der Pantoffel
slipper
A comfortable house shoe that is usually open at the back and easy to slip into.
EXAMPLE
Zu Hause zieht er seine Schuhe aus und schlüpft in seine Pantoffeln.
At home, he takes off his shoes and slips into his slippers.
der Pantoffel
slipper
der Pantoffel, die Pantoffeln
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Meanings
unter dem Pantoffel stehen
to be under someone's thumb
Colloquial: To let oneself be controlled by one's partner. Traditionally, this expression is used especially for a man who submits to his wife.
EXAMPLE
Er steht völlig unter dem Pantoffel seiner Frau und wagt keine Entscheidung ohne ihre Zustimmung.
He is completely under his wife's thumb and doesn't dare make any decision without her approval.
den Pantoffel schwingen
to rule the roost
Colloquial: To be in charge in a relationship and control the other person. Traditionally, this expression is used especially in reference to women.
EXAMPLE
Bei denen schwingt sie den Pantoffel: Ihr Mann muss bei allem erst um Erlaubnis fragen.
She rules the roost in their household: her husband has to ask for permission before doing anything.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Pantoffel, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Pantoffeln |
| genitive | des Pantoffels |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Pantoffel | die Pantoffeln |
| accusative | den Pantoffel | die Pantoffeln |
| dative | dem Pantoffel | den Pantoffeln |
| genitive | des Pantoffels | der Pantoffeln |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Typical collocations
The verbs used especially with 'Pantoffel' (slipper) describe putting them on and taking them off: 'Pantoffeln anziehen' (to put on slippers), 'Pantoffeln ausziehen' (to take off slippers), or 'in Pantoffeln schlüpfen' (to slip into slippers). The word is often used in the plural.
EXAMPLE
Vor dem Schlafengehen zog sie ihre Pantoffeln aus.
Before going to bed, she took off her slippers.
Am Abend schlüpft er in warme Pantoffeln.
In the evening, he slips into warm slippers.
Fixed expression
The fixed expression is 'unter dem Pantoffel stehen' (to be under someone's thumb). The person exerting the influence is usually mentioned with a possessive word or in the genitive.
EXAMPLE
Er steht unter dem Pantoffel seiner Partnerin.
He is under his partner's thumb.
Im Dorf erzählt man sich, dass der Bürgermeister unter dem Pantoffel seiner Frau steht.
People in the village say that the mayor is under his wife's thumb.
Fixed expression
In the expression 'den Pantoffel schwingen' (to rule the roost), 'den Pantoffel' is the accusative object. The expression is colloquial and plays on a traditional image of power in a relationship.
EXAMPLE
In dieser Familie schwingt eindeutig die Großmutter den Pantoffel.
The grandmother is clearly the one who rules the roost in this family.
Wer schwingt bei euch zu Hause eigentlich den Pantoffel?
Who actually rules the roost in your household?
In real life
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