die  Spinne

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʃpɪnə/

🕷️ What exactly is a *Spinne*?

Die Spinne (noun, feminine) refers to an animal from the class Arachnida, commonly known in English as a spider. Spiders are arthropods, typically characterized by having eight legs and often known for producing silk to build webs (Netze), wrap eggs, or rappel.

Important Note: 🚨 *Spiders (Spinnen) are not insects (Insekten)! Insects only have six legs.*

In German, the word Spinne always takes the feminine article "die".

Article rules for der, die, and das

📝 Grammar of *'die Spinne'* in Detail

The noun "Spinne" is feminine. Here is its declension:

Example Sentences:

• Die kleine Spinne krabbelt an der Wand. (The little spider crawls on the wall. - Nominative Singular)
• Das Netz der Spinne glitzert im Morgentau. (The spider's web glitters in the morning dew. - Genitive Singular)
• Ich gebe der Spinne kein Futter. (I don't give the spider any food. - Dative Singular)
• Er beobachtet die Spinne genau. (He observes the spider closely. - Accusative Singular)
• Viele Spinnen leben im Keller. (Many spiders live in the basement. - Nominative Plural)
• Die Vielfalt der Spinnen ist erstaunlich. (The diversity of spiders is amazing. - Genitive Plural)
• Man sollte den Spinnen ihren Lebensraum lassen. (One should leave the spiders their habitat. - Dative Plural)
• Sie hat alle Spinnen nach draußen gebracht. (She took all the spiders outside. - Accusative Plural)

💡 How to Use the Word *'Spinne'*?

The word "Spinne" is primarily used in the following contexts:

• Biology & Nature: To refer to the animal itself. Example: Die Kreuzspinne gehört zu den bekanntesten heimischen Spinnen. (The garden spider is one of the best-known native spiders.)
• Everyday Life: When spotting a spider in the house or garden. Example: Igitt, da ist eine Spinne an der Decke! (Yuck, there's a spider on the ceiling!)
• Metaphorically/Colloquially: The related verb "spinnen" colloquially means "to be crazy" or "to talk nonsense". Example: Du spinnst wohl! Das kann nicht wahr sein. (You must be crazy! That can't be true.) (🚨 Note: The noun "Spinne" isn't used directly here, but the connection is clear).
• Technology (rare): Sometimes, technical devices resembling a spider (e.g., grippers) might be colloquially referred to as such.

It's important to distinguish die Spinne (spider) from der Weberknecht (harvestman or daddy longlegs), which looks similar but is biologically not a true spider (though often colloquially called one).

🧠 Mnemonics for *'die Spinne'*

• Article Mnemonic: Think of SHEila the Spider. SHE sounds like 'die' (feminine article in German). So it's die Spinne.

• Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a spider 'spinning' a web. The German verb for 'to spin' is "spinnen", which is clearly inside the word Spinne.

🔄 Synonyms, Antonyms, and Similar Words

😂 A Little Spider Joke

German: Fragt eine Spinne die andere: "Was machst du gerade am Computer?" Antwortet die andere Spinne: "Ich surfe gerade im Web!"

English Translation: One spider asks another: "What are you doing on the computer?" The other spider replies: "I'm currently surfing the web!"

🎶 A Poem about the *Spinne*

German:
Die Spinne klein und fein,
webt ihr Netz im Sonnenschein.
Acht Beine flink und sacht,
haben ein Kunstwerk vollbracht.
Sie wartet still und leise,
auf ihre nächste Speise.

English Translation:
The spider small and fine,
weaves its web in sunshine.
Eight legs nimble and gentle,
have completed a masterpiece.
It waits quietly and silently,
for its next meal.

❓ Riddle Time!

German:
Ich habe acht Beine, doch laufe nicht weit,
mein Haus ist aus Fäden, steht stets bereit.
Ich fange mir Fliegen, ganz ohne Hast,
wer bin ich, der stille, geschickte Gast?

English Translation:
I have eight legs, but don't run far,
my house is made of threads, always ready it are.
I catch flies, without any haste,
who am I, the quiet, skillful guest?

Solution: Die Spinne (The spider)

🧐 More about *Spinnen*

• Biological Class: Spiders belong to the class Arachnida, not Insecta (insects).
• Word Origin: The German word "Spinne" derives from the Old High German "spinna", which is related to the verb "spinnen" (to spin threads).
• Saying: "Eine Spinne am Morgen bringt Kummer und Sorgen, eine Spinne am Abend erquickend und labend." – An old superstition translating roughly to "A spider in the morning brings sorrow and worries, a spider in the evening refreshing and delightful."
• Phobia: Fear of spiders (Arachnophobia) is one of the most common specific phobias.