die Schiene
rail
A long, narrow piece of metal or another solid material that trains or trams run on.
EXAMPLE
Der Zug fuhr langsam über die nassen Schienen.
The train traveled slowly over the wet rails.
die Schiene
rail / splint / course
die Schiene, die Schienen
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Meanings
die Schiene
rail
A rigid guide or long, narrow component along which something moves or to which something is attached.
EXAMPLE
Die Tür lässt sich leicht auf der Schiene verschieben.
The door slides easily along the rail.
die Schiene
splint
A rigid medical device that keeps an injured body part still and protects it.
EXAMPLE
Der Arzt legte ihm wegen des gebrochenen Arms eine Schiene an.
The doctor put a splint on his broken arm.
die Schiene
dental splint
A narrow piece of metal or plastic attached to or fitted over the teeth to stabilize them or correct their position.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Zahnspange trägt sie nachts eine Schiene.
After having braces, she now wears a dental splint at night.
die Schiene
course
A particular direction, approach, or political line that someone sticks to.
EXAMPLE
Die Regierung fährt auf ihrer bisherigen Schiene weiter.
The government is continuing on its current course.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Schiene, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Schienen |
| genitive | der Schiene |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Schiene | die Schienen |
| accusative | die Schiene | die Schienen |
| dative | der Schiene | den Schienen |
| genitive | der Schiene | der Schienen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Context clues
You can usually identify the intended meaning from the surrounding context: transport vocabulary points to railway rails, words such as 'Tür' (door) or 'Vorhang' (curtain) indicate a guide rail, and verbs such as 'anlegen' (to apply) or 'tragen' (to wear) suggest a medical or dental splint. In political or figurative contexts, 'Schiene' (course / approach) refers to a fixed direction or way of doing things.
EXAMPLE
Die Arbeiter reparieren die Schienen für den nächsten Zug.
The workers are repairing the rails for the next train.
Der Zahnarzt kontrolliert, ob die Schiene noch gut sitzt.
The dentist checks whether the dental splint still fits properly.
Die Partei will auf ihrer bisherigen Schiene bleiben.
The party wants to stay on its current course.
Typical collocations
In the context of railways and trams, common verb phrases include 'auf Schienen fahren' (to run on rails), 'Schienen verlegen' (to lay rails), 'Schienen reparieren' (to repair rails), and 'Schienen austauschen' (to replace rails).
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Unwetter mussten die Schienen repariert werden.
After the storm, the rails had to be repaired.
Guide rail
When referring to technical components, 'Schiene' (rail) often describes a guide along which something moves or a strip to which something is attached. Typical phrases include 'etwas auf einer Schiene verschieben' (to slide something along a rail), 'an einer Schiene befestigen' (to attach something to a rail), and 'eine Schiene montieren' (to install a rail).
EXAMPLE
Die Lampe ist an einer Schiene an der Decke befestigt.
The lamp is attached to a rail on the ceiling.
Medical use
For injuries, the fixed phrase 'eine Schiene anlegen' (to apply a splint) is used. The injured person then wears a splint to keep the injured body part as still as possible.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Sturz legte der Sanitäter dem Patienten eine Schiene an.
After the fall, the paramedic applied a splint to the patient.
Dental collocations
In dentistry, the phrases 'eine Schiene tragen' (to wear a dental splint), 'eine Schiene einsetzen' (to put in a dental splint), and 'eine Schiene anfertigen lassen' (to have a dental splint made) are especially common. The exact purpose is often clear from the context, for example from words such as 'Zähne' (teeth), 'nachts' (at night), or 'Knirschen' (grinding).
EXAMPLE
Wegen seines Zähneknirschens lässt er eine Schiene anfertigen.
He is having a dental splint made because he grinds his teeth.
Figurative use
In its figurative sense, 'Schiene' (course / approach) often appears with the preposition 'auf' (on) or the verb 'fahren' (to drive): 'auf einer Schiene bleiben' (to stay on a course), 'eine bestimmte Schiene fahren' (to pursue a particular approach), or 'ein Thema auf eine bestimmte Schiene bringen' (to steer a topic in a particular direction). This usage is especially common in political, professional, and organizational contexts.
EXAMPLE
Mit diesem Vorschlag bringt die Ministerin die Diskussion auf eine neue Schiene.
With this proposal, the minister is setting the discussion on a new course.
In real life
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