Schrank

Schrank is a German noun meaning a cabinet, cupboard, or wardrobe. It denotes a free-standing piece of furniture designed to store items. In everyday German, it can refer to a general storage cabinet as well as specific forms such as a wardrobe (Kleiderschrank) or a kitchen cabinet (Küchenschrank). The masculine gender is der Schrank; the plural is die Schränke.

Common types include Kleiderschrank (wardrobe for clothes), Bücherschrank (bookcase or cabinet for books), Küchenschrank (kitchen cabinet), Unterschrank and Oberschrank (base and wall cabinets in kitchens), and Einbauschrank (built-in closet). A Schrank in non-furniture contexts can be an equipment enclosure, such as a Schrank in a data center or workshop used to house tools or electrical components.

Construction and materials: Traditional Schränke are made of wood, often solid timber or veneered panels, but modern variants use engineered wood, metal, and glass. They may feature shelves, drawers, doors, hinges, and sometimes locks. Design ranges from antique, ornate cabinets to minimalist, flat-pack, modular systems.

History and usage: Historically, freestanding cupboards and armoires were common in households and public buildings; the concept evolved into built-in cabinets in kitchens and offices. The term is also used in technical contexts, such as server racks or equipment enclosures in IT and industrial settings.

In translation, Schrank is typically rendered as cabinet or wardrobe.