die
Strebe
🧱 What Exactly is a 'Strebe'? 🤔
The German word die Strebe has two main meanings:
- Construction/Engineering: A Strebe is a structural component, usually a rod or beam, used to support, stiffen, or brace a structure. It absorbs and transfers compressive or tensile forces. You can find Streben (plural) in half-timbered houses, bridges, roofs, or scaffolding, for example. 🏗️
- Describing People (often pejorative): A Strebe (or more commonly: der Streber / die Streberin) refers to a person who is overly ambitious, often at the expense of others or solely to gain recognition. They excessively 'strive' (streben) for success, good grades, or promotion. 🧑🎓💼 ⚠️ Be careful: This meaning often carries a negative connotation!
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 of 'die Strebe' in Detail
Die Strebe is a feminine noun. Its gender is always feminine.
Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Strebe |
| Genitive | der | Strebe |
| Dative | der | Strebe |
| Accusative | die | Strebe |
Example Sentences
- Meaning 1 (Construction): Die zusätzliche Strebe stabilisiert das Dach bei starkem Wind. (The additional brace stabilizes the roof in strong wind.)
- Meaning 1 (Construction): Zwischen den Balken wurden mehrere Streben eingesetzt. (Several braces were inserted between the beams.)
- Meaning 2 (Person): Sie gilt in der Klasse als ziemliche Strebe, weil sie immer alles sofort weiß. (She is considered quite the swot/try-hard in class because she always knows everything immediately.)
- Meaning 2 (Person, less common, usually 'Streberin'): Ihre Kollegin ist eine echte Strebe und versucht immer, den Chef zu beeindrucken. (Her colleague is a real go-getter/suck-up and always tries to impress the boss.)
When to Use 'die Strebe'? Context Tips
- Context 1 (Technology): The term is mainly used in construction, architecture, and mechanical engineering. Here, it's purely technical and neutral. Typical combinations include Dachstrebe (roof brace), Querstrebe (cross brace), Stützstrebe (support strut).
- Context 2 (Person): Using 'die Strebe' for a person is less common than 'der Streber' (male) or 'die Streberin' (female). When 'die Strebe' is used, it often has a negative undertone of excessive, sometimes ruthless ambition. It implies that the person learns or works not out of genuine interest, but only for external success. In a positive sense, one would rather say someone is ehrgeizig (ambitious), zielstrebig (goal-oriented) or fleißig (hard-working).
💡 How to Remember 'die Strebe'
For the article 'die': Think of 'die' support (die Stütze) or 'die' wall (die Wand) that is reinforced by 'die' Strebe. Feminine construction elements help!
For the meanings: Imagine a person (often associated with feminine in the word, 'die') who strives (strebt) upwards (Meaning 2), and simultaneously a rod that supports a roof upwards (Meaning 1). The verb 'streben' (to strive) connects both.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Words
Synonyms
- For component: Stütze (support), Verstrebung (bracing), Balken (beam), Träger (girder), Pfosten (post), Diagonale (diagonal)
- For person (often pejorative): Streber/Streberin (swot, try-hard, go-getter), Ehrgeizling (ambitious person, often negative), Karrierist(in) (careerist), Eifrige(r) (eager person, more neutral), Strebsame(r) (striver, more neutral)
Antonyms
- For component: (No direct antonym, maybe Lücke (gap), Schwachstelle (weak point))
- For person: Faulenzer(in) (lazy person), Drückeberger(in) (slacker, shirker), Desinteressierte(r) (uninterested person), Müßiggänger(in) (idler)
⚠️ Careful, Don't Confuse!
The verb streben (to strive for something) is the root of the noun in both meanings. It means 'to make an effort to achieve something'.
😄 A Little Joke
Der Architekt fragt den Zimmermann: "Haben Sie die Streben richtig angebracht?" Antwortet der Zimmermann: "Keine Sorge, die streben nicht mehr weg, die sind bombenfest!"
(The architect asks the carpenter: "Did you install the braces correctly?" The carpenter replies: "Don't worry, they won't 'strive' away anymore [pun on 'streben' meaning 'to strive'], they're rock solid!")
✍️ Poem about the Strebe
Im Fachwerk stolz, aus Holz gemacht,
Die Strebe hält die Wand bei Nacht.
Sie stützt das Dach, trägt schwere Last,
Damit das Haus nicht jäh erfasst
Ein Sturmwind oder Zeitverfall,
Sie trotzt dem allen, überall.
Doch spricht man leis' von einer 'Strebe',
Die nur nach Lob und Anerkennung lebe,
Dann meint man Ehrgeiz, kalt und klar,
Nicht Wärme, die einst nötig war.
(Proud in the framework, made of wood,
The brace holds the wall at night for good.
It supports the roof, carries heavy weight,
So that the house doesn't suddenly meet its fate
From storm wind or the decay of time,
It defies it all, everywhere, sublime.
But if one whispers of a 'Strebe' low,
Who only lives for praise and show,
Then ambition's meant, cold and clear,
Not the warmth that once was dear.)
🧩 Little Riddle
Ich kann ein Teil vom Hause sein,
Halte fest und stütze fein.
Manchmal nennt man auch so wen,
Der will immer vorne steh'n.
Wer oder was bin ich?
(I can be part of a house, you see,
Holding tight and supporting neatly.
Sometimes a person is called this, too,
Who always wants to be first in the queue.
Who or what am I?)
... Die Strebe (the brace / the striver)
🧐 Anything Else about 'Strebe'?
- Word Origin: The word derives from the Old High German verb "streben", which meant something like "to make oneself stiff", "to tower up" or "to exert oneself". These original meanings are reflected in both main modern meanings.
- Compounds: Common compound nouns include Dachstrebe (roof brace), Eckstrebe (corner brace), Querstrebe (cross brace), Längsstrebe (longitudinal brace), Druckstrebe (compression strut), Zugstrebe (tension rod).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Strebe?
The German noun Strebe is always feminine. The correct article is die: die Strebe (singular) and die Streben (plural).