das Knie
knee
The joint in the middle of the leg that connects the thigh with the lower leg.
EXAMPLE
Er hat sich beim Fußballspielen das Knie verletzt.
He injured his knee while playing soccer.
das Knie
knee
das Knie, die Knie
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Meanings
etwas übers Knie brechen
to rush something
A fixed expression meaning to decide or do something hastily and without careful consideration.
EXAMPLE
Wir sollten diese wichtige Entscheidung nicht übers Knie brechen.
We shouldn't rush this important decision.
jemanden in die Knie zwingen
to bring someone to their knees
A fixed expression meaning to defeat, overwhelm, or force someone to give up.
EXAMPLE
Die anhaltende Dürre hat viele Bauern in die Knie gezwungen.
The ongoing drought has brought many farmers to their knees.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Knie, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Knie |
| genitive | des Knies |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Knie | die Knie |
| accusative | das Knie | die Knie |
| dative | dem Knie | den Knien |
| genitive | des Knies | der Knie |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Context clue
You can easily recognize the meaning of 'Knie' (knee) from the context. If it is about the body, sports, or medicine, it refers to the joint. If it is about a quick decision, the idiom 'etwas übers Knie brechen' (to rush something) is meant. If it is about defeating an opponent, 'jemanden in die Knie zwingen' (to bring someone to their knees) is meant.
EXAMPLE
Beim Wandern schmerzte mein linkes Knie.
My left knee hurt while hiking.
Lasst uns den Plan nicht übers Knie brechen, wir brauchen mehr Zeit.
Let's not rush the plan; we need more time.
Die starke Konkurrenz zwang das kleine Unternehmen in die Knie.
The strong competition brought the small company to its knees.
Prepositions and cases
Pay attention to the case after prepositions. Movement is expressed with the accusative, while a position or place is expressed with the dative.
EXAMPLE
Das Kind fiel auf die Knie.
The child fell to its knees.
Er saß auf den Knien und suchte seine Brille.
He was sitting on his knees and looking for his glasses.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'etwas übers Knie brechen' (to rush something) is used as a fixed expression. The thing that is decided hastily appears as the accusative object.
EXAMPLE
Man sollte eine Heirat niemals übers Knie brechen.
One should never rush into marriage.
Fixed expression
In the idiom 'jemanden in die Knie zwingen' (to bring someone to their knees), the person or thing that is defeated is the accusative object.
EXAMPLE
Die hohen Kosten haben die Firma in die Knie gezwungen.
The high costs brought the company to its knees.
In real life
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