die
Telefonzelle
📞 What is a Telefonzelle?
The German word die Telefonzelle refers to a public telephone booth or kiosk. It's a small structure containing a public telephone, historically coin-operated or card-based.
While once common, Telefonzellen have become very rare due to the prevalence of mobile phones (Handys). Many have been dismantled or repurposed (e.g., as mini-libraries or charging stations).
The word ends in "-e" and describes a type of 'cell' or 'cubicle' (die Zelle), which helps indicate its feminine gender. The article is always die.
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 Check: Die Telefonzelle Explained
The noun "Telefonzelle" is feminine. The definite article is always die.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Telefonzelle |
| Genitive | der | Telefonzelle |
| Dative | der | Telefonzelle |
| Accusative | die | Telefonzelle |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Telefonzellen |
| Genitive | der | Telefonzellen |
| Dative | den | Telefonzellen |
| Accusative | die | Telefonzellen |
Example Sentences
- Früher stand an jeder Ecke eine Telefonzelle. (In the past, there was a phone booth on every corner.)
- Ich habe kein Kleingeld für die Telefonzelle. (I don't have small change for the phone booth.)
- Die Tür der Telefonzelle klemmt. (The door of the phone booth is jammed.)
- In manchen alten Filmen sieht man noch rote Telefonzellen. (In some old movies, you can still see red phone booths.)
- Wir trafen uns bei den Telefonzellen am Bahnhof. (We met at the phone booths by the train station.)
🗣️ How to Use Telefonzelle
The term "Telefonzelle" is used specifically for the public telephone booth structure.
- Context: Mostly used in a historical context or when referring to one of the few remaining booths. Less common in everyday conversation now.
- Comparison: Unlike a Handy (mobile phone) or Smartphone, which are private and mobile, the Telefonzelle is a stationary, public place for making calls (öffentlich telefonieren).
- Modern Relevance: Often serves as a symbol of a bygone era of communication or appears in discussions about the changing urban landscape. Repurposed booths might be called 'Bücherzelle' (book booth/library).
🧠 Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic: Think of 'cell' in English - a prison cell, a biological cell. In German, die Zelle is feminine. So, the Tele-fon*-Zelle is also die.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine being in a small 'Zelle' (cell), and your only connection is a 'Telefon' (telephone). That's the Telefonzelle!
↔️ Similar & Opposite Terms
Synonyms
- Telefonhäuschen (Slightly more informal, 'telephone little house')
- Fernsprechzelle (Older, more formal, 'far-speaking cell')
- Öffentlicher Fernsprecher (Descriptive, 'public far-speaker')
Antonyms (Conceptual)
- Handy / Mobiltelefon (Mobile phone; private, mobile)
- Smartphone (Private, mobile, multi-functional)
- Haustelefon / Festnetztelefon (Home phone / landline; private, stationary)
⚠️ Caution: Don't confuse with "Telefonzentrale" (telephone exchange/switchboard).
😂 A Little Joke
DE: Fragt ein Tourist den anderen vor einer alten Telefonzelle: "Ist das ein Museumsstück?" Sagt der andere: "Nein, nur ein Apparat aus der Zeit, als man noch Münzen statt Selfies einwarf!"
EN: One tourist asks another in front of an old phone booth: "Is that a museum piece?" The other replies: "No, just a device from the time when people still inserted coins instead of selfies!"
✍️ Poetic Words about Telefonzelle
DE:
Im Regen stand sie, grau und alt,
ein Hörer baumelt, einsam, kalt.
Die Scheiben blind, die Münze fehlt,
Vergangenheit, die niemand zählt.
Die Zelle schweigt, wo Stimmen klangen,
vom Wandel still und stumm gefangen.
EN Translation:
In rain it stood, grey and old,
a receiver dangles, lonely, cold.
The panes are clouded, the coin is missed,
a past by nobody kissed.
The booth is silent, where voices rang,
by change silently caught and hang'd.
❓ Riddle Time
DE:
Ich habe eine Tür, doch kein Haus.
Ich hab' ein Telefon, doch ruf' nie selbst heraus.
Man füttert mich mit Geld oder Karte,
damit ein Gespräch starte.
Was bin ich?
EN:
I have a door, but no house.
I have a telephone, but never call out myself.
I'm fed with money or a card,
so a conversation can be started.
What am I?
Solution: Die Telefonzelle (The telephone booth)
🧐 More to Know
- Word Composition: The word is a compound of "Telefon" (from Greek: τῆλε tēle "far" and φωνή phōnē "sound, voice") and "Zelle" (cell, small enclosed space).
- Trivia: The classic phone booths of the German Federal Post (Deutsche Bundespost) were yellow; later, Telekom often used magenta. In the UK, the red telephone boxes are iconic.
- Repurposing: Many former Telefonzellen are now used for new purposes, e.g., as mini-libraries ("Bücherzellen"), art installations, defibrillator locations, or even small showers at campsites.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Telefonzelle?
The German word "Telefonzelle" is feminine. The correct article is always die: die Telefonzelle (the telephone booth), die Telefonzellen (the telephone booths).