die Erbse
pea
A small, round, usually green seed of the pea plant that is eaten as a vegetable.
EXAMPLE
Zum Schnitzel gibt es heute Karotten und Erbsen.
Today, the schnitzel comes with carrots and peas.
die Erbse
pea
die Erbse, die Erbsen
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
Prinzessin auf der Erbse
princess and the pea
An idiomatic expression for an oversensitive, very demanding, or easily hurt person, in reference to the fairy tale of the same name.
EXAMPLE
Wegen eines kleinen Kratzers macht sie so ein Theater, sie ist eine echte Prinzessin auf der Erbse.
She's making such a fuss over a small scratch; she's a real princess and the pea.
die Erbse
pea plant
The plant from the legume family on which the peas known as vegetables grow.
EXAMPLE
Im Garten haben wir dieses Jahr Erbsen und Bohnen angepflanzt.
In the garden, we planted peas and beans this year.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Erbse, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Erbsen |
| genitive | der Erbse |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Erbse | die Erbsen |
| accusative | die Erbse | die Erbsen |
| dative | der Erbse | den Erbsen |
| genitive | der Erbse | der Erbsen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Typical collocations
As a vegetable, 'Erbse' (pea) is often used in the plural and frequently combined with other foods. Typical collocations are 'Erbsen und Möhren' (peas and carrots), 'Erbsensuppe' (pea soup), or 'eine Dose Erbsen' (a can of peas).
EXAMPLE
Ich koche heute eine leckere Erbsensuppe für das Abendessen.
I'm making a delicious pea soup for dinner today.
Use of the idiom
The expression 'Prinzessin auf der Erbse' (princess and the pea) describes a person. It is used according to the pattern 'jemand ist eine (echte) Prinzessin auf der Erbse' (someone is a real princess and the pea).
EXAMPLE
Sei doch nicht so eine Prinzessin auf der Erbse, es ist nur ein bisschen Regen.
Don't be such a princess and the pea; it's only a little rain.
Cultural background
This expression comes from the famous fairy tale 'Die Prinzessin auf der Erbse' (The Princess and the Pea) by Hans Christian Andersen. Knowing the story helps you understand the meaning of excessive sensitivity.
EXAMPLE
Die Geschichte von der Prinzessin auf der Erbse kennt in Deutschland fast jedes Kind.
Almost every child in Germany knows the story of the Princess and the Pea.
Context clue
You can tell from context whether the plant or the vegetable is meant. Verbs like 'anpflanzen' (to plant), 'wachsen' (to grow), or 'ernten' (to harvest), as well as the context of 'Garten' (garden) or 'Feld' (field), point to the plant.
EXAMPLE
Im Frühling säen wir die Erbsen im Gemüsebeet aus.
In spring, we sow the peas in the vegetable bed.
In real life
Loading video examples...