Stroh
/ʃtʁoː/
The German word for straw is Stroh.
Stroh refers to the dried stalks of cereal plants used for building materials or animal bedding.
Which one should you use?
While Stroh describes the material itself, the word Halm refers to a single stalk of any kind of grass or grain.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Switzerland, the alternative word Trinkröhrli is used for a drinking straw.
How does it change in a sentence?
Stroh is a mass noun and is typically used in the singular form without an article when referring to the material in general.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃtʁoː/
Did you know?
- In German, a Strohmann or 'straw man' is not just a logical fallacy in an argument but also a legal term for a proxy who acts on behalf of someone else to hide their identity.
- The term Strohfeuer refers to a 'straw fire' which is used metaphorically to describe a brief, intense burst of enthusiasm or success that disappears as quickly as straw burns.
- In Switzerland, the word for a drinking straw is Trinkröhrli, which is a diminutive form of Rohr meaning 'pipe'. This differs from the standard German Strohhalm used in Germany.
Examples in context
- Hast du einen Strohhut?Do you have a straw hat?The first sentence is useful for asking if someone has a straw hat using Stroh.Tatoeba #10632255 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10632196 by CK
- Tom trug einen Strohhut.Tom wore a straw hat.The second sentence is useful for stating that Tom wore a straw hat using Stroh.Tatoeba #6781729 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #6620369 by Hybrid
- Möchtest du einen Strohhalm?Would you like a straw?The third sentence is useful for offering someone a drinking straw using Stroh.Tatoeba #9962251 by giefingl, translation #11184954 by sundown
- Entschuldigen Sie, kann ich bitte einen Strohhalm haben?Excuse me, may I have a straw, please?
- Können Sie mir einen Strohhalm geben, bitte?Could you give me a straw, please?
- Kannst du mir bitte einen Trinkhalm geben?Can you give me a straw, please?
- Hast du noch einen Trinkhalm übrig?Do you have a spare straw?
- Hätten Sie bitte einen Strohhalm zum Trinken?Would you have a straw for drinking, please?
- Könnten Sie mir bitte einen umweltfreundlichen Strohhalm geben?Could you give me an eco-friendly straw, please?
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Julia are in a barn working on a farm.
- LukasWir brauchen mehr Stroh für die Pferde.We need more straw for the horses.
- JuliaLiegt noch Stroh im hinteren Stall?Is there still straw in the back stable?
- LukasJa, dort liegt eine große Menge Stroh.Yes, there is a large amount of straw lying there.
- JuliaGut, dann holen wir es.Good, then let's get it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Stroh, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
