madhouse
das Irrenhaus, die Irrenhäuser
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madhouse
An older, now mostly derogatory term for a psychiatric hospital or an institution for people with mental illnesses.
Früher wurden psychisch kranke Menschen oft in einem Irrenhaus untergebracht.
In the past, people with mental illnesses were often placed in a madhouse.
madhouse
Colloquially, a place where there is great disorder, noise, or chaos.
Dieses Büro ist heute ein einziges Irrenhaus.
This office is a complete madhouse today.
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Irrenhäuser |
| genitive | des Irrenhauses |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Irrenhaus | die Irrenhäuser |
| accusative | das Irrenhaus | die Irrenhäuser |
| dative | dem Irrenhaus | den Irrenhäusern |
| genitive | des Irrenhauses | der Irrenhäuser |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
'Irrenhaus' is made up of 'Irren' and 'Haus' (house). Here, the component 'Irren' refers to people and is now considered derogatory.
Im alten Stadtplan ist das Gebäude noch als Irrenhaus verzeichnet.
The building is still listed as an 'Irrenhaus' (madhouse) on the old city map.
In older texts, you may come across phrases such as 'jemanden ins Irrenhaus einweisen' (to commit someone to a madhouse) or 'jemanden ins Irrenhaus bringen' (to take someone to a madhouse). In these phrases, the destination is expressed with 'in' and the accusative.
In dem alten Roman wird die Hauptfigur gegen ihren Willen in ein Irrenhaus eingewiesen.
In the old novel, the main character is committed to a madhouse against their will.
For chaotic places, the patterns 'ein Irrenhaus sein' (to be a madhouse) and 'wie im Irrenhaus' (like in a madhouse) are typical. They often exaggerate how annoyed or overwhelmed someone feels.
Wenn die Kinder alle gleichzeitig schreien und der Hund bellt, ist unser Wohnzimmer das reinste Irrenhaus.
When all the children are screaming at once and the dog is barking, our living room is a complete madhouse.
Kurz vor der Eröffnung ging es hinter der Bühne zu wie im Irrenhaus.
Just before the opening, things backstage were like a madhouse.
