Tisch

Tisch is a German noun meaning table, a piece of furniture with a flat surface and legs used to support work, dining, or other activities. In German, der Tisch is masculine; the plural is Tische. In compounds, Tisch appears in common terms such as Esstisch (dining table), Schreibtisch (desk), Couchtisch (coffee table), and Beistelltisch (side table). The word also occurs in phrases like Tisch decken (to set the table) and Tischdecken (tablecloths). It is a staple word in everyday German.

Tables are made from materials including solid wood, engineered wood, metal, and glass. Modern tables vary in size and height to suit dining rooms, offices, and living spaces. Typical dining tables are around 72–76 cm high; lengths range from about 120 cm for small tables to 240 cm or more for large tables. Design ranges from traditional to minimalist, with many options for surface finishes and leg styles.

Historically, tables have existed across cultures since antiquity, and the German word Tisch is well established in both medieval and modern usage. Etymology traces to Old High German tisc, with Proto-Germanic roots and cognates in other Germanic languages.

In cultural and social contexts, Tisch denotes not only a physical object but also the social space of gathering and work around a table.