German Phrase
Wir brauchen einen Hochstuhl.
Meaning
The sentence means ‘We need a high chair.’ It is a straightforward statement of necessity, using the verb ‘brauchen’ with a direct object in the accusative case.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are talking about a baby’s feeding equipment, for example when you are preparing a meal at a friend’s house or buying furniture for a newborn.
✦Grammar Breakdown
WirbraucheneinenHochstuhl.
Wir (personal pronoun)
‘Wir’ means ‘we’ and is the subject of the sentence, taking the verb in the first‑person plural form.
brauchen (verb)
‘brauchen’ means ‘to need’; in the present tense it is conjugated as ‘brauchen’ for ‘wir’.
einen (indefinite article, accusative)
‘einen’ is the masculine singular indefinite article in the accusative case, required because ‘Hochstuhl’ is the direct object.
Hochstuhl (noun, masculine)
‘Hochstuhl’ literally translates to ‘high chair’; it is a masculine noun (der Hochstuhl) used for feeding babies.
🗨In Conversation
Wir brauchen einen Hochstuhl für das Baby.
We need a high chair for the baby.
Kein Problem, ich habe einen im Schrank.
No problem, I have one in the cupboard.
✕Common Mistakes
Wir brauchen der Hochstuhl.
The article must be accusative ‘einen’ because the noun is a direct object.
Wir braucht einen Hochstuhl.
‘braucht’ is the third‑person singular form; with ‘wir’ you need ‘brauchen’.
Wir brauchen ein Hochstuhl.
In the accusative masculine, the indefinite article changes to ‘einen’.
↔Alternatives
Wir benötigen einen Hochstuhl.
We require a high chair.
Wir brauchen einen Kinderhochstuhl.
We need a children’s high chair.
Wir brauchen einen Hochstuhl für das Baby.
We need a high chair for the baby.
Cultural Tip
In German households a ‘Hochstuhl’ is a staple for infants and toddlers. Many families own a wooden, fold‑away model that can be stored in a cupboard when not in use. When speaking to strangers or in a formal setting, you might prefer the slightly more formal ‘benötigen’ instead of ‘brauchen’. Regional dialects may shorten the word to ‘Hochstuel’ in some southern areas, but the standard term is understood everywhere in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.