die
Walze
⚙️ What does "die Walze" mean?
Die Walze (noun, feminine) primarily refers to a cylindrical body that can rotate around its axis and is used for various purposes. There are several specific meanings:
- Technology & Industry: A heavy, cylindrical device or machine part used for compacting, smoothing, crushing, or transporting (e.g., Straßenwalze - road roller, Druckwalze - printing roller, Förderwalze - conveyor roller).
- Mathematics/Geometry: Another word for a cylinder (less common than Zylinder).
- Household/Crafts: A cylindrical tool for rolling out dough (Teigwalze / Nudelholz - rolling pin) or applying paint (Farbwalze - paint roller).
- Agriculture: An implement for soil cultivation (Ackerwalze - field roller).
- Figurative/Colloquial: Sometimes used to describe something heavy, unstoppable, or a person of massive build (rather rare and potentially derogatory).
⚠️ Attention: The dance is usually called "der Walzer" (the waltz), not "die Walze".
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 Walze" in Detail
"Walze" is a feminine noun. The article is die. It follows the typical declension pattern for feminine nouns ending in -e.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die | Walze |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der | Walze |
| Dative (To whom?) | der | Walze |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die | Walze |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Walzen |
| Genitive | der | Walzen |
| Dative | den | Walzen |
| Accusative | die | Walzen |
💡 Example Sentences
- Die schwere Straßenwalze verdichtet den Asphalt. (The heavy road roller compacts the asphalt.)
- Der Drucker braucht eine neue Druckwalze. (The printer needs a new pressure roller.)
- Mit der Teigwalze rolle ich den Pizzateig aus. (I roll out the pizza dough with the rolling pin.)
- Im geometrischen Kontext spricht man eher von einem Zylinder als von einer Walze. (In a geometric context, one speaks more of a cylinder than a roller/Walze.)
- Die Ackerwalzen werden nach der Aussaat eingesetzt. (The field rollers are used after sowing.)
🛠️ How is "die Walze" used?
The use of "die Walze" depends heavily on the context:
- In technical and industrial fields, "Walze" is a common technical term (e.g., Druckwalze, Stahlwalze, Gummiwalze - printing roller, steel roller, rubber roller).
- In construction, the Straßenwalze (road roller) is a familiar sight.
- In the household, people often use more specific terms like Teigwalze/Nudelholz (rolling pin) or Farbwalze (paint roller).
- In mathematics, "Zylinder" is the preferred term; "Walze" is rather outdated or less precise.
- Figurative meanings are rare and should be used cautiously as they can sound clumsy.
Comparison: While "die Walze" often describes a heavy, functional object, "die Rolle" is more general and can also refer to smaller or lighter cylindrical objects (e.g., Toilettenpapierrolle - toilet paper roll, Filmrolle - film roll). "Der Zylinder" is the precise geometric/mathematical term.
🧠 Mnemonics for "Walze"
Article Mnemonic: Most nouns ending in -e are feminine (die). Think of the heavy Walze – the "e" at the end helps you remember "die".
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a heavy Walze rolling over everything, making it flat. It almost sounds like "waltzes" over the ground, crushing it. Or think of the English word "wall" - a Walze can be as heavy and imposing as a moving wall, flattening things.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar words):
⚠️ Similar but Misleading Words:
- Der Walzer: A dance in three-four time (the waltz). Don't confuse them!
- Wälzen: The verb means to roll something heavy or to toss and turn (e.g., sich im Bett wälzen - to toss and turn in bed).
😂 A Little Joke
Warum hat die Straßenwalze nie Stress?
Weil sie immer alles platt macht! 😄
---
Why is the road roller never stressed?
Because it always flattens everything! 😄 ("platt machen" can mean flatten, but also figuratively "to crush" or "to settle" issues)
✒️ Poem about the Walze
Schwer und rund, die Walze rollt,
hat Kraft, die manchem imponiert und grollt.
Sie drückt den Boden, glättet Bahn,
dreht sich im Kreis, fängt immer neu an.
Aus Stahl gemacht, ein starkes Stück,
bringt Form und Festigkeit zurück.
---
Heavy and round, the roller rolls,
Has power that impresses some and scolds.
It presses the ground, smooths the way,
Turns in a circle, starts anew each day.
Made of steel, a strong piece,
Brings back form and solid peace.
❓ Riddle Time
Ich bin rund und meistens schwer,
mach' Straßen glatt, kreuz und quer.
Mal roll' ich Teig, mal druck' ich Tinte fein,
bin Zylinder oft, doch nicht allein.
Wer bin ich?
Lösung: die Walze
---
I am round and usually heavy,
I make roads smooth, hither and thither.
Sometimes I roll dough, sometimes print ink so fine,
I'm often a cylinder, but not solely mine.
What am I?
Solution: die Walze (the roller/cylinder)
🧐 Other Information
Word Composition: "Walze" is a base word, but can be part of many compound nouns (Komposita) that specify its purpose or material:
- Straßenwalze (road roller)
- Druckwalze (printing/pressure roller)
- Stahlwalze (steel roller)
- Gummiwalze (rubber roller)
- Teigwalze (dough roller/rolling pin)
- Farbwalze (paint roller)
- Ackerwalze (field roller)
Etymology: The word comes from the Old High German "walza" and is related to the verb "wälzen" (to roll, to turn).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Walze?
The German word "Walze" is feminine. The correct article is always die (die Walze, der Walze, die Walzen).