die
Spritze
📖 What exactly is a Spritze?
The word die Spritze (feminine) has several meanings:
- Medical instrument: The most common understanding is a device used to inject liquids (Medikamente, Impfstoffe - medicines, vaccines) into the body or to withdraw bodily fluids. It usually consists of a cylinder with a piston (Kolben) and a hollow needle (Kanüle). Example: Der Arzt gab dem Patienten eine Spritze. (The doctor gave the patient a shot/injection.)
- The injection itself: Often, the act of injecting is also called "eine Spritze". Example: Ich habe Angst vor Spritzen. (I'm afraid of needles/injections.)
- Water toy: A water pistol (Wasserpistole) or similar device for squirting water. Example: Die Kinder spielten im Garten mit Spritzen. (The children played with water guns in the garden.)
- Kitchen utensil: A device for decorating cakes or shaping pastries (Garnierspritze, piping bag with a nozzle). Example: Sie verzierte den Kuchen mit einer Spritze voller Sahne. (She decorated the cake with a piping bag full of cream.)
- Firefighting equipment: Historically or regionally, also used for a hand pump or motor pump used by firefighters (Feuerwehr). Example: Die Feuerwehr rückte mit Schlauch und Spritze an. (The fire brigade arrived with hose and pump.)
- (Colloquial) Financial support: A Finanzspritze is an unexpected financial aid or boost. Example: Das Start-up erhielt eine kräftige Finanzspritze. (The start-up received a hefty financial injection.)
🚨 Pay attention to the context to understand the correct meaning!
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.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Spritze
Die Spritze is a feminine noun. The plural is die Spritzen.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Spritze |
| Genitive | der | Spritze |
| Dative | der | Spritze |
| Accusative | die | Spritze |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Spritzen |
| Genitive | der | Spritzen |
| Dative | den | Spritzen |
| Accusative | die | Spritzen |
Example Sentences
- Der Krankenpfleger bereitete die Spritze für die Impfung vor.
(The nurse prepared the syringe for the vaccination.) - Wegen seiner Angst vor Spritzen wurde er blass.
(He turned pale because of his fear of injections.) - Das Kind füllte seine Spritze mit Wasser.
(The child filled his water pistol with water.) - Mit Hilfe der Spritze formte der Bäcker schöne Muster.
(With the help of the piping bag, the baker shaped beautiful patterns.) - Die Spritzen der Feuerwehr waren schnell einsatzbereit.
(The fire department's pumps were quickly ready for use.)
💡 How to use "die Spritze"?
The usage of die Spritze heavily depends on the context:
- In the medical field: Here, "Spritze" usually refers to the instrument or the injection. You talk about "eine Spritze bekommen/geben" (to get/give a shot). Related terms are die Kanüle (the needle), die Injektion (the injection), der Impfstoff (the vaccine).
- When playing: The "Spritze" here is the water pistol. Context: summer, children, garden, water fight.
- In the kitchen/bakery: As "Spritze" or Garnierspritze/Spritzbeutel, it refers to the tool for decorating or shaping. Context: baking, cakes, cream, dough.
- Colloquial (finance): A "Finanzspritze" is a financial aid, often unexpected or urgently needed.
Although the word is versatile, the most common association is the medical syringe.
🧠 Memory Aids for "die Spritze"
Article mnemonic: Think of die Nadel (the needle - also feminine), which belongs to the Spritze. Or imagine how die Krankenschwester (the female nurse) gives die Spritze. Feminine helper -> feminine tool.
Meaning mnemonic: The word comes from "spritzen" (to squirt/inject). Imagine liquid "spritzing" out: medicine from the needle, water from the water pistol, cream from the piping nozzle, money (metaphorically) from a financial source.
🔄 Synonyms & Similar Words for "Spritze"
Synonyms
- Medical (instrument/procedure): Injektion (injection), Injektionsspritze (injection syringe), Kanüle (cannula/needle - just the needle part).
- Water toy: Wasserpistole (water pistol), Wasserspritzer (water squirter).
- Kitchen utensil: Garnierspritze (decorating syringe), Spritzbeutel (piping bag), Dressiersack (piping bag - less common).
- Firefighting: Feuerspritze (fire pump), Pumpe (pump - depending on context).
- Financial: Finanzhilfe (financial aid), Zuschuss (grant, subsidy), Unterstützung (support), Kapitalspritze (capital injection).
Antonyms (context-dependent)
- For 'Injektion' (injection), one might consider 'Entnahme' (withdrawal, e.g., Blutentnahme - blood withdrawal) or 'orale Einnahme' (oral intake - tablet) as opposites.
- For 'Finanzspritze' (injection/influx), 'Abfluss' (outflow) or 'Belastung' (burden) could be opposites.
Similar Words (Caution!)
😂 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Luftballon Angst vor der Spritze?
Er will nicht platzen vor Lachen über den Piks!
(Why is the balloon afraid of the syringe?
It doesn't want to burst laughing at the little prick!)
📜 Short Poem about the Spritze
Die Spritze, klein und manchmal spitz,
bringt Medizin oft blitzschnell mit Sitz.
Im Sommer kühlt sie, nass und frisch,
als Wasserstrahl direkt vom Tisch.
Verziert den Kuchen, süß und fein,
so viel kann eine Spritze sein!
(The syringe, small and sometimes pointy,
often brings medicine swiftly, taking its seat.
In summer it cools, wet and fresh,
as a water jet right from the table.
Decorates the cake, sweet and fine,
a syringe can be so many things!)
❓ Who or what am I?
Ich habe einen Kolben, doch kein Auto bin ich fein.
Ich trage eine Nadel, doch nähen kann ich nicht allein.
Manchmal bring ich Heilung, manchmal nassen Spaß im Nu.
Auch Kuchen mach ich schöner. Wer bin ich denn, sag du?
(I have a piston, but I'm not a fine car.
I carry a needle, but I can't sew alone.
Sometimes I bring healing, sometimes wet fun in a flash.
I also make cakes prettier. Who am I, tell me?)
Solution: die Spritze (the syringe/water pistol/piping bag)
➕ Other Information
Word Origin: The word "Spritze" derives from the verb "spritzen", meaning to squirt, spray, or inject a liquid forcefully or in a jet.
Compound Words: There are many compound nouns ending in "-spritze" that clarify the function, e.g.:
- Feuerspritze: Fire engine pump
- Giftspritze: Poison sprayer (for pesticides, or metaphorically for malicious gossip)
- Einwegspritze: Disposable syringe
- Insulinspritze: Insulin syringe (specifically for diabetics)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Spritze?
The German word "Spritze" is always feminine, so it's die Spritze. It has various meanings, including medical syringe/injection, water pistol, piping bag for baking, and colloquially, a financial injection.