Schublade
This is a practical one! Die Schublade (shoo-blah-duh) is a feminine noun, so remember it's die. It means a drawer, like in a desk or a cabinet. You know, that pull-out box where you keep things. For example, you might say, "Der Stift ist in der Schublade" (The pen is in the drawer). Or, "Ich öffne die Schublade" (I am opening the drawer). It's a common word, so it's good to learn early!
§ "Schublade" is a Noun, so Capitalize It
Many beginners forget that all German nouns are capitalized. "Schublade" is no exception. Always write it with a capital 'S'. This isn't just a grammar rule; it helps distinguish it from verbs or adjectives that might look similar.
§ Correct Article for "Schublade": "die"
"Schublade" is a feminine noun, so its definite article is "die" (the). Its indefinite article is "eine" (a/an). Using the wrong article is a common mistake. Get comfortable with assigning the correct gender to nouns early on. German noun genders can seem arbitrary, but with practice, you'll start to remember them.
- Correct Article
- die Schublade (the drawer), eine Schublade (a drawer)
Öffne die Schublade bitte. (Open the drawer please.)
§ Plural Form: "Schubladen"
The plural form of "Schublade" is "Schubladen". Note the added 'n' at the end. The article in the plural is always "die", regardless of the noun's original gender. Don't forget to pluralize correctly when referring to more than one drawer.
- Plural Form
- die Schubladen (the drawers)
Alle Schubladen sind voll. (All the drawers are full.)
§ Not for all 'Drawers': Context Matters
While "Schublade" means 'drawer', it specifically refers to a drawer in a piece of furniture like a desk, cabinet, or dresser. It's not used for things that *draw* something, like an artist's drawer (which would be 'Zeichner' or 'Maler') or a lottery draw (which is 'Verlosung' or 'Ziehung'). This might seem obvious, but sometimes learners try to apply a direct English translation to all contexts.
§ Common Phrases and Prepositions
When talking about what's *in* the drawer, you'll typically use the preposition "in" (in). Remember that "in" can take either the dative or accusative case, depending on whether it describes a location (dative) or a movement into (accusative). For something already *inside* the drawer, you'll use dative.
In der Schublade (in the drawer - dative case for location):
Der Stift ist in der Schublade. (The pen is in the drawer.)
In die Schublade (into the drawer - accusative case for movement):
Ich lege das Buch in die Schublade. (I put the book into the drawer.)
Pay close attention to these prepositions and cases. They are fundamental to sounding natural in German. Mistakes with cases are very common, but also very noticeable to native speakers.
§ Don't Confuse with "Regal" or "Fach"
Sometimes learners might use "Schublade" when they mean a shelf ("Regal") or a compartment/tray ("Fach"). While related in function (holding things), they are distinct items of furniture or parts of furniture.
- Regal
- shelf, bookcase
Die Bücher stehen im Regal. (The books are on the shelf.)
- Fach
- compartment, pigeonhole, tray
Das Dokument ist im obersten Fach. (The document is in the top compartment.)
Understanding these distinctions will help you be more precise in your German and avoid misunderstandings.
Guide de prononciation
- Beginners often struggle with the 'sch' sound, which is like the 'sh' in 'shoe'. Make sure it's one smooth sound, not 's-ch'.
Niveau de difficulté
short
short
short
short
Quoi apprendre ensuite
Prérequis
Apprends ensuite
Avancé
Exemples par niveau
Die Schublade ist leer.
The drawer is empty.
Feminine noun.
Mach bitte die Schublade zu.
Please close the drawer.
Common imperative with 'bitte'.
Ich habe den Stift in die Schublade gelegt.
I put the pen in the drawer.
Accusative case after 'in' because of motion.
Wo ist mein Schlüssel? Er ist in der Schublade.
Where is my key? It is in the drawer.
Dative case after 'in' because of location.
Kannst du die obere Schublade öffnen?
Can you open the top drawer?
Adjective 'obere' (top) before the noun.
Diese Schublade klemmt immer.
This drawer always sticks.
Verb 'klemmen' (to stick).
Ich brauche eine größere Schublade für meine Kleidung.
I need a bigger drawer for my clothes.
Comparative adjective 'größere'.
Die Schublade meines Schreibtisches ist voll.
My desk drawer is full.
Genitive case 'meines Schreibtisches' (of my desk).
Die Dokumente sind in der dritten Schublade von oben.
The documents are in the third drawer from the top.
Here, 'von oben' specifies 'from the top'.
Ich habe meinen Schlüssel in der Schreibtischschublade gefunden.
I found my key in the desk drawer.
'Schreibtischschublade' is a compound noun, combining 'Schreibtisch' (desk) and 'Schublade' (drawer).
Könntest du mir bitte das Messer aus der Küchenschublade holen?
Could you please get me the knife from the kitchen drawer?
The preposition 'aus' (from) takes the dative case, hence 'der Küchenschublade'.
In dieser Schublade bewahre ich alle wichtigen Papiere auf.
In this drawer, I keep all important papers.
The verb 'aufbewahren' (to keep/store) is separable, with 'auf' at the end of the sentence.
Er zog die Schublade mit einem Ruck auf und suchte nach dem Stift.
He pulled the drawer open with a jerk and looked for the pen.
'Mit einem Ruck' means 'with a jerk'.
Die Schublade klemmt schon wieder; ich muss sie reparieren.
The drawer is sticking again; I need to repair it.
'Klemmen' means 'to stick' or 'to jam'.
Sie steckte den Brief vorsichtig in die oberste Schublade.
She carefully put the letter into the top drawer.
'Stecken in' (to put into) can take either dative or accusative. Here, it indicates direction, so accusative 'die oberste Schublade' is used.
Vergiss nicht, die Schubladen zu schließen, bevor du gehst.
Don't forget to close the drawers before you leave.
The plural of 'Schublade' is 'Schubladen'.
Expressions idiomatiques
"aus der Schublade ziehen"
to pull out of the drawer (to bring something up that was previously prepared or stored)
Lass uns die alte Präsentation aus der Schublade ziehen.
neutral"etwas in der Schublade haben"
to have something in the drawer (to have something prepared or planned, but not yet revealed or used)
Er hat immer ein paar gute Witze in der Schublade.
neutral"in der untersten Schublade liegen"
to lie in the bottom drawer (to be of very poor quality or importance, often figuratively for ideas or plans)
Diese Idee sollte besser in der untersten Schublade bleiben.
neutral"jemanden in eine Schublade stecken"
to put someone in a drawer (to pigeonhole someone, to categorize them unfairly or too simply)
Man sollte Leute nicht einfach in eine Schublade stecken.
neutral"aus allen Schubladen quellen"
to overflow from all drawers (to have too many things, often referring to clutter)
Seine Wohnung ist so voll, es quillt aus allen Schubladen.
informal"die Schublade aufmachen"
to open the drawer (figuratively, to start talking about a particular topic or bringing something up)
Wenn wir die Schublade 'finanzielle Probleme' aufmachen, wird es lang.
neutral"etwas aus der Schublade zaubern"
to conjure something out of the drawer (to unexpectedly produce something useful or relevant)
Der Chef hat im letzten Moment noch eine Lösung aus der Schublade gezaubert.
neutral"eine volle Schublade haben"
to have a full drawer (to have a lot of things to do or ideas, often positive)
Keine Sorge, ich habe noch eine volle Schublade an Vorschlägen.
neutral"etwas in die Schublade legen"
to put something in the drawer (to postpone or set aside a plan or idea)
Diese Pläne müssen wir leider erst einmal in die Schublade legen.
neutral"Schublade auf, Schublade zu"
drawer open, drawer shut (implies a very routine or monotonous task, no brainer)
Seine Arbeit ist nur Schublade auf, Schublade zu.
informalPratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
office/study
- die obere Schublade (the top drawer)
- die untere Schublade (the bottom drawer)
- in der Schublade (in the drawer)
kitchen
- die Besteckschublade (the cutlery drawer)
- die Schublade mit den Messern (the drawer with the knives)
- eine Schublade öffnen/schließen (to open/close a drawer)
bedroom
- die Kommodenschublade (the dresser drawer)
- Kleidung in die Schublade legen (to put clothes in the drawer)
- aus der Schublade nehmen (to take out of the drawer)
general home use
- eine leere Schublade (an empty drawer)
- eine volle Schublade (a full drawer)
- etwas in die Schublade räumen (to tidy something into the drawer)
asking about location
- Wo ist das? In welcher Schublade? (Where is that? In which drawer?)
- Hast du das in der Schublade gesehen? (Did you see that in the drawer?)
- Es ist wahrscheinlich in der Schublade. (It's probably in the drawer.)
Amorces de conversation
"Wo bewahrst du deine Stifte auf? In einer Schublade?"
"Hast du viele Schubladen in deiner Küche?"
"Was ist das Wichtigste, das du in einer Schublade versteckst?"
"Benutzt du oft Schubladen oder eher Regale?"
"Ist deine Schreibtischschublade ordentlich oder chaotisch?"
Sujets d'écriture
Beschreibe den Inhalt deiner Lieblingsschublade.
Wenn du eine magische Schublade hättest, was wäre darin?
Denke an eine Schublade, die du oft benutzt. Was ist ihre Funktion?
Schreibe über eine Zeit, als du etwas Wichtiges in einer Schublade gefunden hast.
Stell dir vor, du bist eine Schublade. Was siehst du den ganzen Tag?
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsThe German word for 'drawer' is Schublade. It's a feminine noun, so it's 'die Schublade'.
The plural of Schublade is Schubladen. Just add an -n to the end.
Certainly! You could say: 'Ich habe meine Schlüssel in der Schublade gefunden.' (I found my keys in the drawer.) Or, 'Mach bitte die Schublade zu.' (Please close the drawer.)
Schublade is a general term for a drawer. It can refer to a drawer in a desk, a cabinet, a dresser, or even a kitchen drawer. It's quite versatile.
A common idiom is 'jemanden in eine Schublade stecken' (to put someone in a drawer), which means to pigeonhole someone or categorize them. For example: 'Man sollte Menschen nicht in Schubladen stecken.' (One should not put people into categories.)
Schublade is considered an A2 level word in the CEFR framework. This means it's a basic, everyday vocabulary item.
It's pronounced 'shoo-blah-deh'. The 'Sch' is like the 'sh' in 'shoe', and the 'u' is like the 'oo' in 'moon'.
While both refer to a drawer, Schublade is more common. Schubfach is often used for smaller compartments or trays, especially in refrigerators or certain types of cabinets, but they can sometimes be used interchangeably. Stick with Schublade for general use.
There's no golden rule, but it helps to try and associate new nouns with their articles. When you learn 'Schublade,' always learn 'die Schublade' together. Over time, it will become natural.
Yes, absolutely! You can definitely use Schublade for a drawer in a filing cabinet. For instance: 'Ich habe die Akten in der obersten Schublade abgelegt.' (I filed the documents in the top drawer.)
Teste-toi 30 questions
Imagine you are describing your desk to a friend. Write one sentence in German about a drawer you have. What is in it?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
In meiner Schublade ist ein Stift.
You are organizing your kitchen. Write a German sentence saying you need another drawer for your utensils.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Ich brauche eine Schublade für das Besteck.
Write a short German sentence telling someone to open a drawer.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Öffne die Schublade, bitte.
Wie viele Schubladen hat der Schreibtisch?
Read this passage:
Ich habe einen Schreibtisch. Der Schreibtisch hat drei Schubladen. In der ersten Schublade sind Stifte. In der zweiten Schublade sind Papiere. Die dritte Schublade ist leer.
Wie viele Schubladen hat der Schreibtisch?
The passage says 'Der Schreibtisch hat drei Schubladen.' (The desk has three drawers.)
The passage says 'Der Schreibtisch hat drei Schubladen.' (The desk has three drawers.)
Was möchte die Mutter in die Schubladen legen?
Read this passage:
Meine Mutter kauft eine neue Kommode. Die Kommode hat viele Schubladen. Sie möchte Kleidung in die Schubladen legen.
Was möchte die Mutter in die Schubladen legen?
The passage states 'Sie möchte Kleidung in die Schubladen legen.' (She wants to put clothes in the drawers.)
The passage states 'Sie möchte Kleidung in die Schubladen legen.' (She wants to put clothes in the drawers.)
Woher nimmt der Schüler das Buch?
Read this passage:
Der Lehrer sagt: 'Bitte nehmt eure Bücher aus der Schublade.' Ein Schüler öffnet seine Schublade und nimmt ein Buch.
Woher nimmt der Schüler das Buch?
The sentence 'Ein Schüler öffnet seine Schublade und nimmt ein Buch.' (A student opens his drawer and takes a book.) tells us where the book comes from.
The sentence 'Ein Schüler öffnet seine Schublade und nimmt ein Buch.' (A student opens his drawer and takes a book.) tells us where the book comes from.
The drawer is stuck again, I can barely open it.
Have you looked for the keys in the top drawer?
Please put the documents in the second drawer from the top.
Read this aloud:
Ich habe alle wichtigen Papiere in meiner Schreibtischschublade aufbewahrt.
Focus: Schreibtischschublade
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Könntest du bitte die Schublade vorsichtig schließen, damit nichts herausfällt?
Focus: schließen
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Die oberste Schublade ist für Büromaterial, die darunter für persönliche Dinge.
Focus: oberste
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence instructs someone to put documents into the top drawer.
This sentence indicates that the speaker found their keys in the bottom drawer.
This sentence describes a drawer that always gets stuck when one tries to open it.
What is full of old photos?
What was he looking for in the drawers?
What should you pay attention to with the drawer?
Read this aloud:
Sagen Sie: 'Die unterste Schublade ist kaputt.'
Focus: Schub-la-de, un-ter-ste
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Sagen Sie: 'Ich habe die Rechnung in die linke Schublade gelegt.'
Focus: Rech-nung, lin-ke
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Sagen Sie: 'Alle Schubladen sind leer.'
Focus: al-le, leer
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence describes someone searching for a lost key in every drawer. The word order follows a typical German sentence structure with the verb in the second position.
This sentence explains that the top drawer of the desk was stuck and couldn't be opened. The phrase 'ließ sich nicht öffnen' is a common construction for expressing something that cannot be done.
This sentence details someone hiding important documents carefully in the bottom drawer. The adverb 'sorgfältig' (carefully) modifies the verb 'versteckt' (hidden).
/ 30 correct
Perfect score!
Exemple
Die Dokumente sind in der oberen Schublade.
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