Nomen

das Fach

Translation

subject, field, specialty, compartment, shelf

Mein Lieblingsfach in der Schule ist Mathe.

My favorite subject in school is math.

Leg die Bücher bitte in das obere Fach.

Please put the books on the top shelf.

Er ist ein Experte auf seinem Fachgebiet.

He is an expert in his field.

das Fach ((as a school subject)) subject Which subject do you like best?

et4 in+4 ((das Fach)) to put sth. in the compartment Put the towel in the clean compartment.

ein Experte auf+3 ((dem Fach)) an expert in the field He is an expert in the medical field.

Synonyms: field, discipline (area of study); compartment, shelf (physical space)

From Old High German 'fah' meaning 'enclosed space'. A subject is an 'enclosed space' of knowledge, a compartment is a physical one.

Imagine a bookcase ('Regal') with many compartments ('Fächer'). Each 'Fach' can hold books for a different school 'Fach' (subject).