der Henkel
handle
A usually curved handle on a container such as a cup, pot, or bag, used for gripping and carrying it.
EXAMPLE
Vorsicht, der Henkel der Kanne ist heiß!
Careful, the handle of the pot is hot!
der Henkel
handle
der Henkel, die Henkel
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Henkel, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Henkel |
| genitive | des Henkels |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Henkel | die Henkel |
| accusative | den Henkel | die Henkel |
| dative | dem Henkel | den Henkeln |
| genitive | des Henkels | der Henkel |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word family
The word 'Henkel' (handle) is related to the verb 'hängen' (to hang). A 'Henkel' is a handle by which you can hold or hang up a container.
EXAMPLE
Er hängte den Eimer am Henkel über den Brunnenrand.
He hung the bucket by its handle over the edge of the well.
Correct preposition
To describe holding a container by the handle, the preposition 'an' is used with the dative. A typical phrase is 'etwas am Henkel fassen' (to grasp something by the handle).
EXAMPLE
Bitte fasse die heiße Tasse nur am Henkel an.
Please only hold the hot cup by the handle.
Typical collocations
A 'Henkel' (handle) is typical of certain objects. People often talk about the handle of a cup, a basket, a bucket, or a bag.
EXAMPLE
Der Henkel meiner Lieblingstasse ist leider abgebrochen.
Unfortunately, the handle of my favorite cup broke off.
Compare with
Henkel vs Griff
handle / grip
Griff and Henkel are parts of an object that you hold with your hand or use for carrying it. Griff is the general term, while Henkel refers to a usually curved or ring-shaped handle, for example on a cup, pot, or bag. The shape therefore often determines which term is more appropriate.
Henkel
Der Henkel der Tasse ist abgebrochen.
The handle of the cup has broken off.
Griff
Der Griff des Koffers ist stabil und liegt gut in der Hand.
The handle of the suitcase is sturdy and fits comfortably in your hand.
In real life
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