needle
die Nadel, die Nadeln
Loading your saved state.
needle
A small, pointed metal tool with a hole (eye) at the end, used for sewing fabrics. In a broader sense, also a pin used for fastening.
Ich brauche Nadel und Faden, um den Knopf wieder anzunähen.
I need a needle and thread to sew the button back on.
needle
A medical instrument in the form of a thin, hollow tube with a sharp point, used for injections, blood draws, or acupuncture.
Viele Kinder haben Angst vor der Nadel beim Arzt.
Many children are afraid of the needle at the doctor's office.
needle
The pointed, usually evergreen leaf of coniferous trees such as firs, spruces, or pines.
Im Herbst war der ganze Waldboden mit braunen Nadeln bedeckt.
In autumn, the whole forest floor was covered with brown needles.
needle
The pointer on the scale of a measuring instrument or the stylus of a record player.
Die Nadel des Drehzahlmessers bewegte sich in den roten Bereich.
The needle of the tachometer moved into the red zone.
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Nadeln |
| genitive | der Nadel |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Nadel | die Nadeln |
| accusative | die Nadel | die Nadeln |
| dative | der Nadel | den Nadeln |
| genitive | der Nadel | der Nadeln |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
'Nadel' (needle) is the base word for many more precise terms. Depending on the context, it is often combined into words like 'Nähnadel' (sewing needle), 'Stecknadel' (pin), 'Tannennadel' (fir needle), or 'Kompassnadel' (compass needle).
Für diese feine Arbeit brauchst du eine sehr dünne Nähnadel.
For this delicate work, you need a very thin sewing needle.
The context reveals the meaning: words like 'Faden' (thread) or 'Stoff' (fabric) point to a sewing needle. 'Arzt' (doctor) or 'Spritze' (syringe) point to the medical needle. 'Wald' (forest) or 'Baum' (tree) point to the leaves of coniferous trees. 'Uhr' (clock/watch) or 'Plattenspieler' (record player) point to a pointer or stylus.
Kannst du mir bitte Nadel und Faden geben?
Can you please give me a needle and thread?
The idiom 'wie auf Nadeln sitzen' (to sit as if on needles) means that someone is very nervous, impatient, or tense and can hardly sit still.
Vor dem Vorstellungsgespräch saß er wie auf Nadeln.
Before the job interview, he was on pins and needles.
In a medical context, the phrase 'Angst vor der Nadel haben' (to be afraid of the needle) is very common for expressing fear of injections or blood draws.
Schon als Kind hatte ich immer große Angst vor der Nadel.
Even as a child, I was always very afraid of the needle.
syringe / shot
Nadel and Spritze are both related to medical injections. Nadel mainly refers to the thin, hollow part, whereas Spritze usually means the entire instrument or sometimes the injection itself. Use Nadel for the part that pierces the skin, and Spritze for the device or the procedure.
Die Ärztin setzte die Nadel vorsichtig in den Arm des Patienten.
The doctor carefully inserted the needle into the patient's arm.
Die Ärztin nahm eine Spritze, um das Medikament zu injizieren.
The doctor took a syringe to inject the medication.
