noun
shadow, shade
B1
Means 'shadow' or 'shade' (physical shadow or shaded area). Masculine noun: der Schatten; plural Schatten. Genitive singular des Schattens (notice -s); plural genitive der Schatten. Common uses: cast by objects, metaphorical (e.g., dark connotations). Regular plural form; declension typical. Often used in compounds like Sonnenschatten.
Examples
Als die Sonne unterging, setzten sich die Spaziergänger in den Schatten, weil es plötzlich kühler wurde.
When the sun set, the walkers sat down in the shade because it suddenly became cooler.
Der Schatten des Baumes lag am Nachmittag lang auf dem Weg.
The tree's shadow stretched along the path in the afternoon.
Wir setzten uns in den Schatten, um der Sonne zu entkommen.
We sat in the shade to get out of the sun.
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine a tree casting a dark silhouette on the ground — that whole dark shape is the 'Schatten'.
sounds like 'shut-ten' — imagine shutting out the light
der = masculine: think 'the shadow is like a he — der'.
Notes
Schatten can mean the literal shadow or the shady/cool area (shade). It is a masculine noun and its plural is identical to the singular.