der Stuhl
chair
A piece of furniture for one person with a seat, legs, and usually a backrest.
EXAMPLE
Wir brauchen noch einen Stuhl, weil ein Gast mehr kommt.
We still need one more chair because one extra guest is coming.
der Stuhl
chair / stool
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Meanings
der Stuhl
stool
A medical term for human excrement; feces. Often also referred to as 'Stuhlgang' (bowel movement).
EXAMPLE
Der Arzt fragte den Patienten nach der Farbe und Konsistenz von seinem Stuhl.
The doctor asked the patient about the color and consistency of his stool.
zwischen zwei Stühlen sitzen
to sit between two stools
To be in a difficult situation in which one cannot or does not want to choose between two opposing options or parties.
EXAMPLE
Seit der Scheidung seiner Eltern sitzt das Kind oft zwischen zwei Stühlen.
Since his parents' divorce, the child often sits between two stools.
Usage tips
Context clue: medicine
The meaning 'Kot' (feces) for 'Stuhl' (stool) is used almost exclusively in a medical context, for example at the doctor's office or in a hospital. In everyday situations, using it can lead to embarrassing misunderstandings.
EXAMPLE
Für die Untersuchung ist eine Stuhlprobe erforderlich.
A stool sample is required for the examination.
Typical collocations
As a piece of furniture, 'Stuhl' (chair) is often combined with verbs of position or movement. Typical phrases are 'auf einem Stuhl sitzen' (to sit on a chair), 'sich auf einen Stuhl setzen' (to sit down on a chair), or 'einen Stuhl an den Tisch rücken' (to move a chair up to the table).
EXAMPLE
Kannst du bitte noch einen Stuhl aus dem Keller holen?
Could you please get one more chair from the basement?
Fixed expression
The idiom 'zwischen zwei Stühlen sitzen' (to sit between two stools) is fixed and describes a difficult decision-making situation or a conflict of loyalty. The structure always stays the same.
EXAMPLE
Als Manager muss er oft zwischen den Interessen der Mitarbeiter und der Firmenleitung entscheiden und sitzt dabei zwischen zwei Stühlen.
As a manager, he often has to decide between the interests of the employees and the company leadership, and in doing so he sits between two stools.
Compound words
'Stuhl' (chair) is the base word for many types of seating furniture. Examples include 'Bürostuhl' (office chair), 'Rollstuhl' (wheelchair), 'Liegestuhl' (deck chair), or 'Kinderstuhl' (child's chair/high chair).
EXAMPLE
Mein neuer Bürostuhl ist viel bequemer als der alte.
My new office chair is much more comfortable than the old one.
Compare with
Stuhl vs Sessel
armchair / chair
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.
Stuhl
Im deutschen Möbelgeschäft setzte ich mich auf einen einfachen Holzstuhl.
In the German furniture store, I sat down on a simple wooden 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.
In real life
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