stubenrein
house-trained
A pet is accustomed to not relieving itself in the apartment or house.
EXAMPLE
Der Welpe ist schon stubenrein und macht draußen sein Geschäft.
The puppy is already house-trained and does its business outside.
stubenrein
house-trained / socially acceptable
stubenrein – stubenreiner – am stubenreinsten
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
stubenrein
socially acceptable
Figuratively, informal: inoffensive and socially acceptable, so that it can be shown or expressed in a respectable setting; especially used of jokes, statements, and opinions.
EXAMPLE
Seine politischen Ansichten sind inzwischen stubenrein geworden.
His political views have now become socially acceptable.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry stubenrein, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | stubenrein |
|---|---|
| comparative | stubenreiner |
| superlative | am stubenreinsten |
After der, die, das
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to stubenrein.
After ein, eine
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to stubenrein.
Without article
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| dat. | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| gen. | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Add the ending to stubenrein.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Stubenrein' (house-trained) is made up of 'Stube' (living room) and 'rein' (clean). Literally, the word therefore describes something that stays clean in the living room.
EXAMPLE
Nach einigen Wochen war der kleine Hund endlich stubenrein.
After a few weeks, the little dog was finally house-trained.
Context clue
With pets, the context points to the literal meaning, especially with words such as 'Welpe' (puppy), 'Hund' (dog), 'Katze' (cat), or 'draußen' (outside). With 'Ansichten' (views), 'Ideen' (ideas), or 'Äußerungen' (statements), the figurative meaning is usually intended.
EXAMPLE
Der neue Welpe ist noch nicht stubenrein.
The new puppy isn't house-trained yet.
Seine provokanten Ideen gelten inzwischen als stubenrein.
His provocative ideas are now considered socially acceptable.
Typical collocations
For the meaning relating to pets, the expressions 'stubenrein werden' (to become house-trained), 'stubenrein sein' (to be house-trained), and 'einen Hund stubenrein bekommen' (to house-train a dog) are especially common.
EXAMPLE
Mit viel Geduld wurde der Hund innerhalb weniger Wochen stubenrein.
With a lot of patience, the dog became house-trained within a few weeks.
Figurative use
The figurative meaning is often used with political or social views, ideas, and statements. The word can sound mildly critical or ironic because it presents something as socially acceptable.
EXAMPLE
Die Partei versucht, ihre radikalen Forderungen stubenrein zu präsentieren.
The party is trying to present its radical demands as socially acceptable.
In real life
Loading video examples...