die  Windmühle

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈvɪntˌmyːlə/

🌬️ What Exactly is a 'Windmühle'?

A Windmühle (feminine, article: die) is a structure with sails or blades that uses the power of the wind (der Wind) to perform mechanical work. Traditionally, Windmühlen were primarily used for grinding grain (hence the 'Mühle' part, meaning 'mill') or pumping water.

There's only one article for this word: die Windmühle. It's a compound word formed from der Wind (the wind) and die Mühle (the mill). Since the base word 'Mühle' is feminine, 'Windmühle' is also feminine.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of 'die Windmühle' in Detail

The noun 'Windmühle' is feminine. Here are the declension tables:

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die alte Windmühle steht auf dem Hügel.
   (The old windmill stands on the hill.)
2. Die Flügel der Windmühle drehten sich langsam im Wind.
   (The blades of the windmill turned slowly in the wind.)
3. Wir gaben der Windmühle einen neuen Anstrich.
   (We gave the windmill a new coat of paint.)
4. Man kann die Windmühle von Weitem sehen.
   (One can see the windmill from afar.)
5. In Holland gibt es viele historische Windmühlen.
   (In Holland, there are many historical windmills.)

💨 How and When to Use 'Windmühle'

The term 'Windmühle' is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Historical/Traditional: Describing old mills that ground grain or pumped water (e.g., in the Netherlands, Northern Germany).
• History of Technology: As an example of early use of renewable energy.
• Tourism: As a sight or landmark of a region.
• Landscape Description: As a characteristic element in certain landscapes.

Today, the function of generating energy from wind is more commonly performed by modern Windkraftanlagen or Windräder (wind turbines), which are technologically more advanced. A 'Windmühle' usually refers to the classic, older structure.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'Windmühle'

1. Remembering the Article: Think of the base word die Mühle (the mill). Many structures or places ending in '-e' in German are feminine (die Schule - school, die Kirche - church). So, die Windmühle fits this pattern.
2. Remembering the Meaning: Imagine the Wind (der Wind) blowing against die Mühle (the mill), making it turn. Wind + Mühle = Windmühle (windmill).

'Die lovely Mühle, standing tall, / Lets the Wind make its rotors call.'

🔄 Similar and Opposing Terms

⚠️ Caution: Don't confuse 'Windmühle' with 'Windrad' when referring to a modern wind turbine for electricity generation, although the terms might overlap colloquially.

😄 A Little Mill Joke

Fragt der Müllerlehrling den Meister: „Meister, warum dreht sich die Windmühle?“
Sagt der Meister: „Na, wegen des Windes, du Dummkopf!“
Fragt der Lehrling: „Aber warum dreht sie sich dann manchmal nicht, obwohl Wind weht?“
Meister: „Dann macht sie Pause!“ 😄

Translation:
The miller's apprentice asks the master: "Master, why does the windmill turn?"
The master says: "Because of the wind, you fool!"
The apprentice asks: "But why does it sometimes not turn, even though the wind is blowing?"
Master: "Then it's taking a break!" 😄

📜 Poem about the Windmill

Die alte Mühle, stolz und hehr,
Streckt ihre Flügel in die Luft, so sehr.
Der Wind, ihr Freund, er kommt geschwind,
Lässt sie tanzen, jedes Kind
Staunt über ihre Kraft und Pracht,
Hat Korn gemahlen Tag und Nacht.
Ein Bild der Zeit, das still nun steht,
Wo einst das Mehl im Winde geweht.

Translation:
The old mill, proud and noble there,
Stretches its wings into the air, so bare.
The wind, its friend, arrives with speed,
Lets it dance, every child takes heed,
Amazed by its power and might,
Ground grain it did, day and through night.
An image of time, now standing still,
Where once the flour blew on the hill.

❓ Who or What Am I?

Ich habe Flügel, doch kann nicht fliegen.
Ich nutze den Wind, um Arbeit zu kriegen.
Malte einst Korn, pumpte Wasser ins Land,
Steh oft auf Hügeln, bin weithin bekannt.

Was bin ich?... Die Windmühle

Translation:
I have wings, but cannot fly.
I use the wind to get work done, way up high.
Once ground grain, pumped water to the land,
Often stand on hills, known throughout the sand.

What am I?
... The Windmill

💡 More about 'die Windmühle'

Word Composition:

• The word 'Windmühle' is a compound noun, composed of:
  • der Wind (the wind - Nominative Singular)
  • die Mühle (the mill - Nominative Singular)
• The gender of a compound noun in German is determined by the last part (the base word), which is 'Mühle'. Since 'Mühle' is feminine ('die Mühle'), 'Windmühle' is also feminine ('die Windmühle').

Trivia:

• The Netherlands are world-famous for their historic windmills, especially those at Kinderdijk (UNESCO World Heritage site).
• Don Quixote, a famous novel character, famously fought windmills, mistaking them for giants – leading to the idiom "tilting at windmills" (fighting imaginary enemies or pursuing futile goals). The German equivalent is „gegen Windmühlen kämpfen“.