die
Zeche
📖 What does 'die Zeche' mean?
The German word die Zeche primarily has two different meanings:
⛏️ The Mine (especially coal mine): In this sense, die Zeche refers to a facility for extracting mineral resources, especially hard coal. This meaning is strongly associated with regions like the Ruhr area (das Ruhrgebiet).
Example: Die letzte Zeche im Ruhrgebiet wurde 2018 geschlossen. (The last coal mine in the Ruhr area was closed in 2018.)
🧾 The Bill / Check / Tab (often for drinks): In a more colloquial context, die Zeche refers to the bill in a pub, bar, or restaurant, particularly when it involves shared consumption. Common phrases include "die Zeche zahlen" (to pay the bill) or "die Zeche prellen" (to skip out on the bill, dine and dash).
Example: Wer zahlt heute die Zeche für die Getränke? (Who is paying the bill for the drinks today?)
🚨 Note: The intended meaning is usually clear from the context.
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 Zeche' in Detail
Die Zeche is a feminine noun. Its declension is as follows:
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Zeche |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Zeche |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Zeche |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Zeche |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Zechen |
| Genitive | der | Zechen |
| Dative | den | Zechen |
| Accusative | die | Zechen |
Example Sentences 📝
- Mine: Die alte Zeche wurde zu einem Museum umgebaut. (The old mine was converted into a museum.)
- Bill: Nach dem langen Abend war die Zeche ziemlich hoch. (After the long evening, the bill was quite high.)
- Bill (Action): Er hat versucht, die Zeche zu prellen, wurde aber erwischt. (He tried to skip out on the bill but got caught.)
💡 Everyday Usage
The use of die Zeche depends heavily on the meaning:
- As a mine: This meaning is often found in historical, geographical, or technical contexts, especially when discussing mining (specifically coal mining). It's regionally significant (e.g., Ruhr area, Saarland). In everyday conversation outside these contexts, it's less common unless discussing industrial history or visiting a museum mine.
- As a bill/check: This meaning is colloquial and frequently used in social situations, typically in pubs, bars, or at private parties when determining who pays for drinks or food. Phrases like "die Zeche zahlen" (to pay the bill) or "die Zeche prellen" (to leave without paying) are common. It sounds more informal than the standard word die Rechnung.
Comparison: While die Rechnung is the neutral and universal term for an itemized bill, die Zeche (meaning 'bill') has a more convivial, sometimes slightly negative (in the case of 'prellen') connotation and often refers to jointly consumed items, especially drinks.
🧠 Mnemonics for Zeche
For the article (die): Imagine DIE (=The) elegant lady (feminine!) visiting the mine (die Zeche) and later paying DIE (=the) bill (die Zeche) at the pub.
For the meanings (Mine/Bill): In the past, people worked the Zeche (mine); today, you pay the Zeche (bill) after drinks. Both can be costly endeavors!
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Depending on the meaning:
Antonyms
Direct antonyms are rare, but in the context of 'bill':
- das Guthaben (credit balance)
- die Gutschrift (credit note)
- das Freibier / die Freigetränke (free beer / free drinks - meaning no bill to pay)
There isn't a direct antonym for 'mine'.
Risk of Confusion?
The word die Zehe (toe) sounds similar but has a completely different meaning.
😄 A Little Joke
Warum gehen Skelette nie auf die Zeche (Kneipe)? Weil sie keine "Knochen" haben, um die Zeche zu zahlen! 😉
(Why do skeletons never go to the pub (Zeche)? Because they don't have the "bones" (slang for money) to pay the bill (Zeche)!)
📜 Poem about Zeche
Tief unter Tag, die alte Zeche,
Wo Kohle einst brach mancher Knechte.
Staubig die Luft, die Arbeit schwer,
Ein Denkmal nun, längst ist's leer.
Doch abends dann, in froher Runde,
Kommt eine andre Zeche zur Kunde.
Der Wirt notiert auf seinem Block,
Wer zahlt den Preis für Wein und Mock?
(Deep underground, the ancient mine (Zeche),
Where once the workers broke the coal's line.
The air was dusty, labour hard,
A monument now, empty yard.)
(But later on, the evening bright,
Another bill (Zeche) comes into sight.
The landlord notes upon his pad,
Who'll pay the price for drinks they had?)
❓ Riddle
Ich kann tief in der Erde sein,
voll Kohle, Staub und Gestein.
Ich kann aber auch auf dem Tisch erscheinen,
wenn Freunde trinken und sich einen.
Was bin ich? ... Die Zeche
(I can be deep within the earth,
full of coal, dust, and stony worth.
But I can also appear on the table,
when friends are drinking, if they're able.)
(What am I? ... Die Zeche)
ℹ️ Trivia & More
Etymology: The word "Zeche" in the sense of bill/gathering comes from Middle High German "zech(e)" meaning 'row, order, communal drinking, drinking party'. The meaning 'mine' developed later, possibly via the concept of the 'Gewerkschaft' (a type of mining corporation or union), which was seen as a kind of 'community' or 'Zeche'.
Cultural Significance: The meaning 'mine' holds immense cultural and historical significance for Germany, especially for the Ruhr area (Ruhrgebiet) and its industrial past. Many former mines (Zechen) are now industrial monuments and cultural sites (e.g., Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Zeche?
The word 'Zeche' is feminine, so the correct article is die Zeche. It has two primary meanings: a mine (especially a coal mine) and the bill or check, particularly for drinks in a pub or bar.