Schalen

Schalen is a plural noun in both German and Dutch, with closely related but language-specific meanings. In German, Schale (plural Schalen) can designate a shallow dish or bowl used for serving or holding food, as well as an outer covering such as a shell or rind (for example die Obstschale, die Eierschale, die Muschelschale). The plural form Schalen can refer to multiple vessels or to multiple coverings.

In Dutch, schaal is the common word for a bowl or dish, and schalen is its plural. Dutch usage often appears in compounds like fruitschaal (fruit bowl) or mengschaal (mixing bowl), where the term denotes the hollow container rather than a shell. The concept of a shell or outer covering also exists in Dutch, but the specific everyday terms may differ from the German Schale.

Beyond everyday objects, Schale or Schalen appears in scientific contexts as the term shell. In physics and chemistry, electron shells are referred to as Elektronenschalen in German, describing the discrete energy levels of electrons around an atom. The term also appears in nuclear and atomic models, for example Schalenmodell (shell model), which describes how nucleons or electrons occupy distinct energy levels. In biology and geology, the idea of a protective shell or outer layer is common, with examples such as mollusk shells (Muschelschalen) or eggshells (Eierschalen).

In summary, schalen denotes bowls or shells depending on language and context, and appears in everyday objects as well as scientific terminology. The exact meaning is determined by surrounding words and cultural usage.