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- "Die Taschen"
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Tasche also means "pocket" in German! You would need context to know for sure if it meant "bag" or "pocket", but "bag" seems to be the main translation. You can get more specific by talking about "shirt pockets" (Hemdtaschen), "trouser pockets" (Hosentaschen), etc.
I don't understand why "purses" is incorrect . Purse/bag/handbag are all synonyms.
In English yes, but in German a purse is a "Handtasche" and that is not the word you are translating, but "die Tasche" which does not mean "purse".
That's very interesting, because I did a google image search on "die Taschen" and 100% of the images were of purses. And I get that Handtasche is like handbag. (Not all bags are purses but all purses are bags). I come from a German speaking American family (back two generations) and this really confuses me. I'm sure you are right, but it is very puzzling to me. I also thought that Tasche meant pocket, but I don't see that reflected here. But the German I have been exposed to may be archaic, so perhaps that's the problem.
You are right, it also means pocket (and it is an accepted translation, not just shown as the first translation so you don't see it, but try it next time, if you will, you won't lose a heart ;) )
I think the difference here is that in English there is another word "purse", which does not kind of exist in German. The closest is "die Handtasche", which adds extra information to the "Tasche". All "Handtasche" are "Tasche", but not vice versa, it is a subcategory. Just like every "Esstisch" is a "Tisch", but not the other way around.
So I can call "Handtasche" "Tasche", just as I can call "Esstisch" "Tisch", but it does not mean that "Tasche" is a synonyme for "Handtasche". That is also why Google Image Search shows such photos, when searching for "Tasche" you will find all sort of "Taschen", all the "subcategories" too, which probably have their own words too.
Does that make sense?
I think the problem here is British English vs American English. As I understand it, in Britain a purse is a small bag for change, what we in the US call a change purse. For us, a purse is the same as a pocketbook or a handbag. Our usage is based on age and the area we are from.
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The problem for me was that my introduction to the word was DL showing a picture of a purse...
In English English we say "handbag" and "bag" for Tasche, "bag" being a more relaxed term for "handbag". We say "purse" for a small coin-holder that goes inside the handbag. We do not say "purse" for a handbag or a bag.
I agree with you on this one. A purse is more likely to be used for something smaller.
Die Tasche = "the bag" (singular)
Die Taschen = "the bags" (plural)
If you didn't know this already, you do now :) This is often how Duolingo teaches. Otherwise, you can do some extra work yourself and look up the singular/plural forms of every new word that you learn.
Also, it's not a firm rule but more an occasionally useful hint... but feminine nouns often get an -(e)n ending in plural. So if you see die ...-en it might be a plural rather than singular feminine noun.
My dictionary says 'handbags' not 'bags' is the correct solution, but Duolingo won't accept this.
Yup and in contrast to the discussion above, Duo gives "purses" as the correct solution!
They're wonderful! But they have a separate word in German... Rucksack! (Plural: die Rucksäcke)
Interestingly, while in English you might describe a "rucksack/backpack" as 'a type of bag...', in German it is clearly a distinct concept! The official dictionary Duden does not describe it as a Tasche but as a "holder/container". Wikipedia is also useful for a discussion about what is a Tasche and what is a Rucksack.
Using an image search or German Wikipedia can often be very helpful at figuring out what is/isn't included in the meaning.
Tasche image search, Wikipedia link.
"Suitcase" on English Wikipedia links to Koffer on German Wikipedia.
Koffer image search.
Singular: der Koffer. Plural: die Koffer.
Purse is a very small item only used to carry money, one would carry it in a pocket or with other items in a bag. Bag and purse are not synonymous in German, or British English.
Why not "The satchels"? I know it's a weird choice of word, but that's how I learned it back (waaay back) in High School.
Do an image search for Tasche and then one for Umhängetasche (literally: 'hanging around bag'). You'll see that just as in English a "satchel" is a specific type of "bag", in German an Umhängetasche (satchel) is a type of Tasche.
In France (south) we can also use the word "poche" to either say "bag" or "pocket". The rest of the country don't use it though, they prefer the word "sac"
Please Dulingo get rid of that FEMALE VOICE! SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND. N'S AND E'S.
I think tasche also translates to tote bag. It's written on a tote bag from a supermarket in Munich.
I actually like these, helps in working on pronunciation and remembering a little better. Anyone else? Maybe a lesson where a question's asked and you have to say the appropriate response
Can "Taschen" not also be translated to "suitcases"? Or is there a different German word for suitcases?
