die  Stube

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʃtuːbə/

🛋️ What Exactly is a Stube?

The word Stube (feminine, article: die) generally refers to a heatable living space in a house or apartment. Originally, it was often the only heated room in a house.

Today, the term is often used to describe a cozy, traditional living room, comparable to a Wohnzimmer (living room) or Aufenthaltsraum (lounge/common room). Sometimes it's used in a slightly old-fashioned way or regionally (especially in southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland).

• Main meaning: Living room, parlor, often emphasizing coziness or tradition (e.g., Bauernstube - farmer's parlor).
• Other connotation: Can sometimes simply mean a room, but usually implies living quality.

⚠️ The term is less neutral than Wohnzimmer and often carries a warm, homely atmosphere.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Stube

The word "Stube" is a feminine noun. Therefore, the article is always die.

Declension

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die Familie sitzt am Abend gemütlich in der Stube.
   (The family sits cozily in the living room in the evening.)
2. In Omas Haus war die Stube immer der wärmste Raum.
   (In Grandma's house, the Stube was always the warmest room.)
3. Wir haben die alte Stube renoviert und modern eingerichtet.
   (We renovated the old living room and furnished it modernly.)
4. Die Kinder spielen in ihrer Stube (Kinderzimmer, veraltet).
   (The children are playing in their room (children's room, dated usage).)
5. In vielen alten Bauernhäusern gibt es noch eine traditionelle Bauernstube.
   (Many old farmhouses still have a traditional farmer's parlor.)

💬 How to Use "die Stube"?

The use of "Stube" often depends on the context and region:

• Traditional/Cozy: Often used for rooms intended to convey a warm, comfortable atmosphere, e.g., "die gute Stube" for the best room in the house, traditionally used only on special occasions.
• Regional: In southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, "Stube" is often a more common term for the living room than in the north.
• Dated: Sometimes "Stube" can sound a bit old-fashioned. The neutral word "Wohnzimmer" is more common today.
• Specific 'Stuben': There are fixed terms like "Bauernstube" (traditional living room in a farmhouse) or "Gaststube" (main room in an inn or pub).

Comparison:

• Wohnzimmer: The neutral, modern standard term for the main living room.
• Zimmer: A general term for any room in a building.
• Stube: More specific than "Zimmer", often cozier/more traditional than "Wohnzimmer".

💡 Mnemonics for "die Stube"

Article Mnemonic (die): Think of things you find in a Stube that are feminine in German: die Wärme (the warmth), die Gemütlichkeit (the coziness), die Lampe (the lamp). Also, many feminine nouns end in -e, like Stube.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine sitting by a warm stubby stove in the Stube. Or, 'Stu-be' sounds a bit like 'Study', but it's the cozier room where you relax, not necessarily work.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words / Potential Confusion:

• Stubenhocker: A homebody or couch potato (someone who 'squats' in the Stube).
• Stubenfliege: The common housefly.
• Stube (military): Barracks room for soldiers.

😄 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Gast den Wirt: "Ist diese Stube hier immer so stickig?" Sagt der Wirt: "Keine Ahnung, ich bin erst seit 15 Jahren hier."

English: A guest asks the innkeeper: "Is this room (Stube) always so stuffy?" The innkeeper replies: "I have no idea, I've only been here for 15 years."

✍️ Poem about the Stube

German: Die Stube warm, das Licht gedimmt,
Wo altes Holz gemütlich glimmt.
Ein Ofen knackt, die Zeit verrinnt,
Ein Ort, wo Ruhe man gewinnt.
Die Mutter strickt, das Kind schaut raus,
Das Herz des alten, trauten Haus.

English: The Stube warm, the light is low,
Where aged wood has a cozy glow.
A stove it cracks, the time flows slow,
A place where peace begins to grow.
The mother knits, the child looks out,
The heart of the old, trusted house, no doubt.

❓ Riddle

German: Ich bin ein Raum, oft warm und klein,
Hier kehrt die Familie gerne ein.
Manchmal bin ich alt und fein,
Man nennt mich auch Wohnzimmer - doch was mag ich sein?

English: I am a room, often warm and small,
Where the family likes to gather, one and all.
Sometimes I'm old and rather fine,
They also call me 'Wohnzimmer' - but what name is mine?

Solution: die Stube

🧩 Trivia & Other Info

• Etymology: The word "Stube" comes from the Old High German word "stuba", which originally meant "bath house" or "heatable room". Being heatable was the key feature.
• Compounds: There are many compound words with "Stube", e.g., Stubenmädchen (dated term for a maid), Stubentiger (colloquial for a cat, literally 'parlor tiger'), Amtsstube (office room in a public authority), Wachstube (guardroom).
• Cultural Significance: The "Stube" is often a symbol of domestic comfort, family, and tradition, especially in rural or older contexts.