Körbe

Körbe is the plural form of Korb in German, referring to baskets or containers made by weaving flexible materials. The term encompasses a wide range of woven containers used to carry, store, or display items, and it is common in everyday language as well as in specialized contexts such as crafts, retail, and sports.

Etymology and form: The word derives from a Germanic root for a container, with the plural Körbe formed by adding -e and an umlaut as part of standard German pluralization. The concept is broadly shared across many languages, though the exact term varies.

Construction and materials: Traditional baskets are hand-woven from natural fibers such as willow, reed, straw, cane, or rattan. Modern examples may incorporate wood splints, wicker, or synthetic materials like plastic or wire, sometimes with fabric liners. Designs range from simple, single-compartment vessels to multi-compartment formats with lids, handles, or integrated frames.

Types and uses: Common varieties include market baskets, picnic baskets, laundry baskets, fruit baskets, bread baskets, storage baskets, and gift baskets. They serve for shopping, transporting goods, organizing spaces, serving food, and decorative purposes. Baskets are also part of cultural crafts and can be produced as artisanal objects or mass-produced items.

In sports: In German, Korb denotes a basket or hoop in basketball, and Körbe can refer to baskets or scoring instances in play.

See also: Korb; Basket; Wickerwork.