die  Stimme

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʃtɪmə/

🗣️ What does "die Stimme" mean?

The word die Stimme (feminine) has several main meanings:

• The human or animal sound utterance: The sound produced when speaking, singing, or calling out. Example: Sie hat eine schöne Singstimme (She has a beautiful singing voice). Der Löwe erhob seine Stimme (The lion raised its voice).
• The opinion or vote in an election or poll: The right to participate in an election, or the cast vote itself. Example: Jede Stimme zählt (Every vote counts). Er gab seine Stimme dem Kandidaten der Opposition (He gave his vote to the opposition candidate).
• A single musical line or part in a polyphonic piece: In music, it refers to an independent melody or rhythm line. Example: Die erste Geige spielt die erste Stimme (The first violin plays the first voice/part). Der Chor sang vierstimmig (The choir sang in four parts/voices).
• The inner voice: Conscience or intuition. Example: Er hörte auf seine innere Stimme (He listened to his inner voice).

🚨 Attention: Although it sounds similar, "die Stimmung" (mood, atmosphere) is a different word.

Article rules for der, die, and das

The Grammar of "die Stimme" 🧐

"Die Stimme" is a feminine noun. Here is its declension:

Declension (Singular)

Declension (Plural)

Example Sentences 📝

• Ihre Stimme zitterte vor Aufregung. (Her voice trembled with excitement.)
• Der Klang ihrer Stimme war beruhigend. (The sound of her voice was calming.)
• Ich lauschte ihrer Stimme aufmerksam. (I listened attentively to her voice.)
• Er erkannte ihre Stimme sofort. (He recognized her voice immediately.)
• Die Stimmen der Wähler wurden ausgezählt. (The voters' votes were counted.)
• Die Auszählung der Stimmen dauerte lange. (The counting of the votes took a long time.)
• Man muss den Stimmen des Volkes Gehör schenken. (One must listen to the voices of the people.)
• Wir hörten die Stimmen aus dem Nebenzimmer. (We heard the voices from the next room.)

How to use "die Stimme"?

"Die Stimme" is a versatile word:

• In everyday life: People often talk about the volume or sound of a Stimme (laute/leise Stimme - loud/quiet voice, hohe/tiefe Stimme - high/low voice). One can also seine Stimme erheben (raise one's voice, protest) or jemandem seine Stimme geben (give someone one's vote).
• In politics: Here, Stimme is central to elections and voting (Wahlrecht - suffrage, Stimmzettel - ballot paper, Stimmenmehrheit - majority of votes, sich der Stimme enthalten - to abstain from voting).
• In music: Refers to vocal or instrumental lines in a piece of music (Sopranstimme - soprano part, Bassstimme - bass part, mehrstimmiger Gesang - polyphonic singing).
• Figuratively: Die innere Stimme (the inner voice) refers to intuition or conscience. One can also be the Stimme der Vernunft (voice of reason).

Typical Collocations:

• Stimme abgeben (to cast a vote)
• Stimme erheben (to raise one's voice)
• Stimme verlieren (to lose one's voice, become hoarse)
• Stimme verstellen (to disguise one's voice)
• eine angenehme Stimme haben (to have a pleasant voice)
• mit fester Stimme sprechen (to speak with a firm voice)
• auf die innere Stimme hören (to listen to one's inner voice)
• Stimmen auszählen (to count votes)

Memory Aids for "die Stimme" 🧠

1. Article Mnemonic: Imagine a diva (feminine -> die) singing with such a powerful Stimme that she shatters glass. The diva helps you remember die Stimme.
2. Meaning Mnemonic: Think of the English word "stem". A voice can stem from your throat. Your vote can stem from your decision. Your opinion can stem from your thoughts. All these are meanings of Stimme. Or think of the German verb stimmen (to be correct, to vote). When you vote (stimmen), you give your Stimme.

You need a Stimme to simmer (like singing softly) - both seem feminine, link it to die Stimme.

Similar and Opposite Words 🔄

⚠️ Beware of Confusion:

• Stimmung: Refers to mood or atmosphere (e.g., gute Stimmung - good mood/atmosphere). It sounds similar but has a different meaning and is also feminine (die Stimmung).

A Little Joke 😄

Fragt der HNO-Arzt den Patienten: "Haben Sie Probleme mit Ihrer Stimme?"
Patient: "Nein, nur mit den Liedern, die sie singt!"

Translation:
The ENT doctor asks the patient: "Do you have problems with your voice?"
Patient: "No, only with the songs it sings!"

Poetic Voice 🎤

Die Stimme, ein Klang, mal laut, mal leis,
\Sie trägt Gefühl auf ihre Reis'.
\Ein Flüstern zart, ein starker Ruf,
\Was tief im Herzen man erschuf.

Die Stimme zählt, wenn Wahlurnen kall'n,
\Ein kleines Kreuz lässt Mauern fall'n.
\In Dur und Moll, im Chor vereint,
\Die Stimme klingt, die Welt erscheint.

Translation:
The voice, a sound, now loud, now low,
It carries feeling where it goes.
A whisper soft, a powerful call,
What deep within the heart was wrought by all.

The voice does count when ballot boxes call,
A little cross can make walls fall.
In major, minor, choir aligned,
The voice resounds, the world defined.

Riddle Time 🤔

Ich habe keine Lungen, doch kann ich klingen.
\Ich habe keinen Mund, doch kann ich singen.
\Bei Wahlen bin ich wichtig sehr,
\Mal bin ich laut, mal flüsternd nur daher.

Was bin ich?

Translation:
I have no lungs, yet I can sound.
I have no mouth, yet songs abound.
In elections, I'm valued greatly,
Sometimes I'm loud, sometimes whispered stately.

What am I?

Solution: die Stimme (the voice / the vote)

Interesting Facts about "Stimme" 💡

Word Formation & Origin:

• The word "Stimme" comes from the Old High German word "stimna" or "stimma", which meant "sound, tone, voice". It is related to the verb "stimmen" (to be correct, to agree, to vote).

Compounds:

• There are many compound words with "Stimme", e.g.: Stimmbänder (vocal cords), Stimmrecht (right to vote, suffrage), Stimmgabel (tuning fork), Stimmbruch (breaking of the voice), Stimmzettel (ballot paper), Gegenstimme (opposing vote), Kopfstimme (head voice), Bauchstimme (chest voice).

Idioms:

• Seine Stimme erheben: To raise one's voice, protest.
• Jemandem seine Stimme geben: To vote for someone.
• Die Stimme des Blutes: The call of blood (family ties or instinct).
• Auf die innere Stimme hören: To listen to one's inner voice/intuition.