Today’s word is short, simple — and can lead to a little confusion if you’re a music lover. In German, Rock (spelled exactly like in English) does not mean rock music. It means skirt — the clothing item. So if someone says „Ich trage gern Rock“, they’re talking about fashion, not their Spotify playlist.

Rock is a masculine noun, so the correct article is der — der Rock. If you’re still wondering when to use der, die, or das, our 5-minute gender video gives you the confidence to get it right — fast.

Real conversations where Rock might come up

You’ll hear Rock in clothing stores, casual chats about outfits, or when describing someone’s style. It can also lead to a few classic beginner mix-ups, so it’s worth learning early and clearly.

– Der Rock steht dir wirklich gut.
– Danke! Ich hab ihn im Sale gefunden.
(“The skirt really suits you.” – “Thanks! I found it on sale.”)

Beginner sample dialogue

Ella: Gefällt dir mein neuer Rock?
Sami: Ja, sehr! Der ist bunt und sieht bequem aus.
Ella: Ich liebe Blumenmuster.

(Ella: Do you like my new skirt?
Sami: Yeah, a lot! It’s colorful and looks comfy.
Ella: I love floral patterns.)

Grammar in action: How to use Rock

Let’s go through the four German cases with Rock:

• Nominative: Der Rock ist kurz.
  (The skirt is short.)

• Accusative: Ich trage den Rock heute.
  (I’m wearing the skirt today.)

• Dative: Zu dem Rock passt diese Bluse.
  (This blouse goes well with the skirt.)

• Genitive: Die Farbe des Rocks gefällt mir.
  (I like the color of the skirt.)

Still unsure when to say dem, des, or den? Our German grammar course walks you through all the cases with no fluff — just useful, plain English explanations.

Other ways to say skirt in German

There aren’t many synonyms for Rock — it’s the go-to word. However, you might specify the style, like:

• Minirock – miniskirt

• Maxirock – long/maxi skirt

• Faltenrock – pleated skirt

• Jeansrock – denim skirt

Just don’t confuse Rockmusik (rock music) with Rock (clothing). The context (and article!) always clears things up.

Word variations and tidbits

Rock is an older Germanic word that originally referred to a long tunic or coat-like garment worn by both men and women. Over time, the meaning narrowed to just the lower half of the outfit — and today, it means what “skirt” does in English.

You'll also see Rock in:

• Trachtenrock – traditional Bavarian/Austrian skirt

• Röcke – plural of Rock (skirts)

• ein Rock in Größe 38 – a skirt in size 38

And yes — if you’re shopping for clothing in German, always listen for der Rock, not just Rockmusik. It might save you from a very confused fitting room conversation.

Duden entry:
https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Rock

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