die
Tastatur
⌨️ What exactly is a Tastatur?
Die Tastatur (noun, feminine) refers to an input device primarily used with computers, laptops, but also typewriters, musical instruments (like keyboards or pianos), and other electronic devices. It consists of a set of keys (letters, numbers, symbols, function keys) that are pressed to enter characters or execute commands.
There is only one article for the word meaning an input device: die. It is a feminine noun.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ur/-ür → mostly feminine.
Caution: -eur nouns are usually masculine (e.g. der Ingenieur).
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Tastatur
The word "Tastatur" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Tastatur |
| Accusative | die | Tastatur |
| Dative | der | Tastatur |
| Genitive | der | Tastatur |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Tastaturen |
| Accusative | die | Tastaturen |
| Dative | den | Tastaturen |
| Genitive | der | Tastaturen |
📝 Example Sentences
- Meine Tastatur ist kaputt; einige Tasten funktionieren nicht mehr. (My keyboard is broken; some keys don't work anymore.)
- Ich brauche eine neue Tastatur für meinen Computer. (I need a new keyboard for my computer.)
- Mit der Tastatur kann man Texte schreiben und Befehle eingeben. (With the keyboard, one can write texts and enter commands.)
- Die Buchstaben auf den Tastaturen sind oft unterschiedlich angeordnet (z.B. QWERTZ vs. QWERTY). (The letters on keyboards are often arranged differently (e.g., QWERTZ vs. QWERTY).)
- Der Preis der Tastatur war sehr günstig. (The price of the keyboard was very cheap.)
💡 How 'die Tastatur' is used
The term die Tastatur is used very frequently in everyday life, especially in the context of computers and office work.
- Computer/Laptop: This is the most common use. People talk about the Computer-Tastatur, Laptop-Tastatur, externe Tastatur (external keyboard), Bluetooth-Tastatur, etc. Example: "Kannst du bitte auf meiner Tastatur tippen?" (Can you please type on my keyboard?)
- Musical Instruments: Although "Keyboard" (from English) or more specific terms like "Klaviatur" (for pianos) are often used, "Tastatur" can also refer to the row of keys on a keyboard instrument. Example: "Die Tastatur dieses Synthesizers hat 88 Tasten." (The keyboard of this synthesizer has 88 keys.)
- Other Devices: Devices like cash registers or special machines might also be referred to as having a Tastatur if they use a set of keys for input.
Compared to "Keyboard" (often used synonymously, but of English origin), "Tastatur" is the purely German term. "Klaviatur" is more specific to pianos and similar instruments.
🧠 Mnemonics for Tastatur
For the article 'die': Many technical devices or apparatuses ending in '-ur' in German are feminine: die Natur (nature), die Kultur (culture), die Figur (figure) – and also die Tastatur. Imagine she (die) is the machine (-ur) with many keys.
For the meaning 'Keyboard': Think of the individual Tasten (keys) you press. The whole apparatus is the Tastatur. You use your fingers to 'taste' or 'touch' the keys across the 'tour' of the board.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Das Keyboard: Very common synonym, borrowed directly from English. Can refer to computer or musical keyboards. Note it's 'das' (neuter) in German when referring to the musical instrument, but sometimes 'die' is used informally for computer keyboards too, though 'die Tastatur' is standard.
- Das Eingabegerät: A more general, technical term meaning 'input device', which can also include mice, microphones, etc. Die Tastatur is one type of Eingabegerät.
- Die Klaviatur: Specifically the keyboard of pianos, organs, etc.
Antonyms (opposites):
- Das Ausgabegerät: 'Output device'. Devices that display or provide information (e.g., der Bildschirm - screen, der Drucker - printer). Die Tastatur is for input.
- Die Maus: 'Mouse'. Another key input device, but primarily used for cursor control, not text entry.
⚠️ Caution: Don't confuse "die Taste" (singular, a single key) with "die Tastatur" (the entire device).
😂 A Little Joke
Frage: Was sagt eine Tastatur, wenn sie traurig ist?
(Question: What does a keyboard say when it's sad?)
Antwort: "Ich fühle mich heute so *Shift* happens!"
(Answer: "I feel so *Shift* happens today!" - A pun on the English phrase "Shit happens" and the Shift key.)
✒️ Poem about the Tastatur
Buchstabe an Buchstabe, Zahl an Zahl,
(Letter by letter, number by number,)
Auf der Tastatur, digital und real.
(On the keyboard, digital and real.)
Wir tippen schnell, mit flinker Hand,
(We type quickly, with nimble hand,)
Verbinden uns so durch das ganze Land.
(Connecting us thus throughout the land.)
Ein Klick, ein Klack, ein leises Tönen,
(A click, a clack, a soft sound,)
Um Worte, Sätze schön zu krönen.
(To crown words, sentences beautifully.)
Von A bis Z, von Eins bis Neun,
(From A to Z, from One to Nine,)
Auf dich, Tastatur, woll'n wir uns freu'n.
(For you, keyboard, let us rejoice.)
❓ Little Riddle
Ich habe viele Tasten, doch kein Schloss.
(I have many keys, but no lock.)
Ich habe Leerzeichen, aber keinen Raum zum Wohnen.
(I have space(s), but no room to live in.)
Ich helfe dir zu schreiben, aber habe keine eigene Hand.
(I help you write, but have no hand of my own.)
Was bin ich?
(What am I?)
Answer: Die Tastatur (The keyboard)
💡 Other Information
Word Composition:
The word "Tastatur" is composed of:
- Taste: The key you press.
- -atur: A suffix often denoting a collection, apparatus, or structure (cf. Muskulatur - musculature, Apparatur - apparatus, Nomenklatur - nomenclature).
Keyboard Layout (Tastaturbelegung):
The arrangement of keys on a German keyboard differs from the English one. The most common German layout is QWERTZ (named after the first six letters in the top row), whereas QWERTY is common in English-speaking countries. Special characters and umlauts (ä, ö, ü) are also specific to the German layout.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Tastatur?
The German word for keyboard is die Tastatur (feminine). There are no other articles for this word in this meaning.