01
die Spüle
sink
A fixed basin in the kitchen, usually made of stainless steel or ceramic, used for washing dishes and food.
example
Stell das schmutzige Geschirr bitte in die Spüle.
Please put the dirty dishes in the sink.
die Spüle
sink
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word family
'Die Spüle' (the sink) is the place where you 'spült' (wash/rinse). The word is derived directly from the verb 'spülen' (to wash dishes / to rinse), which means 'Geschirr waschen' (to wash dishes) or 'etwas mit Wasser reinigen' (to clean something with water).
EXAMPLE
Ich muss noch das Geschirr von gestern Abend spülen.
I still have to wash the dishes from last night.
Important prepositions
Pay attention to the case with the preposition 'in'. Movement toward a destination is expressed with the accusative ('in die Spüle' — into the sink), while a state or an action at a location takes the dative ('in der Spüle' — in the sink).
EXAMPLE
Stell die Tassen bitte in die Spüle.
Please put the cups in the sink.
Typical collocations
Common actions connected with the sink are: 'Geschirr in die Spüle räumen' (to put dishes in the sink), 'die Spüle putzen' (to clean the sink), or 'Gemüse in der Spüle waschen' (to wash vegetables in the sink).
EXAMPLE
Bevor du gehst, räum bitte dein Geschirr in die Spüle.
Before you leave, please put your dishes in the sink.
Compare with
Spüle vs Becken
basin / pelvis / cymbal
'das Becken' and 'die Spüle' can both refer to an open part where water is collected. 'Becken' is the more general word: it can mean a washbasin, a swimming pool, or another kind of water basin. 'Spüle' is used almost only for the fixed sink in the kitchen where you wash dishes or vegetables. The words can be confused because a sink is also a kind of basin. But the more natural usage is: in the kitchen, you usually say 'Spüle'; in other situations, you are more likely to say 'Becken' or, more specifically, 'Waschbecken' (washbasin).
Spüle
Bitte stell die schmutzigen Teller direkt in die Spüle.
Please put the dirty plates directly in the sink.
Becken
Nach dem Training wusch Tom seine Hände an dem kleinen Becken in der Umkleide.
After training, Tom washed his hands at the small basin in the changing room.
In real life
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