German words for household storage

The idea

In this set, “das Regalfach” (shelf compartment), “die Schublade” (drawer), “die Aufbewahrungsbox” (storage box), “der Haken” (hook), “die Ablage” (shelf or storage surface), “die Trennwand” (divider) are taught in one sense each. Learn each noun with its article and the meaning used in this task. The plural column shows a useful plural for that sense; a dash marks a mass noun, nominalized action or form without an ordinary count plural here. Some words have additional meanings outside this scene.

Patterns to compare

German term	Plural in this use	Meaning
das Regalfach	die Regalfächer	shelf compartment
die Schublade	die Schubladen	drawer
die Aufbewahrungsbox	die Aufbewahrungsboxen	storage box
der Haken	die Haken	hook
die Ablage	die Ablagen	shelf or storage surface
die Trennwand	die Trennwände	divider

Examples

• Das obere Regalfach ist für gemeinsam genutzte Dinge reserviert.The upper shelf compartment is reserved for shared items.
• In dieser Schublade liegen nur die kleinen Ersatzteile.Only the small spare parts are in this drawer.
• Die Aufbewahrungsbox trägt eine genaue Inhaltsliste.The storage box has a precise contents list.
• Der Haken neben dem Fenster ist noch frei.The hook beside the window is still free.
• Bitte halte die Ablage vor der Tür übersichtlich.Please keep the storage surface by the door tidy.
• Eine Trennwand teilt das große Fach in zwei Bereiche.A divider splits the large compartment into two sections.

Watch out

Do not use “das Regalfach” and “die Schublade” as interchangeable labels: here they mean shelf compartment and drawer. Name the feature you actually mean, and use the examples to separate it from neighboring terms.

Try it yourself

1. Welcher Begriff bedeutet „shelf compartment“? Nenne auch den Artikel.

   Show answer or example answer

   das Regalfach

   das Regalfach means shelf compartment in this set. Keep the article with the noun.

2. Welcher Plural ist für „die Schublade“ angegeben? Erkläre gegebenenfalls den Strich.

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   die Schubladen

   die Schubladen. This is the plural form listed for this sense; the plural article is die.

3. Write in German: Please keep the storage surface by the door tidy.

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   Bitte halte die Ablage vor der Tür übersichtlich.

   Bitte halte die Ablage vor der Tür übersichtlich. — Please keep the storage surface by the door tidy. This example places the word in a complete practical statement or question.

Use it today

Describe one real situation with household storage in three German sentences, using “das Regalfach”, “die Schublade” and “die Aufbewahrungsbox” with their articles. Then use one of them in the plural (“die Regalfächer”).