die
Türe
🚪 What exactly is a 'Türe'?
The word die Türe is an alternative form of the more common German word die Tür, both meaning 'door'. It refers to a movable barrier used to close off an entrance or opening in a wall, building, vehicle, or piece of furniture.
While 'die Tür' is the standard and most frequently used term today, 'die Türe' is often perceived as more elevated, poetic, or regional (especially common in Southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland).
🚨 Attention: In everyday modern standard German, 'die Tür' is the preferred choice. Using 'die Türe' might sound slightly dated or specific to certain regions.
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 Overview: 'die Türe'
Die Türe is a feminine noun. Its declension follows the standard pattern for feminine nouns in German.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Türe |
| Genitive | der | Türe |
| Dative | der | Türe |
| Accusative | die | Türe |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Türen |
| Genitive | der | Türen |
| Dative | den | Türen |
| Accusative | die | Türen |
Example Sentences
- Bitte schließe die Türe leise. (Please close the door quietly.)
- Der Wind rüttelte an der alten Türe des Hauses. (The wind rattled the old door of the house.)
- Hinter diesen Türen liegt ein Geheimnis verborgen. (A secret lies hidden behind these doors.)
- Er stand vor verschlossener Türe. (He stood in front of a locked door.)
When to Use 'die Türe'?
The choice between 'die Türe' and 'die Tür' often depends on context and region:
- Standard German: Here, 'die Tür' is the more common and recommended form.
- Elevated Language/Literature: 'Die Türe' can be used to create a more poetic or formal tone. "Er öffnete die Türe zu einer neuen Welt." (He opened the door to a new world.)
- Regional Variants: In Southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, 'die Türe' is quite common in spoken language and not considered unusual.
- Fixed Expressions: Some older idioms might still use 'die Türe', e.g., "vor der eigenen Türe kehren" (to sweep one's own doorstep / mind one's own business), although 'Tür' is becoming more frequent even here.
⚠️ When in doubt, 'die Tür' is usually the safer bet in modern standard German.
Memory Aids (Eselsbrücken)
Article Mnemonic: Think of a door as a 'lady' (feminine) guarding the entrance. Die Dame (the lady) guards die Türe.
Meaning Mnemonic: Türe sounds a bit like the English 'tour'. You start a *tour* of a house by going through the Türe (door). Remember it's just an alternative for the common word 'Tür'.
Alternatives and Opposites: Die Türe
Synonyms (Similar Words)
💡 Note that 'Türe' itself is a variant of 'Tür', which is its most direct synonym.
🤣 A Little Joke
German: Warum hat die Blondine die Türe ausgebaut und mit ins Bett genommen?
Damit niemand durchs Schlüsselloch gucken kann!
English: Why did the blonde take the door off its hinges and bring it to bed?
So nobody could peek through the keyhole!
A Little Poem
German:
Die alte Türe knarrt im Wind,
erzählt Geschichten leis' geschwind.
Von Zeiten, die vergangen sind,
bewacht vom treuen Hausgesind'.
Mal offen, ladend, freundlich, weit,
mal schützend vor der Dunkelheit.
English:
The old door creaks within the breeze,
Telling stories with soft ease.
Of times now past, beyond the seas,
Guarded by loyal families.
Sometimes open, welcoming, wide,
Sometimes shielding what's inside.
A Little Riddle about 'die Türe'
German:
Ich habe einen Rahmen, doch kein Bild.
Ich habe einen Griff, doch keine Hand hält.
Ich öffne mich und schließe mich,
mal bin ich 'Tür', mal nennst du mich ...?
English:
I have a frame, but hold no art.
I have a handle, but play no hand's part.
I open and I close for you,
Sometimes I'm 'Tür', sometimes I'm ...?
Solution: Die Türe (the door)
Other Notes
The word Türe, like 'Tür', originates from the Old High German word 'turi'. The existence of both forms ('Tür' and 'Türe') is an example of linguistic variation and evolution in German. The form ending in '-e' was historically more widespread but has been largely replaced by the shorter form 'Tür' in many contexts over time.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Türe?
The correct gender is feminine: die Türe. It's an alternative, often regional or elevated, form of the standard word die Tür (door).