01
der Herd
stove
A kitchen appliance with burners and often an oven, used for cooking, frying, and baking food.
example
Stell den Topf mit der Suppe bitte auf den Herd.
Please put the pot of soup on the stove.
der Herd
stove / source
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Meanings
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Usage tips
False friend
'Der Herd' means the kitchen appliance in German. The English word 'herd' (a group of animals) is a common source of confusion.
EXAMPLE
Pass auf, die Herdplatte ist noch heiß.
Be careful, the burner is still hot.
Correct preposition
For the kitchen appliance, the preposition 'auf' (on) is key. Movement is expressed with the accusative ('auf den Herd' — onto the stove), while location is expressed with the dative ('auf dem Herd' — on the stove).
EXAMPLE
Ich stelle den Topf auf den Herd.
I put the pot on the stove.
Typical verbs
In connection with the kitchen appliance, the verbs 'anmachen' (to turn on), 'ausschalten' (to turn off), or 'einstellen' (to set/adjust) are often used to operate the burners or the oven.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du bitte den Herd anmachen?
Can you please turn on the stove?
Context clue
You can recognize the figurative meaning 'Ausgangspunkt' (starting point/source) by the fact that 'Herd' (source) is combined with negative events such as 'Brand' (fire), 'Krankheit' (disease), 'Konflikt' (conflict), or 'Unruhe' (unrest).
EXAMPLE
Die Polizei sucht nach dem Herd der Unruhen in der Stadt.
The police are looking for the source of the unrest in the city.
Compare with
Herd vs Quelle
source
'die Quelle' and 'der Herd' can both mean the starting point of something. 'Quelle' is more neutral and broader: it can be the origin or cause of something. 'Herd' is used in this figurative meaning mainly for the center or starting point of something negative, for example a fire, a disease, or a conflict. The words can be confused because both ask about where something begins. As a guide: 'Quelle' fits generally, while 'Herd' fits especially with problems, dangers, or diseases. This does not refer to the stove in the kitchen.
Herd
Der Arzt vermutet, dass der Herd der Entzündung im Hals liegt.
The doctor suspects that the source of the inflammation is in the throat.
Quelle
Die Polizei sucht noch die Quelle des lauten Geräuschs.
The police are still looking for the source of the loud noise.
In real life
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