das  Bombardement

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/bɔmbaʁdeˈmɑ̃ː/

💣 What exactly is a Bombardement?

The German word das Bombardement (noun, neuter) primarily describes:

• The military shelling of a target (e.g., a city, a position) with bombs, usually from the air by aircraft, but also by artillery. This is the primary and most common meaning.
• Figuratively, it can also mean a massive accumulation or excess of something affecting someone. For example, a Bombardement of questions, information, or criticism.

It is a loanword from French.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: das Bombardement

The word "Bombardement" is a noun with the article das. It belongs to the group of neuter nouns. The ending "-ment" is often an indicator of the neuter gender in German (compare: das Argument, das Instrument).

Declension

Example Sentences

1. Das Bombardement der Stadt dauerte mehrere Tage. (The bombardment of the city lasted several days.)
2. Die Zerstörung durch das Bombardement war immens. (The destruction caused by the bombardment was immense.)
3. Nach der Präsentation folgte ein wahres Bombardement an Fragen. (After the presentation, a veritable bombardment of questions followed.)
4. Die Medien setzen uns einem ständigen Bombardement von Nachrichten aus. (The media expose us to a constant bombardment of news.)

🎯 When and how to use 'das Bombardement'?

Context is crucial:

• Military/Historical: Most commonly, "das Bombardement" is used in the context of wars and military actions, especially when discussing historical events (e.g., World War II). It emphasizes the act of dropping or firing many bombs over a period.
• Figurative: In a figurative sense, it describes an overwhelming amount or onslaught of something abstract (questions, criticism, information, stimuli). This usage is more metaphorical and appears in discussions, reports, or everyday life. Example: "Er wurde einem Bombardement von Vorwürfen ausgesetzt." (He was subjected to a bombardment of accusations.)

Distinction from similar terms:

• Angriff (der): General term for a hostile action. A Bombardement is a specific type of Angriff.
• Beschuss (der): Can also involve artillery or other weapons, not just bombs. Bombardement often implies greater intensity or duration.
• Luftangriff (der): Specifically refers to attacks from the air, often used synonymously with Bombardement by aircraft.

⚠️ Avoid trivializing the term, especially in its military context, as it is associated with death and destruction.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Article Mnemonic: Think of other neuter nouns ending in "-ment" like das Instrument or das Argument. Many words ending in "-ment" are neuter -> das Bombardement.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine bombs falling like rain – a whole lot or 'meant' to hit -> a Bombardement. Or think of being 'bombarded' with questions, a similar concept.

🔄 Word Explosion: Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar but different words:

• Bombe (die): The individual bomb.
• Bomber (der): The aircraft that drops bombs.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Lehrer nach der Fragestunde Kopfschmerzen?

Weil er einem verbalen Bombardement ausgesetzt war!

(Why did the teacher have a headache after the Q&A session? Because he was exposed to a verbal bombardment!)

📜 A Short Poem

Der Himmel dröhnt, ein Schatten fällt,
Das Bombardement die Stadt zerschellt.
Ein Wort voll Schrecken, laut und schwer,
Bringt Zerstörung übers Meer.

Doch auch im Geist, ein Fragenhagel,
Ein Bombardement, scharf wie ein Nagel.
Von Worten, Bildern, schnell und viel,
Man sucht nach Ruhe, sucht ein Ziel.

(The sky drones, a shadow falls,
The bombardment shatters the city walls.
A word of terror, loud and grave,
\Brings destruction across the wave.

But also in spirit, a hail of queries,
A bombardment, sharp as worries.
Of words, images, fast and vast,
One seeks for calm, a goal to last.)

❓ Little Riddle

Ich falle vom Himmel, doch bin kein Regen,
Bringe Zerstörung auf allen Wegen.
Manchmal bin ich auch nur ein Wort,
Ein Schwall von Fragen, hier und dort.

Mit Artikel 'das' steh ich im Duden,
Was bin ich, in ernsten und übertragenen Suden?

(I fall from the sky, but am not rain,
Bringing destruction on every lane.
Sometimes I am also just a word,
A flood of questions, being heard.

With article 'das', I stand in the dictionary,
What am I, in serious and figurative quandary?)

Solution: Das Bombardement

✨ Other Info about das Bombardement

• Word Origin: The word comes from the French bombardement, which in turn derives from bombarder ("to bombard"). The root lies in the word bombarde, an early type of cannon.
• Historical Relevance: The term is strongly associated with the World Wars of the 20th century, particularly the air raids on cities.
• Figurative Usage: The figurative meaning is gaining prominence in modern language, often in the context of media overload or intense questioning/criticism.