der Sessel
armchair
A comfortable, upholstered seat for one person that typically has armrests.
EXAMPLE
Er saß gemütlich im Sessel und las ein Buch.
He sat comfortably in the armchair and read a book.
der Sessel
armchair / chair
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Meanings
der Sessel
chair
In Austria and parts of southern Germany, the term for a simple chair, often without upholstery or armrests.
EXAMPLE
Stell bitte noch einen Sessel an den Küchentisch.
Please put another chair at the kitchen table.
Usage tips
Movement and location
Pay attention to the prepositions and the case. When you are moving toward the piece of furniture, it is 'in den Sessel' (into the armchair/chair, accusative). When you are already there, it is 'im Sessel' (in the armchair/chair, dative).
EXAMPLE
Setz dich doch in den bequemen Sessel am Fenster!
Go ahead and sit down in the comfortable armchair by the window!
Typical adjectives
In the standard meaning 'upholstered furniture', 'Sessel' (armchair) is often combined with adjectives that describe comfort or material. Typical phrases are 'bequemer Sessel' (comfortable armchair), 'gemütlicher Sessel' (cozy armchair), or 'Ledersessel' (leather armchair).
EXAMPLE
Für meine Leseecke wünsche ich mir einen gemütlichen Sessel mit hoher Lehne.
For my reading corner, I would like a cozy armchair with a high back.
Regional meaning
Be careful: the meaning of 'Sessel' (armchair/chair) differs by region. In Austria and parts of southern Germany, the word often refers to a simple chair, for example at the dining table.
EXAMPLE
In Wien fragt man im Restaurant vielleicht: „Ist dieser Sessel hier noch frei?“
In Vienna, someone might ask in a restaurant: 'Is this chair here still free?'
Compare with
Sessel vs Stuhl
chair / stool
Der Stuhl and der Sessel both refer to a piece of seating for one person. In standard German, a Sessel is usually softly upholstered and has armrests, while a Stuhl is more ordinary and often unupholstered. In Austria, however, Sessel can also mean a simple chair.
Sessel
Im österreichischen Möbelgeschäft setzte ich mich auf einen einfachen Holzsessel.
In the Austrian furniture store, I sat down on a simple wooden chair.
Stuhl
Im deutschen Möbelgeschäft setzte ich mich auf einen einfachen Holzstuhl.
In the German furniture store, I sat down on a simple wooden chair.
In real life
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