die  Sorte

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/zɪ ˈzɔʁtə/

What does "die Sorte" mean? 🤔

Die Sorte (noun, feminine) refers to a specific kind, type, sort, or variety of something. It's used to classify or distinguish items within a larger group.

• For goods & products: A specific version or brand (e.g., eine Käsesorte - a type of cheese, eine Weinsorte - a type/variety of wine, eine Stoffsorte - a type of fabric).
• For living beings: A specific breed or cultivar (e.g., eine Apfelsorte - an apple variety, eine Rosensorte - a rose variety, a type/breed of animal).
• For people (often derogatory): A specific kind or character of person (e.g., "Leute dieser Sorte mag ich nicht." - "I don't like people of this sort." ⚠️ Be careful: This can sound negative!).
• General: A category or class (e.g., Welche Sorte Musik hörst du? - What kind of music do you listen to?).

Article rules for der, die, and das

Grammar Corner: Declining "die Sorte" ✍️

"Sorte" is a feminine noun. The article is die.

Example Sentences

1. Welche Sorte Käse möchten Sie probieren?
   (Which type of cheese would you like to try?)
2. Im Garten wachsen viele verschiedene Sorten von Rosen.
   (Many different varieties of roses grow in the garden.)
3. Er hat mir eine neue Sorte Tee empfohlen.
   (He recommended a new kind of tea to me.)
4. Das ist nicht die übliche Sorte Mensch, die man hier trifft.
   (That's not the usual sort of person you meet here. - Be mindful of the context!)

Using "die Sorte" in Context ✅

"Die Sorte" is very common in everyday German, especially when talking about choices and variety.

• Shopping & Food: Very common for groceries. „Ich nehme zwei Sorten Marmelade.“ (I'll take two kinds of jam.)
• Gardening & Nature: Used to distinguish plant species and cultivars. „Diese Apfelsorte ist besonders süß.“ (This apple variety is particularly sweet.)
• Products & Goods: To describe different versions. „Wir führen diese Schrauben in drei Sorten.“ (We stock these screws in three types.)
• Abstract things: Also used for types of music, film genres, etc. „Diese Sorte Film gefällt mir nicht.“ (I don't like this kind of movie.)
• People (Caution ⚠️): Using it for people („Leute dieser Sorte“ - people of this sort) often has negative connotations and can sound derogatory or generalizing. It often implies an undesirable or problematic type of person. It's often better to be more specific or use neutral terms like „Typ“ (type) or „Art von Person“ (kind of person) if no offense is intended.

Compared to Art (kind, type, species) or Typ (type), Sorte often refers more specifically to varieties within a known category, especially for cultivated items or products.

Mnemonics for "die Sorte" 🧠

Article Mnemonic: Think of "Dieversity". Diversity is conceptually feminine (die Vielfalt in German), and die Sorte describes a kind of diversity among many options.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you sort apples. Each apple belongs to a specific Sorte (sort/variety). Sorting helps identify the different Sorten.

Synonyms & Antonyms: Similar & Opposite Words ↔️

Watch out for similar words:

• Sortiment: (Assortment, range) - Refers to the entire collection of goods or types offered, not a single Sorte.

A Little Joke about Sorts 😄

Kunde: „Haben Sie verschiedene Sorten Brot?“
Bäcker: „Ja, natürlich! Gutes und weniger Gutes.“

Translation:
Customer: "Do you have different sorts of bread?"
Baker: "Yes, of course! Good ones and not-so-good ones."

A Poem about Variety (Sorten) 🎶

Ob Apfel, Birne, süße Kirsch',
Jede Sorte schmeckt ganz frisch.
Ob Stoff, ob Wein, ob Käselaib,
Die Vielfalt ist ein Zeitvertreib.
Von jeder Art, von jedem Schlag,
Find' deine Sorte, Tag für Tag!

Translation:
Whether apple, pear, sweet cherry bright,
Every sort tastes fresh and right.
Whether fabric, wine, or wheel of cheese,
Variety is sure to please.
Of every kind, of every make,
Find your sort, for goodness sake!

Can you guess? The "Sorte" Riddle ❓

Ich teile Äpfel, Wein und Tee,
in Kategorien, wunderschön und eh.
Ich helfe dir bei der Wahl im Regal,
bin eine Art, ein Typ, ganz pauschal.

Was bin ich?

Translation:
I divide apples, wine, and tea,
Into categories, beautifully for thee.
I help you choose upon the shelf,
I'm a kind, a type, upon my self.

What am I?

Solution: die Sorte (the sort/kind/variety)

More about "die Sorte": Trivia & Co. 💡

Etymology: The word "Sorte" comes from the Italian word sorta, which in turn derives from the Latin sors (genitive sortis), meaning “lot, fate, share, kind.” The meaning evolved from “kind determined by lot” to simply “kind, sort, type.”

Compound Nouns (Komposita): "Sorte" is often used in compound nouns to specify the type of something, e.g.:

• Apfelsorte (apple variety)
• Käsesorte (type of cheese)
• Weinsorte (type/variety of wine)
• Rosensorte (rose variety)
• Warensorte (type of goods)