die Silbe
syllable
A unit of spoken language that consists of one or more sounds and typically has a vowel as its core. Words are divided into syllables.
EXAMPLE
Das Wort 'Auto' hat zwei Silben: Au-to.
The word 'Auto' has two syllables: Au-to.
die Silbe
syllable
die Silbe, die Silben
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Silbe, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Silben |
| genitive | der Silbe |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Silbe | die Silben |
| accusative | die Silbe | die Silben |
| dative | der Silbe | den Silben |
| genitive | der Silbe | der Silben |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Typical collocations
Common expressions are 'Wörter in Silben trennen' (to divide words into syllables) or 'in Silben zerlegen' (to break down into syllables). People also talk about a 'betonte' (stressed) or 'unbetonte' (unstressed) syllable.
EXAMPLE
In der Grundschule lernen Kinder, Wörter in Silben zu trennen.
In elementary school, children learn to divide words into syllables.
Usage pattern
To state the number of syllables, you use the simple structure '[word] hat [number] Silben' ([word] has [number] syllables).
EXAMPLE
Das Wort 'Schokoladeneis' hat fünf Silben.
The word 'Schokoladeneis' has five syllables.
Sentence structure
When you break a word down into its syllables, the preposition 'in' is used with the accusative plural: 'in Silben' (into syllables).
EXAMPLE
Kannst du das Wort 'interessant' für mich in Silben klatschen?
Can you clap the word 'interessant' into syllables for me?
In real life
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