or quietly) are also common.
- Geography/Hydrology: Here, "Sohle" describes the lowest point. You might encounter Talsohle (valley floor) or Flusssohle/Gewässersohle (riverbed/bottom of a body of water). This usage is more technical or formal.
- Distinction: Don't confuse it with "Seele" (die Seele = soul). Although they sound somewhat similar, their meanings are completely different.
Memory Aids for 'die Sohle' 🧠
Article Mnemonic: Think of feminine footwear, maybe fancy heels – they have die Sohle. The '-e' ending is also a strong indicator for feminine nouns.
Meaning Mnemonic: Whether on your foot, your shoe, or down low in a valley view – the lowest part is die Sohle, it's true! It sounds like the English 'sole'.
Similar but Different: Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Words with similar meaning):
- For Fußsohle: Fußunterseite (underside of the foot)
- For Schuhsohle: Schuhunterseite (underside of the shoe), Laufsohle (outsole/running sole)
- For Talsohle: Talboden (valley bottom), Talgrund (valley ground)
- For Gewässersohle: Flussbett (riverbed), Seegrund (lake bottom)
🚨 Caution: Don't confuse die Sohle with die Seele (soul) – they sound similar but mean completely different things!
A Little Sole-ful Joke 😂
German: Fragt der Schusterlehrling seinen Meister: "Meister, warum haben manche Schuhe eigentlich so dicke Sohlen?" Meister: "Damit die Witze, die der Träger erzählt, nicht so schnell durchlaufen sind!"
English Translation: The cobbler's apprentice asks his master: "Master, why do some shoes have such thick soles?" Master: "So that the jokes the wearer tells don't wear through so quickly!" (Pun based on 'durchlaufen' meaning 'to wear out'/'to run through')
A Poem About 'die Sohle' ✍️
German:
Die Sohle, treu bei Schritt und Tritt,
trägt uns durchs Leben, geht stets mit.
Am Fuß ganz unten, zart und weich,
Am Schuh robust, dem Boden gleich.
Im Tal ganz tief, im Flussbett klar,
Die Sohle ist stets für uns da.
English Translation:
The sole, loyal with every step and stride,
Carries us through life, always alongside.
At the foot below, tender and mild,
On the shoe robust, like the earth styled.
In the valley deep, in the riverbed clear,
The sole is always truly here.
Who or What Am I? A Sole Riddle 🤔
German:
Ich bin ganz unten, doch wichtig sehr,
Mal am Fuß, mal am Schuhwerk umher.
Mal lieg ich im Tal, tief und breit.
Wer bin ich? Ich trag' dich durch die Zeit.
Lösung: die Sohle
English Translation:
I am at the very bottom, yet very key,
Sometimes on a foot, sometimes on footwear you see.
Sometimes I lie in a valley, deep and wide.
Who am I? Through time, I'm your guide.
Solution: die Sohle (the sole)
Interesting Facts About 'die Sohle' 🤓
- Word Origin: The German word "Sohle" comes from the Old High German word "sola" or "sol", which in turn derives from the Latin "solea", originally meaning "sandal" or "sole".
- German Idioms:
- Eine flotte Sohle aufs Parkett legen: To dance well and energetically (literally: to lay a quick sole onto the parquet).
- Auf leisen Sohlen daherkommen/gehen: To approach or move quietly and unnoticed (literally: to come/go on quiet soles).
- Technical Soles: There are many specialized types of soles, e.g., Brandsohlen (insoles), Zwischensohlen (midsoles for cushioning), Laufsohlen (outsoles), Profilsohlen (treaded soles for grip).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Sohle?
The German word "Sohle" is always feminine. The correct article is invariably die Sohle. There are no variations using 'der' or 'das'.