die Schuppe
scale
A thin, flat piece of skin that covers the bodies of fish, reptiles, or some other animals.
EXAMPLE
Der Fisch hat glänzende Schuppen.
The fish has shiny scales.
die Schuppe
scale / flake
die Schuppe, die Schuppen
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Meanings
die Schuppe
flake
A small, dead piece of skin that comes off, especially from the scalp.
EXAMPLE
Auf seinem schwarzen Pullover lag eine weiße Schuppe.
There was a white flake on his black sweater.
jemandem fallen die Schuppen von den Augen
to have the scales fall from one's eyes
To suddenly recognize something that one had not understood before or did not want to acknowledge.
EXAMPLE
Als sie die Beweise sah, fielen ihr die Schuppen von den Augen.
When she saw the evidence, the scales fell from her eyes.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Schuppe, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Schuppen |
| genitive | der Schuppe |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Schuppe | die Schuppen |
| accusative | die Schuppe | die Schuppen |
| dative | der Schuppe | den Schuppen |
| genitive | der Schuppe | der Schuppen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Typical collocations
In the meaning related to animals, „Schuppe“ (scale) is often used with body parts or animal species: for example, people talk about „Fischschuppen“ (fish scales) or „den Schuppen eines Reptils“ (the scales of a reptile). „Glänzende“, „harte“, or „abstehende Schuppen“ (shiny, hard, or protruding scales) are also typical descriptions.
EXAMPLE
Die Schuppen des Karpfens glitzerten im Wasser.
The carp's scales glistened in the water.
Skin care
When referring to the scalp, „Schuppe“ (flake) is often used in connection with „haben“ (to have), „entfernen“ (to remove), or „unter etwas leiden“ (to suffer from something). Words like „Kopfhaut“ (scalp), „Haare“ (hair), and „Shampoo“ (shampoo) usually indicate that this meaning is intended.
EXAMPLE
Seit dem Winter habe ich wieder Schuppen und brauche ein anderes Shampoo.
I've had dandruff again since winter and need a different shampoo.
Fixed expression
In the idiom, the person who realizes something is in the dative: „jemandem fallen die Schuppen von den Augen“ (to have the scales fall from one's eyes). The expression is usually used in the simple past or present perfect and refers to a sudden realization.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Gespräch fielen ihm die Schuppen von den Augen.
After the conversation, the scales fell from his eyes.
In real life
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