01
der Klee
clover
A widespread fodder plant with mostly three-part leaves.
example
Die Kühe weiden auf einer Wiese voller saftigem Klee.
The cows are grazing in a meadow full of juicy clover.
der Klee
clover
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
'Klee' (clover) refers to the whole plant. A single leaf of it is called 'Kleeblatt' (clover leaf). This distinction is useful for understanding related words.
EXAMPLE
Auf der Wiese wächst überall Klee.
Clover is growing everywhere in the meadow.
Context clue
When 'Klee' (clover) is meant as a symbol of good luck, the adjective 'vierblättrig' (four-leaf) is almost always added. Without this addition, the ordinary plant is usually meant.
EXAMPLE
Ein vierblättriger Klee soll Glück bringen.
A four-leaf clover is supposed to bring good luck.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'jemanden/etwas über den grünen Klee loben' (to praise someone/something to the skies) is a fixed expression. The object being praised is in the accusative. The form of the idiom itself does not change.
EXAMPLE
Sie lobte ihren neuen Mitarbeiter über den grünen Klee.
She praised her new employee to the skies.
Compare with
Klee vs Kleeblatt
cloverleaf
'der Klee' and 'das Kleeblatt' are closely connected, because a 'Kleeblatt' is a leaf of the clover plant. 'Klee' usually means the whole plant, for example in a meadow or as a fodder plant. 'Kleeblatt' means the individual leaf with its small leaflets. The words can be confused especially when talking about the lucky symbol: people often say 'vierblättriges Kleeblatt' (four-leaf clover), but sometimes also simply 'Klee' when they mean the symbol. If you are talking about the plant in a meadow, 'Klee' is better; if you are describing a single leaf, 'Kleeblatt' is more precise.
Klee
Auf der Wiese wächst viel Klee zwischen dem Gras.
A lot of clover grows among the grass in the meadow.
Kleeblatt
Lisa findet im Garten ein Kleeblatt mit vier Blättchen.
Lisa finds a four-leaf clover in the garden.
In real life
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