der Nussknacker
nutcracker
A tool used to crack the hard shells of nuts.
EXAMPLE
Mit dem Nussknacker bekam sie die Walnuss leicht auf.
She easily cracked the walnut with a nutcracker.
der Nussknacker
nutcracker
der Nussknacker, die Nussknacker
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Meanings
der Nussknacker
nutcracker
A decorative wooden figure in the shape of a soldier or another person, typically displayed during the Christmas season.
EXAMPLE
Auf dem Kaminsims stand ein großer Nussknacker aus Holz.
A large wooden nutcracker stood on the mantelpiece.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Nussknacker, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Nussknacker |
| genitive | des Nussknackers |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Nussknacker | die Nussknacker |
| accusative | den Nussknacker | die Nussknacker |
| dative | dem Nussknacker | den Nussknackern |
| genitive | des Nussknackers | der Nussknacker |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Nussknacker' is made up of 'Nuss' (nut) and 'Knacker' (cracker). The element 'Knacker' belongs to the word family of 'knacken' (to crack), which makes it easy to remember the object's original function.
EXAMPLE
Mit diesem Nussknacker lassen sich auch sehr harte Nüsse knacken.
This nutcracker can crack even very hard nuts.
Use as a tool
When you mention the tool used to open a nut, the pattern 'mit einem Nussknacker' (with a nutcracker) is typical. 'Mit' is followed by the dative.
EXAMPLE
Er öffnete die Walnüsse mit einem Nussknacker.
He opened the walnuts with a nutcracker.
Typical collocations
For decorative figures, the phrases 'einen Nussknacker aufstellen' (to put up a nutcracker) and 'Nussknacker sammeln' (to collect nutcrackers) are common. With 'aufstellen' (to put up), you can also indicate where the figure is placed as a decoration.
EXAMPLE
Anfang Dezember stellen wir unseren Nussknacker neben dem Weihnachtsbaum auf.
At the beginning of December, we put up our nutcracker next to the Christmas tree.
In real life
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