Schilf
/ʃɪlf/neuter
The English phrase 'reed' can be translated into German as Schilf, Ried or Rohr.
Meaning: grass-like plant (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Schilf | /ʃɪlf/ | neuter |
| Ried | /ʁiːt/ | neuter |
| Rohr | /ʁoːɐ̯/ | neuter |
All three terms refer to grass-like plants typically found in wetlands, but they are used in different contexts depending on whether you are discussing the plant itself, a specific area of growth or the physical structure of the stem.
Which one should you use?
Schilf is the most common, general term for reed or bulrush-like plants in a wetland. Rohr is often used when referring to the physical, hollow stem of a reed, often in the context of musical instruments or construction. Ried often refers to a specific area or patch of reed-filled marshland rather than an individual plant.
How does it change in a sentence?
Schilf is a collective noun and is typically used in the singular to refer to a mass of reeds.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃɪlf/
Did you know?
- In German, the term Rohr is used for any hollow tube, from a plant stem to a plumbing pipe.
- The term Ried is frequently used in German place names to indicate that a town was originally built on marshy reed land.
- The word Ried can either refer to the plant itself or be derived from the verb roden, which means 'to make arable'.
Examples in context
- Ich sehe ein wunderschönes Schilffeld am See.I see a beautiful reed field by the lake.
- Das Schilf bewegt sich im Wind.The reed is moving in the wind.
- Vögel bauen Nester im Schilf.Birds build nests in the reed.
- Das Schilf am See ist sehr dicht.The reed at the lake is very dense.
Example conversation
Two friends are walking by a lake during a hike.
- JuliaSchau mal, das Schilf ist total grün!Look, the reed is totally green!
- MaximilianJa, Julia, es sieht sehr schön aus.Yes, Julia, it looks very beautiful.
- JuliaIch sehe dort auch einen kleinen Vogel.I also see a small bird there.
- MaximilianVielleicht sitzt er im Schilf.Maybe he is sitting in the reed.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “reed” translations and entries Schilf, Ried, Rohr, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Ried, Rohr, Schilf, CC BY-SA 4.0.
