das Bein
leg
One of the limbs in humans and many animals that is used for standing and walking.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe mir beim Fußball das linke Bein verletzt.
I injured my left leg while playing soccer.
das Bein
leg
das Bein, die Beine
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Meanings
das Bein
leg
One of the parts on which a piece of furniture such as a table, chair, or bed stands.
EXAMPLE
Vorsicht, ein Bein von diesem alten Stuhl ist locker.
Careful, one leg of this old chair is loose.
sich auf die Beine machen
to get going
To set off, get going; to leave one place in order to get to another.
EXAMPLE
Es wird schon dunkel, wir sollten uns langsam auf die Beine machen.
It's already getting dark; we should slowly get going.
wieder auf die Beine kommen
to get back on one's feet
To recover from an illness, an injury, or a difficult phase.
EXAMPLE
Nach der schweren Grippe braucht sie Zeit, um wieder auf die Beine zu kommen.
After the severe flu, she needs time to get back on her feet.
jemandem ein Bein stellen
to trip someone up
To deliberately make someone fall or specifically obstruct their plans and success.
EXAMPLE
Sein Konkurrent hat versucht, ihm bei der Beförderung ein Bein zu stellen.
His competitor tried to trip him up in the promotion process.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Bein, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Beine |
| genitive | des Beins |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Bein | die Beine |
| accusative | das Bein | die Beine |
| dative | dem Bein | den Beinen |
| genitive | des Beins des Beines | der Beine |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Sentence structure with injuries
When you injure one of your own body parts, a dative construction is often used. The person is in the dative, and the body part is in the accusative: 'Ich habe mir das Bein gebrochen' (I broke my leg).
EXAMPLE
Er hat sich beim Skifahren das Bein verletzt.
He injured his leg while skiing.
Context clue
Whether 'Bein' (leg) means the leg of a living being or of a piece of furniture becomes clear from context. If you are talking about people or animals, it means the body part. If you are talking about tables, chairs, or beds, it means the support.
EXAMPLE
Der Hund hat ein kurzes Bein.
The dog has a short leg.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'sich auf die Beine machen' is reflexive and means 'aufbrechen' (to set off) or 'losgehen' (to get going). It is often used to announce the end of a visit or a break.
EXAMPLE
Es ist schon spät, ich mache mich jetzt auf die Beine.
It's already late; I'm going to get going now.
Fixed expression
The expression 'wieder auf die Beine kommen' means to recover after an illness or a difficult situation. It is used for health problems as well as financial or emotional problems.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Operation hat er einige Wochen gebraucht, um wieder auf die Beine zu kommen.
After the operation, he needed a few weeks to get back on his feet.
Dative construction
The idiom 'jemandem ein Bein stellen' always has a dative object (the person you harm). It can be used literally (to make someone fall) or figuratively (to sabotage someone's plans).
EXAMPLE
Ein Mitspieler hat ihm im Strafraum ein Bein gestellt.
A teammate tripped him in the penalty area.
Compare with
Bein vs Fuß
foot
For furniture, both Fuß and Bein can refer to a supporting part. A Bein is normally a longer, clearly visible support, while a Fuß is more often the short bottom part or a broad supporting surface. That is why a tall table has Beine, while a table with a central column often has a Fuß.
Bein
Der kleine Tisch steht auf vier langen schmalen Beinen.
The small table stands on four long, slender legs.
Fuß
Der kleine Tisch steht auf einem breiten runden Fuß.
The small table stands on a broad, round foot.
In real life
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