die Pille
the pill
A colloquial term for the birth control pill, a hormonal contraceptive for women.
EXAMPLE
Viele junge Frauen verhüten mit der Pille.
Many young women use the pill for contraception.
die Pille
pill
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Meanings
die Pille
pill
A small, solid piece of medication in a round or oval shape that is swallowed; a tablet.
EXAMPLE
Gegen meine Kopfschmerzen nehme ich eine Pille mit Wasser.
For my headache, I take a pill with water.
eine bittere Pille schlucken
to swallow a bitter pill
A fixed expression meaning to have to accept an unpleasant or disappointing fact.
EXAMPLE
Die Kündigung war für ihn eine bittere Pille, die er erst einmal schlucken musste.
The dismissal was a bitter pill for him, and he first had to swallow it.
Usage tips
Context clue
The article gives an important clue about the meaning. 'Die Pille' (the pill) with the definite article almost always means the birth control pill. 'Eine Pille' (a pill) with the indefinite article, on the other hand, refers to any tablet.
EXAMPLE
Ihre Ärztin hat ihr die Pille verschrieben.
Her doctor prescribed her the pill.
Typical verbs
In connection with the birth control pill, the typical verbs are 'die Pille nehmen' (to take the pill regularly) and 'die Pille absetzen' (to stop taking the pill).
EXAMPLE
Sie hat vor einem Jahr die Pille abgesetzt.
She stopped taking the pill a year ago.
Usage pattern
When talking about a general pill as medication, the purpose is often added with the preposition 'gegen' (against/for) and the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Ich brauche eine Pille gegen meine Allergie.
I need a pill for my allergy.
Fixed expression
The expression 'eine bittere Pille schlucken' (to swallow a bitter pill) is a fixed idiom. It means that you have to accept very unpleasant news or a very unpleasant fact.
EXAMPLE
Die Niederlage war eine bittere Pille für die ganze Mannschaft.
The defeat was a bitter pill for the whole team.
Compare with
Pille vs Tablette
tablet
Tablette is the neutral term for a compressed medication. Pille can also be a colloquial term for a small, solid medication, but it is often used specifically for the birth control pill. Tablette is appropriate for medications in general; Pille is usual for hormonal contraception.
Pille
Zur Verhütung nimmt Mia jeden Abend die Pille ein.
Mia takes the pill every evening for birth control.
Tablette
Gegen ihre Kopfschmerzen nimmt Mia eine Tablette mit Wasser ein.
Mia takes a tablet with water for her headache.
In real life
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