German word

Schlüssel

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃlʏsl̩/

Meaning

  • masculine nounkey

Example

Ich habe meinen Schlüssel zu Hause vergessen.

I forgot my key at home.

Illustration for Schlüssel (key)

More examples

Sie hat den Schlüssel in der Tasche.

She has the key in her bag.

Core concept

A physical key opens a lock, while an abstract key unlocks access to a system, solution, or idea.

Common phrases

  • mit dem Schlüssel abschließen

    lock with the key

  • den Schlüssel abziehen

    pull out the key

Similar words

Schlüsselbund: A ring holding several keys together.
Hausschlüssel: A key for locking and unlocking a home's front door.
Autoschlüssel: A key used to lock or unlock a car and start its engine.
Schlüsselkarte: A card-shaped key that opens doors through a magnetic strip or chip.

Definition in German

Ein meist aus Metall gefertigtes Werkzeug, mit dem man ein Schloss mechanisch öffnet; übertragen auch ein Code oder Prinzip, das Zugang gewährt.

Word origin

Schlüssel developed from Old High German sluʒʒil, an instrument noun related to schließen 'to close', and later gained figurative senses involving access and codes.

Usage tips

  • Schlüssel is masculine, and its plural is also Schlüssel, so the article and context distinguish singular from plural.

Other meanings

  • key pointnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • Ersatzschlüsselspare keynoun
  • Schlüssellochkeyholenoun

Word lists with this word