Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Teller | /ˈtɛ.lɐ/ | masculine |
| Platte | /ˈplatə/ | feminine |
| Tafel | /ˈtaːfl̩/ | feminine |
Other variations include Plattenteller for a record player turntable and Tellerstapel for a stack of plates. You can also use the verb überziehen to describe the action of covering the surface material of an object with a thin coat of another material.
Which one should you use?
While Teller refers to a standard individual dining plate, Platte refers to a larger, flat dish or platter used for serving multiple portions. In contrast, Tafel is not used for dining plates. It refers to flat objects such as a chalkboard, a tablet of chocolate or a slab of stone.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Teller is Teller. The plural of Platte is Platten, and the plural of Tafel is Tafeln.
How do you pronounce it?
Teller is pronounced /ˈtɛ.lɐ/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The slang term Platte originates from the Yiddish phrase makhn pleyte, which means 'to escape' or 'run away'.
- Because Tafel refers to flat slabs, it is also used in the term Tafelmusik, referring to music composed for a feast or a banquet. This links the object to a specific social setting of abundance.
- In German, the word Platte is used for many things besides dishes, such as a vinyl record or a tectonic plate. This shows how the core concept of 'flatness' dominates the word's usage across different fields.
Examples in context
- Wo ist mein Teller?Where is my plate?This sentence is useful for asking about the location of your Teller.Tatoeba #2228550 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1579429 by fanty
- Das ist ein Teller.This is a plate.This sentence is useful for identifying a Teller.Tatoeba #10053325 by wolfgangth, translation #9176696 by DJ_Saidez
- Der Teller ist schmutzig.The plate is dirty.This sentence is useful for describing the condition of a Teller.Tatoeba #2730914 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2730922 by Hybrid
- Bitte reichen Sie mir den Teller.Please pass me the plate.
- Der Teller ist aus Porzellan.The plate is made of porcelain.
- Der Kellner stellte die Teller auf den Tisch.The waiter placed the plates on the table.
- Kannst du mir bitte den Teller reichen?Can you pass me the plate, please?
- Er stellt die Teller nach dem Essen in die Spülmaschine.He puts the plates in the dishwasher after the meal.
- Sie hat einen Stapel Teller in der Küche.She has a stack of plates in the kitchen.
- 94 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Hannah are setting the table for dinner.
- JulianHannah, bringst du bitte den Teller?Hannah, will you please bring the plate?
- HannahJa, ich bringe den Teller sofort.Yes, I will bring the plate immediately.
- JulianDanke, du bist sehr schnell.Thanks, you are very fast.
- HannahGerne, Julian.You're welcome, Julian.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “plate” translations and entries Teller, Platte, Tafel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Platte, Tafel, Teller, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
