noun
nail (finger), nail (metal)
B1
Nagel: masculine noun meaning either a fingernail (part of the body) or a metal nail used in construction. Same form covers both senses; context distinguishes them. Plural is Nägel (umlaut). Declension: Genitive singular des Nagels, plural der Nägel. Gender: der Nagel.
Examples
Kannst du mir den Nagel in die Wand schlagen?
Can you hammer the nail into the wall for me?
Der Nagel im Brett hält das Holz zusammen.
The nail in the board holds the wood together.
Der Handwerker schlug den Nagel ein, obwohl das Holz hart war, damit das Regal stabil blieb.
The craftsman hammered the nail in although the wood was hard so that the shelf remained stable.
Details
Mnemonics
picture a fingernail painted or a metal nail hammered into wood
same as English 'nail' — easy to remember
der → imagine a sturdy metal nail labeled 'der Nagel' (masculine)
Notes
Can mean both a fingernail and a metal nail; plural for the body sense is Nägel.