die
Unterwäsche
👙 What exactly is "die Unterwäsche"?
Die Unterwäsche (feminine, article: die) refers to the collective term for garments worn directly against the skin under outer clothing. In English, this translates to underwear or lingerie.
The word is typically used in the singular form, even when referring to multiple items. The plural form (die Unterwäschen) is very rare and only used when referring to different types of underwear (e.g., in a technical textile context).
- Meaning: The entirety of clothing worn "underneath" (e.g., Slips - briefs, BHs - bras, Unterhemden - undershirts, Boxershorts - boxer shorts).
⚠️ Note: It's always die Unterwäsche because it derives from die Wäsche (laundry, washing).
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 Unterwäsche"
The word "Unterwäsche" is a feminine noun and is almost exclusively used in the singular. The plural is very uncommon.
Declension (Singular)
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article | (English Meaning) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die Unterwäsche | eine Unterwäsche | the/an underwear |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der Unterwäsche | einer Unterwäsche | of the/an underwear |
| Dative (To whom/what?) | der Unterwäsche | einer Unterwäsche | to the/an underwear |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die Unterwäsche | eine Unterwäsche | the/an underwear |
Example Sentences
- Ich muss neue Unterwäsche kaufen.
(I need to buy new underwear.) - Die saubere Unterwäsche liegt im Schrank.
(The clean underwear is in the closet.) - Sie packte ihre Unterwäsche in den Koffer.
(She packed her underwear in the suitcase.) - Die Qualität der Unterwäsche ist sehr gut.
(The quality of the underwear is very good.)
💡 How to use "Unterwäsche"?
"Unterwäsche" is an everyday word used as a collective noun. Germans rarely refer to a single item as "eine Unterwäsche". Instead, they might say "ein Stück Unterwäsche" (a piece of underwear) or name the specific garment (e.g., der Slip - briefs, der BH - bra, das Unterhemd - undershirt).
Context
Distinctions
- Individual items: Der BH (bra), der Slip (briefs), die Boxershorts (boxer shorts), das Unterhemd (undershirt) are specific pieces of Unterwäsche.
- Oberbekleidung: The opposite concept - outerwear (e.g., die Hose - trousers, das Hemd - shirt, der Pullover - sweater).
- Nachtwäsche: Nightwear, clothing for sleeping (e.g., der Schlafanzug - pajamas, das Nachthemd - nightgown).
🧠 Mnemonics
Article Mnemonic: Think of "die Wäsche" (the laundry/washing). Unterwäsche is the laundry you wear unter (under) your clothes – it stays feminine: die Unterwäsche.
Meaning Mnemonic: The word literally tells you: It's Wäsche (laundry/garments) that you wear "unter" (under) your normal clothes. Imagine getting dressed: first comes the layer "underneath" – the Unterwäsche.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Words)
- Wäsche: Often used as a short form for Unterwäsche (e.g., "Ich muss noch Wäsche kaufen." - I still need to buy underwear.). However, Wäsche can also mean laundry in general, bed linen, or table linen.
- Dessous: Usually refers to finer, more seductive women's underwear (loanword from French).
- Leibwäsche: A somewhat dated term for underwear, literally "body linen".
Antonyms (Opposite Concepts)
- Oberbekleidung / Oberkleidung: Outerwear; the clothing worn over underwear (e.g., Hosen - trousers, Hemden - shirts, Kleider - dresses).
Confusing Words
- Waschmittel: (laundry detergent) - The substance used for washing clothes.
- Wäscherei: (laundry/launderette) - The place where clothes are washed.
😄 A Little Joke
Warum tragen Skelette keine Unterwäsche?
(Why don't skeletons wear underwear?)
Weil sie nichts zu verbergen haben!
(Because they have nothing to hide!) 😉
✍️ A Short Poem
Ob Slip, ob Hemd, ob Boxer kurz,
(Whether briefs, or shirt, or boxers short,)
Versteckt vorm Blick, ein kleiner Furz?
(Hidden from view, a little fart?)
Nein, sauber soll sie sein und rein,
(No, clean it should be and pure,)
Die Unterwäsche, fein und klein.
(The underwear, fine and small.)
Sie wärmt und schützt, tagaus, tagein,
(It warms and protects, day out, day in,)
Und muss doch meist verborgen sein.
(And yet must mostly hidden be.)
🕵️♀️ Little Riddle
Ich liege deiner Haut am nächsten,
(I lie closest to your skin,)
doch selten siehst du mich beim Festchen.
(but seldom do you see me at a party.)
Man kauft mich oft im Set, nicht einzeln klar,
(People often buy me in a set, not singly,)
und täglich wechsle ich, das ist doch wahr.
(and daily I change, that is true.)
Ich bin mal Spitze, mal aus Baumwollstoff.
(Sometimes I'm lace, sometimes made of cotton stuff.)
Was bin ich wohl? Ein kleiner Zwergenzopf?
(What am I? A little dwarf's braid?)
Nein, denk genauer nach, es ist ganz schlicht:
(No, think more carefully, it's quite simple:)
(Solution: Die Unterwäsche / Underwear)
🧩 More Info: Word Composition
The word "Unterwäsche" is a compound noun (Kompositum) formed from:
- unter- (prefix, meaning 'under' or 'beneath' here)
- die Wäsche (noun, originally meaning clothes that are washed; laundry)
The ending -wäsche often indicates the feminine article die (as in die Bettwäsche - bed linen, die Tischwäsche - table linen).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Unterwäsche?
The correct article for "Unterwäsche" is always die. It is a feminine noun, usually used as a collective term in the singular.