die
Zitrone
🍋 What does "die Zitrone" mean?
Die Zitrone (noun, feminine) means lemon in English. It refers to the yellow, sour citrus fruit from the lemon tree. It's known for its high vitamin C content and refreshing taste.
There's only one grammatical gender for this fruit: feminine (die).
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.
Fruit → mostly feminine.
Caution, exception: das Obst
The Grammar of Zitrone 📖
The word "Zitrone" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Zitrone |
| Genitive | der | Zitrone |
| Dative | der | Zitrone |
| Accusative | die | Zitrone |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Zitronen |
| Genitive | der | Zitronen |
| Dative | den | Zitronen |
| Accusative | die | Zitronen |
Example Sentences
- Ich presse eine Zitrone für die Limonade aus. (I squeeze a lemon for the lemonade.)
- Der Saft der Zitrone ist sehr sauer. (The juice of the lemon is very sour.)
- Gib dem Salat etwas Saft von der Zitrone bei. (Add some juice from the lemon to the salad.)
- Im Supermarkt kaufe ich heute Zitronen. (I'm buying lemons at the supermarket today.)
Usage in Daily Life 🍹
Die Zitrone is used in many ways:
- In the kitchen: For seasoning food (Fisch, Salatdressings), baking (Zitronenkuchen - lemon cake), drinks (Limonade, Tee, Cocktails).
- Figuratively: The idiom "jemanden auspressen wie eine Zitrone" means to exploit someone financially or physically (like squeezing a lemon dry). "In die Zitrone beißen" (obsolete) or the more common "in den sauren Apfel beißen" means having to do something unpleasant.
- Household: Lemon juice (Zitronensaft) is sometimes used as a natural cleaning agent or odor remover.
It can sometimes be confused with the Limette (die Limette), a smaller, usually green citrus fruit (lime).
How to Remember "die Zitrone" 🤔
Article Mnemonic:
Many fruits in German are feminine: die Banane, die Orange, die Erdbeere... and so is die Zitrone. Think of die sour fruit. The 'e' ending is also very common for feminine nouns.
Meaning Mnemonic:
The German word "Zitrone" sounds a bit like the English word "citron", which is a related large, fragrant citrus fruit, making it easy to associate with lemon.
Similar and Opposite Words 🔄
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- (Rare, botanical) Agrume
- Sometimes Limone is used, but this often refers to a specific variety or is used synonymously with Limette (lime).
Antonyms (conceptual opposites):
- Sweet fruits like die Süßorange (sweet orange), die Banane (banana) (contrast in taste)
Related Terms:
- Zitronensäure (die): Citric acid, a component of lemon.
- Zitronenbaum (der): Lemon tree.
- Zitronengelb (adjective): Lemon yellow, the typical color.
- Limette (die): Lime, another citrus fruit.
A Little Joke 😄
German: Warum ging die Zitrone zur Schule?
Damit sie zur Konzentrat-Schule gehen konnte!
English: Why did the lemon go to school?
So it could go to concentrate school! (A pun on 'concentrate' as in juice concentrate and concentrating in school)
A Poem about the Lemon 📜
German:
Gelbe Schale, sonnenhell,
Die Zitrone, sauer schnell.
Tropfen spritzen, frisch und klar,
Macht den Durst oft wunderbar.
Im Tee, im Kuchen, im Salat,
Ein Vitamin-C-Diplomat!
English Translation:
Yellow peel, bright as sun,
The lemon, quickly sour, my son.
Drops splash, fresh and clear,
Often makes thirst wonderfully disappear.
In tea, in cake, in salad's art,
A vitamin C diplomat!
Who or What Am I? 🤔
German:
Ich trage ein gelbes Kleid,
Bin für meinen sauren Saft bereit.
Man presst mich aus für Limonade fein,
Was kann ich wohl sein?
English Translation:
I wear a yellow dress,
Ready for my sour juice, no less.
People squeeze me for fine lemonade,
What could I possibly be made?
Lösung / Answer: die Zitrone / the lemon
Trivia 💡
- Origin: The lemon likely originated in Northern India. (Die Zitrone stammt ursprünglich vermutlich aus Nordindien.)
- Word Origin: The German word "Zitrone" came via Italian (citrone), which in turn goes back to the Latin citrus. (Das Wort "Zitrone" kam über das Italienische (citrone) ins Deutsche, welches wiederum auf das lateinische citrus zurückgeht.)
- Health: Lemons are famous for their high vitamin C content, which boosts the immune system. (Zitronen sind berühmt für ihren hohen Vitamin-C-Gehalt, der das Immunsystem stärkt.)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Zitrone?
The noun "Zitrone" is feminine. The correct article is always die: die Zitrone (singular), die Zitronen (plural).