Federkiel
/ˈfeːdɐˌkiːl/masculine
The German word for quill is Federkiel. Wiktionary also lists Schreibfeder and Feder.
Meaning: pen made of feather (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Federkiel | /ˈfeːdɐˌkiːl/ | masculine |
| Schreibfeder | /ˈʃʁaɪ̯pˌfeːdɐ/ | feminine |
| Feder | /ˈfeːdər/ | feminine |
The term refers to a pen made from a feather. While several words exist, Federkiel emphasizes the traditional aspect of the instrument.
What does it mean word for word?
Federkiel is a compound word consisting of Feder, meaning feather and Kiel, meaning shaft or stem.
Which one should you use?
Federkiel specifically refers to the physical object of the hollow feather shaft used as a writing tool. In contrast, Feder is a more general term for any feather.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of Federkiel is Federkiele. The plural of Schreibfeder is Schreibfedern.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈfeːdɐˌkiːl/
Did you know?
- In German, the word Feder doesn't just mean 'feather' or 'quill'. It is also the standard word for a 'spring' in a mechanical sense, such as the coil in a mattress or a clock.
- In German, the word Kiel is used not only for a quill but also refers to the 'keel' of a ship or the 'stem' of a boat.
- The word Feder is a direct relative of the English word 'feather'. Both descended from the Proto-Germanic word *feþrō and the even older Proto-Indo-European root *peth₂-, which meant 'to fly'.
Examples in context
- Meiner Feder ist heute Morgen die Tinte ausgegangen.My quill ran out of ink this morning.This sentence is useful for mentioning that the ink ran out of a Feder.Tatoeba #12472482 by Yorwba, translation #10094061 by letsgolanguages
- Könnten Sie mir bitte einen Federkiel für meine Dokumente geben?Could you please provide me with a quill for my documents?
- Hast du einen Federschreiber, den ich ausleihen kann?Do you have a quill pen I can borrow?
- Der Federkiel liegt auf dem Tisch.The quill is lying on the table.
- Sie schreibt mit einem alten Federkiel.She is writing with an old quill.
Example conversation
Maximilian and Hannah are in a museum looking at historical writing tools.
- MaximilianSiehst du diesen Federkiel dort?Do you see that quill over there?
- HannahJa, der Federkiel ist sehr schön.Yes, the quill is very beautiful.
- MaximilianEr sieht sehr alt aus.It looks very old.
- HannahStimmt, er gehört wohl zum Mittelalter.True, it probably belongs to the Middle Ages.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “quill” translations and entries Federkiel, Schreibfeder, Feder, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Feder, Federkiel, Schreibfeder, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
