die
Wolle
🧶 What does "die Wolle" mean?
Die Wolle means wool. It refers to the soft hair (the fleece) of certain mammals, primarily sheep, but also goats (e.g., cashmere, mohair), camels, or alpacas. This natural fiber is spun into yarn, which is then used for knitting, weaving, or felting to create clothing, blankets, and other textiles.
It is a material noun and therefore grammatically feminine (die Wolle).
⚠️ Be careful: The idiom "sich in die Wolle kriegen" (literally: 'to get into the wool') means to argue or fight.
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 Wolle" in Detail
"Wolle" is a feminine noun. It is mostly used in the singular as an uncountable noun. A plural form ("die Wollen") exists but is very rarely used and refers to different types or kinds of wool.
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Wolle | eine Wolle |
| Genitive | der Wolle | einer Wolle |
| Dative | der Wolle | einer Wolle |
| Accusative | die Wolle | eine Wolle |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Wollen | Wollen |
| Genitive | der Wollen | Wollen |
| Dative | den Wollen | Wollen |
| Accusative | die Wollen | Wollen |
💡 Example Sentences
- Der Pullover ist aus reiner Wolle. (The sweater is made of pure wool.)
- Meine Oma strickt gerne mit bunter Wolle. (My grandma likes knitting with colorful wool.)
- Im Winter trage ich Socken aus warmer Wolle. (In winter, I wear socks made of warm wool.)
- Diese Schafe liefern besonders feine Wolle. (These sheep provide particularly fine wool.)
- Die beiden Nachbarn haben sich gestern Abend richtig in die Wolle gekriegt. (The two neighbors really got into a fight last night.)
🗣️ How to Use "Wolle"
"Die Wolle" is primarily used in the context of materials, textiles, and crafts. You talk about:
- Clothing: ein Pullover aus Wolle (a wool sweater), Wollsocken (wool socks), ein Wollschal (a wool scarf).
- Crafts: Wolle kaufen (to buy wool), mit Wolle stricken/häkeln (to knit/crochet with wool), ein Knäuel Wolle (a ball of wool/yarn).
- Origin: Schafwolle (sheep's wool), Alpakawolle (alpaca wool), Merinowolle (merino wool).
- Properties: weiche Wolle (soft wool), kratzige Wolle (scratchy wool), warme Wolle (warm wool).
The expression "sich in die Wolle kriegen/geraten" is a fixed idiom meaning to argue or fight fiercely. It has nothing to do with the material itself but is used figuratively (perhaps like animals locking horns or fur in a fight).
Compared to Garn (yarn), Wolle specifically refers to the raw material or the spun thread material of animal origin. Garn can also be made from plant fibers (Baumwolle - cotton, Leinen - linen) or synthetic materials.
🧠 Mnemonics for "die Wolle"
Article Mnemonic: Many two-syllable German nouns ending in -e are feminine (die). Think of: die Wärme (warmth), die Kälte (cold), die Sonne (sun)... and also die Wolle!
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a sheep proudly saying: "I want to give you my feece! It's the wool!" - The 'ee'/'e' sounds might remind you of the feminine article die.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Garn (yarn - more general, can be non-animal)
- Faser (fiber - even more general, the basic substance)
- Vlies (fleece - the sheared wool before processing)
- Strickgarn / Häkelgarn (knitting yarn / crochet yarn - specific for crafts)
⚠️ Similar Words:
- wollen (verb): Nothing to do with the material! It means "to want" or "to intend". (e.g., Ich will... - I want...)
😄 A Wool Joke
DE: Fragt ein Schaf das andere: "Wolltest du heute auch geschoren werden?" Sagt das andere: "Määäh, eigentlich nicht, aber ich lasse mich nicht gern überscheren!"
EN: One sheep asks another: "Did you want (wolltest) to get sheared today too?" The other says: "Baaaah, not really, but I don't like being bossed around!" (Pun on "überscheren" which sounds like shearing but also idiomatically means 'to lump together' or metaphorically 'to boss around'/'ignore feelings').
📜 Poem about Wool
DE:
Vom Schaf das Kleid, so weich und warm,
Die Wolle schützt vor Kält' und Harm.
Gesponnen fein zu langem Faden,
Wird sie zum Pulli, ohne Schaden.
Ob grau, ob weiß, ob kunterbunt,
Hält sie uns mollig zu jeder Stund'.
EN:
From sheep the coat, so soft and warm,
The wool protects from cold and harm.
Spun finely into a long thread,
Becomes a sweater, no harm spread.
Whether gray, or white, or colorful bright,
It keeps us cozy, day and night.
🤔 Riddle
DE:
Ich komme vom Tier, doch bin kein Fleisch,
Ich wärme dich, bin weich, zumeist.
Man spinnt mich, strickt mich, Jahr für Jahr,
Was bin ich? Na klar:
Die _ _ _ _ _?
(Lösung: Wolle)
EN:
I come from an animal, but am not meat,
I keep you warm, I'm soft and neat.
I'm spun and knitted, year by year,
What am I? It's clear:
_ _ _ _?
(Answer: Wool / die Wolle)
ℹ️ More about Wolle
Word Composition: "Wolle" is a base word but can be part of many compound nouns:
- Schafwolle (sheep's wool), Baumwolle (cotton - Careful: plant-based!), Stahlwolle (steel wool - Careful: metal!)
- Wollpullover (wool sweater), Wollsocken (wool socks), Wolldecke (wool blanket) - Products
- Wollknäuel (ball of wool/yarn), Wollfaden (wool thread) - Form
- Wollindustrie (wool industry), Wollmarkt (wool market) - Economy
Trivia:
- Merinowolle, from Merino sheep, is considered particularly fine and soft.
- Kaschmirwolle (Cashmere wool) comes from the Cashmere goat and is one of the most expensive and luxurious types of wool.
- Wool has natural temperature-regulating properties: it warms when it's cold and cools when it's warm (to a certain extent).
- Wool is naturally flame-retardant and self-cleaning (airing it out is often sufficient).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Wolle?
The German word for wool (as a material) is feminine. It is always die Wolle. The plural die Wollen is rare and refers to different types of wool.