napkin
die Serviette, die Servietten
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napkin
A piece of cloth or paper used at the table to protect clothing and to wipe your mouth or fingers.
Könntest du mir bitte eine Serviette reichen? Ich habe gekleckert.
Could you please pass me a napkin? I spilled something.
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Servietten |
| genitive | der Serviette |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Serviette | die Servietten |
| accusative | die Serviette | die Servietten |
| dative | der Serviette | den Servietten |
| genitive | der Serviette | der Servietten |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
To specify the material, it is simply placed before the word. The most common forms are 'Papierserviette' (paper napkin) for disposable napkins and 'Stoffserviette' (cloth napkin) for reusable ones made of fabric.
Für die Party brauchen wir noch eine Packung Papierservietten.
We still need a pack of paper napkins for the party.
There are fixed verbs used around table use for 'Serviette' (napkin). You can 'falten' (fold), 'benutzen' (use), 'reichen' (pass) a napkin to someone, or 'sich auf den Schoß legen' (place it on your lap).
Die Kinder lernten, ihre Servietten ordentlich zu falten.
The children learned to fold their napkins neatly.
When describing that you clean your mouth with the napkin, the typical structure is: 'sich (Dative) mit der Serviette den Mund abwischen' (to wipe one's mouth with the napkin).
Nach dem Essen wischte sie sich mit der Serviette den Mund ab.
After the meal, she wiped her mouth with the napkin.
