die Pritsche
bunk
A simple, hard bed, usually made of boards and without a comfortable mattress.
EXAMPLE
In der Zelle stand nur eine schmale Pritsche mit einer dünnen Decke.
There was only a narrow bunk with a thin blanket in the cell.
die Pritsche
bunk / truck bed / slapstick
die Pritsche, die Pritschen
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Meanings
die Pritsche
truck bed
The flat, open loading area of a truck or trailer.
EXAMPLE
Der Fahrer sicherte die Holzbalken mit Gurten auf der Pritsche.
The driver secured the wooden beams with straps on the truck bed.
die Pritsche
slapstick
A flat wooden striking instrument traditionally associated with characters such as Hanswurst or a fool, which makes a loud clapping sound when struck.
EXAMPLE
Der Narr schlug mit seiner hölzernen Pritsche auf den Tisch.
The fool struck the table with his wooden slapstick.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Pritsche, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Pritschen |
| genitive | der Pritsche |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Pritsche | die Pritschen |
| accusative | die Pritsche | die Pritschen |
| dative | der Pritsche | den Pritschen |
| genitive | der Pritsche | der Pritschen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Typical collocations
In the meaning of a simple bed, “Pritsche” (bunk) often occurs with verbs such as “auf einer Pritsche liegen” (to lie on a bunk), “auf einer Pritsche schlafen” (to sleep on a bunk), or “auf einer Pritsche sitzen” (to sit on a bunk). The phrase “harte Pritsche” (hard bunk) is also typical.
EXAMPLE
Wegen des Platzmangels musste der Besucher auf einer harten Pritsche schlafen.
Because of the lack of space, the visitor had to sleep on a hard bunk.
Loading area
When it means an open loading area, “Pritsche” (truck bed) often appears with words from the transport field, such as “Lastwagen” (truck), “Anhänger” (trailer), “Ladung” (load), or “Gurte” (straps). Typical collocations are “auf die Pritsche laden” (to load onto the truck bed) and “die Ladung auf der Pritsche sichern” (to secure the load on the truck bed).
EXAMPLE
Die Arbeiter luden die schweren Säcke auf die Pritsche des Lastwagens.
The workers loaded the heavy sacks onto the truck bed.
Cultural context
The wooden “Pritsche” (slapstick) is mainly associated with traditional depictions of fools and theater characters. It is usually mentioned together with figures such as a fool or Hanswurst and serves as a striking instrument that makes a loud clapping sound.
EXAMPLE
Beim historischen Fest schwang der Narr seine Pritsche und brachte das Publikum zum Lachen.
At the historical festival, the fool waved his slapstick and made the audience laugh.
In real life
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