die Kufe
runner / blade
A narrow, elongated, usually curved rail on which a sled or skate glides.
EXAMPLE
Eine Kufe des Schlittens war im Schnee stecken geblieben.
One of the sled's runners had gotten stuck in the snow.
die Kufe
runner / vat
die Kufe, die Kufen
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Meanings
die Kufe
vat / tub
A large, usually wooden vat, especially for pressing grapes and brewing beer; used mainly in regional varieties of German.
EXAMPLE
Der Winzer ließ den Most in einer großen Kufe gären.
The vintner let the grape must ferment in a large vat.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Kufe, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Kufen |
| genitive | der Kufe |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Kufe | die Kufen |
| accusative | die Kufe | die Kufen |
| dative | der Kufe | den Kufen |
| genitive | der Kufe | der Kufen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Context clue
The meaning can usually be identified from the surrounding words: With „Schlitten“ (sled), „Schlittschuh“ (skate), or „gleiten“ (to glide), „Kufe“ means a runner or blade. When liquids, storage, or large containers are involved, it refers to the container.
EXAMPLE
Die Kufe am alten Schlitten musste repariert werden.
The runner on the old sled had to be repaired.
Die Kufe stand im Keller und war mit Wein gefüllt.
The vat was in the cellar and was filled with wine.
Typical collocations
In the meaning of a runner or blade, „Kufe“ often occurs with vehicles or sports equipment: „eine Kufe des Schlittens“ (one of the sled's runners), „eine Kufe am Schlittschuh“ (a blade on a skate), or „über die Kufen gleiten“ (to glide over the runners).
EXAMPLE
Vor der Fahrt wachste er die Kufen des Schlittens.
Before the ride, he waxed the sled's runners.
Auf dem Eis glitten die Kufen fast lautlos dahin.
The runners glided almost silently across the ice.
Container meaning
In the container sense, „Kufe“ is used mainly in regional varieties of German and is associated with pressing grapes and brewing beer. Typical phrases include „Most in der Kufe gären lassen“ (to let grape must ferment in the vat) and „Bier in einer großen Kufe brauen“ (to brew beer in a large vat).
EXAMPLE
Früher braute man das Bier in einer großen Kufe.
In the past, people brewed beer in a large vat.
Im Brauhaus standen mehrere hölzerne Kufen nebeneinander.
Several wooden vats stood next to one another in the brewery.
In real life
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