die
Urne
🏺 What does "die Urne" mean?
The word die Urne (feminine) primarily has two common meanings:
- Bestattungsurne (Funeral Urn): A vessel, often artistically designed, in which the ashes of a deceased person are kept after cremation. It can be made from various materials like ceramic, metal, wood, or biodegradable substances.
- Wahlurne (Ballot Box): A container, typically lockable and often transparent or with a slot, into which voters cast their ballots during an election or vote.
Occasionally, the term is used more generally for vase-like vessels, especially in archaeological contexts (e.g., for grave goods from the Urnfield period), but this is less common in everyday life.
⚠️ The context usually makes it clear which type of Urne is meant.
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 Corner: Declining die Urne
Die Urne is a feminine noun. Like most feminine nouns in German ending in -e, its form changes only slightly in the singular (dative and genitive). The plural adds an -n.
Declension Tables
Example Sentences (Beispielsätze)
- Die Urne mit der Asche meiner Großmutter steht auf dem Kaminsims.
(The urn with my grandmother's ashes is on the mantelpiece.) - Bitte werfen Sie Ihren Stimmzettel in die bereitgestellte Urne.
(Please cast your ballot into the provided ballot box.) - Nach Schließung der Wahllokale werden die Urnen versiegelt und ausgezählt.
(After the polling stations close, the ballot boxes are sealed and counted.) - Archäologen fanden alte Urnen mit wertvollen Beigaben.
(Archaeologists found ancient urns with valuable grave goods.)
💡 When to use "die Urne"?
The term die Urne is used in specific contexts:
- Bestattungswesen (Funerary context): Related to cremation (Feuerbestattung), cemeteries (Friedhof, e.g., Urnenwand - urn wall, Urnengrab - urn grave), funeral homes (Bestattungsinstitut), and grieving.
- Wahlen & Abstimmungen (Elections & Voting): In political elections, referendums, or votes within clubs or organizations. The phrase "zur Urne gehen" means "to go to the polls" or "to vote".
- Archäologie & Geschichte (Archaeology & History): To describe artifacts from specific periods (e.g., Urnenfelderkultur - Urnfield culture).
Distinctions:
- A Vase (die Vase) is primarily for flowers; an Urne is for ashes or ballots.
- A Sarg (der Sarg) is a coffin used for burying the body; an Urne is used for the ashes after cremation.
- Behälter (der Behälter) or Gefäß (das Gefäß) are more general terms for container or vessel.
The expression "an die Urnen treten" or "zur Urne schreiten" is a common idiom for the act of voting.
🧠 Memory Aids for "die Urne"
Article Mnemonic: Many feminine nouns end in -e, like die Urne. Imagine an elegant urn – Eleganz (elegance) feels feminine, matching die.
Meaning Mnemonic:
- For funeral: Think of the ashes saying, "Urn-til we meet again."
- For voting: Think, "It's your next turn (Urne) to vote!" or "People urn-estly (earnestly) cast their votes into the Urne."
🔄 Synonyms, Antonyms, and Similar Words
Synonyms (Words with similar meaning):
- For Bestattungsurne: Aschenbehälter (ash container), Aschenkrug (ash jug/pot), Graburne (grave urn)
- For Wahlurne: Wahlbehälter (election container), Stimmurne (ballot urn), Losurne (lottery urn - for drawing lots), Wahlkasten (voting box - dated)
Antonyms (Opposites):
- For Bestattungsurne (conceptual): Sarg (coffin - for body burial)
- For Wahlurne: No direct antonym exists; the opposite concept might be the voting process itself or the result.
⚠️ Similar but different words:
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt der Wahlhelfer den Wähler: "Haben Sie schon gewählt?"
(The poll worker asks the voter: "Have you voted yet?")
Antwortet der Wähler: "Nein, aber ich habe schon meine Urne für später ausgesucht!"
(The voter replies: "No, but I've already picked out my urn for later!")
Der Wahlhelfer: "Äh... ich meinte die Wahlurne!"
(The poll worker: "Uh... I meant the ballot urn!")
📜 A Short Poem
Die Urne, still und oft verziert,
(The urn, silent and often adorned,)
hält Asche, die einst existiert.
(holds ashes that once existed.)
Mal hält sie Stimmen, schwer und leicht,
(Sometimes it holds votes, heavy and light,)
wenn Bürgerrecht zur Wahl gereicht.
(when civic duty extends to the election.)
Ein Schlusspunkt hier, ein Anfang dort,
(An endpoint here, a beginning there,)
ein stummer, doch bedeutsamer Ort.
(a silent, yet significant place.)
🧩 Little Riddle
Ich habe einen Schlitz, doch kein Geld nehm' ich an.
(I have a slot, but accept no money.)
Ich bewahre das Letzte von Frau oder Mann.
(I keep the last remains of woman or man.)
Mal bin ich aus Ton, mal aus sicherer Pappe,
(Sometimes I'm made of clay, sometimes secure cardboard,)
entscheide mit Inhalt mal knappe Etappe.
(decide, with my contents, a close race sometimes.)
Was bin ich?
(What am I?)
Lösung: die Urne (both Wahlurne and Bestattungsurne)
(Solution: the urn (both ballot box and funeral urn))
✨ More Information
Word Origin (Etymology):
The word Urne comes from the Latin word urna, which originally meant a vessel for water or other liquids, but was also used in antiquity for storing ashes or as a vessel for drawing lots.
Compound Words (Wortzusammensetzungen):
There are many compound words with "Urne" that specify the meaning:
- Funeral context: Urnenbestattung (urn burial/cremation), Urnengrab (urn grave), Urnenbeisetzung (urn interment), Urnenwand (columbarium wall), Schmuckurne (decorative urn), Bio-Urne (biodegradable urn), Seeurne (sea urn)
- Election context: Wahlurne (ballot box), Stimmurne (ballot urn)
- Historical context: Urnenfelderkultur (Urnfield culture - a late Bronze Age period)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Urne?
The word "Urne" is always feminine: die Urne. It primarily refers to a vessel for ashes (Bestattungsurne) or a container for ballots (Wahlurne).
