die Sardine
sardine
A small, silvery sea fish from the herring family that is eaten as a food fish and often sold in cans.
EXAMPLE
Zum Abendessen gab es gegrillte Sardinen mit Zitrone.
We had grilled sardines with lemon for dinner.
die Sardine
sardine
die Sardine, die Sardinen
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Meanings
wie Sardinen in der Büchse
like sardines in a can
Colloquial: packed very tightly together, with hardly any room to move.
EXAMPLE
Im überfüllten Bus standen wir wie Sardinen in der Büchse.
We stood like sardines in a can on the overcrowded bus.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Sardine, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Sardinen |
| genitive | der Sardine |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Sardine | die Sardinen |
| accusative | die Sardine | die Sardinen |
| dative | der Sardine | den Sardinen |
| genitive | der Sardine | der Sardinen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Typical collocations
'Sardine' is often used with words related to food and preparation, for example 'gegrillte Sardinen' (grilled sardines), 'Sardinen aus der Dose' (canned sardines), or 'Sardinen in Öl' (sardines in oil).
EXAMPLE
Für den Salat kaufte sie Sardinen in Öl.
She bought sardines in oil for the salad.
Fixed expression
The figurative expression 'wie Sardinen in der Büchse' (like sardines in a can) is usually used after verbs of standing, sitting, or squeezing together. It describes a situation in which many people are in a very small space.
EXAMPLE
In der kleinen Umkleide standen die Besucher wie Sardinen in der Büchse.
The visitors stood like sardines in a can in the small changing room.
Context clue
The idiomatic meaning is especially recognizable from 'wie' (like) and a verb that describes a spatial situation. If the context is about food, preparation, or oil, it refers to the fish.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Konzert saßen wir in der letzten Bahn wie Sardinen in der Büchse.
After the concert, we sat like sardines in a can on the last train.
Die Sardinen wurden mit Knoblauch und Petersilie gebraten.
The sardines were fried with garlic and parsley.
In real life
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