die
Stange
📚 What exactly is a Stange?
Die Stange (noun, feminine) is a versatile word with several meanings:
- Long, solid object: The most common meaning. This can be a rod or pole made of metal, wood, or other material. Examples include a Fahnenstange (flagpole), Gardinenstange (curtain rod), Kletterstange (climbing pole), or simply a long, straight stick.
- Bar-like shape: Something that comes in a long, solid form, often for consumption or use. Examples: eine Stange Schokolade 🍫 (a bar of chocolate), eine Stange Seife 🧼 (a bar of soap), eine Stange Zigaretten 🚬 (a carton of cigarettes).
- Large sum of money (colloquial): Often used to express a large amount. Example: "Das Auto hat eine Stange Geld gekostet." (The car cost a lot of money.) 💰
- Beer glass (regional): In some regions (e.g., Cologne), "die Stange" refers to a tall, narrow beer glass, typically used for Kölsch beer. 🍺
⚠️ 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 Stange
The word "Stange" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die | Stange |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der | Stange |
| Dative (To whom?) | der | Stange |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die | Stange |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Stangen |
| Genitive | der | Stangen |
| Dative | den | Stangen |
| Accusative | die | Stangen |
Example Sentences 💡
- Der Vogel sitzt auf der Stange. (The bird is sitting on the pole/rod.)
- Er kaufte eine Stange Schokolade im Supermarkt. (He bought a bar of chocolate at the supermarket.)
- Diese Reparatur kostet eine Stange Geld. (This repair costs a lot of money.)
- Bestell mir bitte eine Stange Kölsch. (Please order me a glass [Stange] of Kölsch.)
- Die Kinder turnten an den Stangen im Park. (The children did gymnastics on the bars/poles in the park.)
🗣️ How to Use 'die Stange'?
The usage of "Stange" heavily depends on the context:
- In technical/craft contexts: Refers to physical rods or poles (Metallstange - metal rod, Holzstange - wooden pole, Zeltstange - tent pole).
- When shopping/eating: For products in an elongated form (Schokoladenstange - chocolate bar, Seifenstange - bar of soap, Porreestange - leek stalk, Zimtstange - cinnamon stick).
- Colloquially for money: Always in the phrase "eine Stange Geld" for a large sum.
- In a pub (regionally): Specifically for the Kölsch glass in Cologne and surrounding areas.
- Idioms: "jemandem die Stange halten" means to support or defend someone. "Bei der Stange bleiben" means to persevere, to stick with something.
Compared to Stab (rod, staff), Stange is often thicker or used for more specific purposes (e.g., Gardinenstange), while Stab can be more general or thinner (Zauberstab - magic wand). A Pfahl (post, stake) is usually thicker and fixed in the ground. A Riegel (bar) is often shorter and thicker (Schokoriegel vs. Schokoladenstange).
🧠 Mnemonics for Stange
Article Mnemonic: Think of a long pole used by a female pole vaulter. Both 'female' and 'pole' end in 'e', like the feminine article 'die'. Die Stange!
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine climbing a tall Stange (pole) to grab a Stange Schokolade (bar of chocolate) that costs eine Stange Geld (a lot of money), and as a reward, you drink a Stange Kölsch (glass of Kölsch). 🧗♀️🍫💰🍺
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- For rod/pole: der Stab (staff, rod), der Stock (stick), die Latte (lath, slat), der Pfahl (post, stake) (depending on thickness and function)
- For bar (of chocolate etc.): der Riegel (bar, often smaller), die Tafel (slab, for chocolate, flat)
- For high price: ein Haufen Geld (a pile of money), ein Vermögen (a fortune), eine schöne Summe (a nice sum) (colloquial)
- For beer glass: das Kölschglas (Kölsch glass, specific)
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- For high price: das Schnäppchen (bargain), ein Pappenstiel (peanuts, very cheap - colloquial)
- For rod/pole: (no direct opposite, perhaps 'die Lücke' - the gap, 'die Öffnung' - the opening in the context of a barrier)
🚨 Beware of confusion: Do not confuse with "die Zange" (pliers) or similar sounding words.
😂 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten: "Warum haben Sie die Stange Dynamit gestohlen?" Antwortet der Angeklagte: "Ich brauchte dringend eine Stange Geld!"
English Translation: The judge asks the defendant: "Why did you steal the stick (Stange) of dynamite?" The defendant answers: "I urgently needed a pile (Stange) of money!" 🧨💸
✒️ Poem about Stange
German:
Die Fahne weht an hoher Stange,
Dem Dieb wird angst und bange.
Er kaufte Schoko, eine Stange,
Bezahlt' dafür 'ne Stange – lange!
English Translation:
The flag waves on a tall pole (Stange),
The thief becomes scared and anxious.
He bought chocolate, a bar (Stange),
Paid for it a lot (Stange) – for long!
❓ Riddle
German:
Ich bin lang und meistens grade,
Halte Fahnen ohne Gnade.
Als Schokolade oder Bier,
Bring' ich Freude oft zu dir.
Manchmal kost' ich sehr viel Geld,
Was bin ich wohl in dieser Welt?
English Translation:
I am long and mostly straight,
Hold flags without mercy great.
As chocolate or as beer,
I often bring you joy and cheer.
Sometimes I cost a lot of money bright,
What am I in this world's light?
Solution: die Stange
🧩 Additional Information
Word Compounds: "Stange" is part of many compound words that specify its meaning:
- Fahnenstange (flagpole)
- Gardinenstange (curtain rod)
- Kletterstange (climbing pole)
- Zeltstange (tent pole)
- Zigarettenstange (carton of cigarettes)
- Schulstange (gymnastics bar)
- Gepäckstange (luggage rack bar)
Etymology: The word "Stange" comes from the Old High German word "stanga", which also meant a long rod or pole.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Stange?
The word "Stange" is always feminine. The correct article is die Stange. It refers to a long, solid object (rod, pole), a bar-like shape (chocolate, soap), colloquially a large sum of money, or regionally a specific type of beer glass.
