der Schlüssel
key
Der Schlüssel (the key) is the German word for a key, the kind you use to open a door or start a car. It is a masculine noun, so it takes der as its definite article. The plural is unusual in that it does not change at all: one Schlüssel, two Schlüssel. You tell them apart only by the article and context.
This unchanged plural is typical of masculine and neuter nouns ending in -el, such as der Löffel (spoon) and der Apfel (which adds an umlaut but no ending, Äpfel). For Schlüssel, even the umlaut stays the same across singular and plural.
In daily life you'll meet several compounds. Der Hausschlüssel is the house key, der Autoschlüssel is the car key, and der Schlüsselbund is a keyring or bunch of keys. The genitive singular is des Schlüssels and the dative plural is den Schlüsseln, the one form that does add an ending.
Schlüssel also has a strong figurative meaning, just like "key" in English. Der Schlüssel zum Erfolg is "the key to success", and the adjective schlüsselfertig (literally "key-ready") describes a house that is finished and ready to move into, what English calls "turnkey".
Pronunciation: "SHLÜ-sel", with stress on the first syllable. The "ü" is the rounded front vowel, made by saying "ee" with rounded lips, and the double "s" keeps that vowel short. The final "el" is a soft, unstressed ending.
Article / Gender
English
key
Singular
der Schlüssel
Plural
die Schlüssel
der Schlüssel appears in the following vocabulary collections:
Der Schlüssel liegt auf dem Tisch.
The key is lying on the table.
Basic subject–verb–place order.
Ich finde den Schlüssel nicht.
I can't find the key.
Negation usually goes to the end.
Hast du den Schlüssel?
Do you have the key?
Yes/no questions start with the verb.
- What does Schlüssel mean in German?
- Schlüssel means "key" in German, both the physical key for a lock and the figurative key to something, as in der Schlüssel zum Erfolg (the key to success). It is a masculine noun, so it takes der.
- Is Schlüssel masculine, feminine, or neuter?
- Schlüssel is masculine, so it takes der (der Schlüssel). Many nouns ending in -el that refer to tools or objects are masculine, though it is still safest to learn the article with the word.
- What is the plural of Schlüssel?
- The plural is identical to the singular: die Schlüssel. The word does not add an ending or change its vowel, which is normal for masculine nouns ending in -el. Only the article and context tell you whether one key or several is meant.
- How do you say "car key" or "house key" in German?
- Der Autoschlüssel is the car key and der Hausschlüssel is the house key. A bunch of keys on a ring is der Schlüsselbund. All of these stay masculine because Schlüssel is the final element of the compound.
- How do you pronounce Schlüssel?
- Schlüssel is pronounced "SHLÜ-sel", with stress on the first syllable. The "sch" sounds like English "sh", and the "ü" is a rounded front vowel: say "ee" while rounding your lips. The double "s" keeps the vowel short.