das  Camp

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/kamp/

🏕️ What does "das Camp" mean?

The word "das Camp" (neuter gender) is a loanword from English and primarily refers to:

• A campsite or summer camp: Often for children and teenagers, usually in nature, with tents or simple accommodation (e.g., das Sommercamp - summer camp, das Pfadfindercamp - scout camp).
• A training camp: A place where athletes or teams prepare intensively for competitions (e.g., das Fußball-Trainingscamp - football training camp).
• A temporary camp: For specific groups or purposes, often provisional (e.g., das Flüchtlingscamp - refugee camp, das Protestcamp - protest camp).
• (Figuratively) A group with a specific attitude or opinion: Used less frequently, often in political or ideological contexts (e.g., das konservative Camp - the conservative camp/side).

🚨 Attention: Although it comes from the English "camp", in German it uses the neuter article (das Camp).

Article rules for der, die, and das

📝 Grammar of "das Camp" in Detail

"Camp" is a noun (Substantiv) with the article "das". It is neuter (sächlich). Its declension follows the pattern of many nouns borrowed from English.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

Example Sentences (Grammar)

1. Wir fahren im Sommer in das Camp am See.
   (We are going to the camp by the lake in the summer.)
2. Die Organisation des Camps war sehr aufwendig.
   (The organization of the camp was very complex.)
3. In dem Camp lernten die Kinder viel über die Natur.
   (In the camp, the children learned a lot about nature.)
4. Die Mannschaft absolvierte mehrere Camps zur Vorbereitung.
   (The team completed several camps for preparation.)

💡 How to use "das Camp"?

"Das Camp" is frequently used in the context of leisure activities, sports, and organized group stays.

• Leisure & Youth: "Die Kinder freuen sich schon auf das Sommercamp." (The children are already looking forward to the summer camp.) Here it signifies a holiday camp.
• Sports: "Der Verein organisiert ein Trainingscamp in den Bergen." (The club is organizing a training camp in the mountains.) Here it means a camp for performance enhancement.
• Temporary Accommodation: "Nach der Naturkatastrophe wurden provisorische Camps errichtet." (After the natural disaster, temporary camps were set up.)
• Difference from "Lager": While "das Camp" often has a recreational, sporting, or temporary character, "das Lager" can also refer to more permanent facilities (das Warenlager - warehouse), military bases (das Militärlager), or historically sensitive sites (das Konzentrationslager - concentration camp). "Camp" often sounds more modern or specific than the more general "Lager".
• Figurative Meaning: "Die Diskussion spaltete sich in zwei Camps." (The discussion split into two camps/sides.) This is less common and more figurative.

🧠 Mnemonics for "das Camp"

Article "das": Think of activities often done at camps: das Schwimmen (swimming), das Spielen (playing), das Abenteuer (adventure). Many neuter nouns end in -en or describe general activities, fitting the idea of das Camp. Or simply: It's a loanword, many English loanwords starting with C are neuter (das Catering, das Coaching, das Controlling), so try das Camp first.

Meaning (Lager/Ferienlager): Imagine you need to cram people into tents for a temporary stay – that's a Camp. It sounds like the English word, making the core meaning (a place for a temporary stay, often outdoors or for a specific purpose) easy to remember.

🔄 Synonyms, Antonyms & Similar Words

⚠️ Similar-sounding but different words:

• Der Kampf: Sounds similar, but means 'fight' or 'struggle'.
• Die Kampagne: Means 'campaign' (political, advertising, etc.).

😂 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Skelette nie am Sommercamp teil?

Weil sie keinen "Körper" haben, um mitzumachen! 😉

(Why do skeletons never take part in summer camp? Because they have no "body" to join in! - A pun on "nobody")

📜 Camp Poem

Das Camp ruft

Zelte stehen, bunt und klein,
im hellen Sonnenschein.
Das Camp erwacht zum Leben,
will Abenteuer geben.

Am Lagerfeuer spät am Abend,
Geschichten werden labend.
Gemeinschaft, Spiel und Spaß,
vergessen ist der Alltags-Brass.

The Camp is Calling

Tents stand, colorful and small,
in the bright sunshine.
The camp awakens to life,
wants to offer adventure.

At the campfire late in the evening,
stories become refreshing.
Community, games, and fun,
forgotten is the everyday stress.

🤔 Little Riddle

Ich bin oft in der Natur zu Haus,
mal mit Zelten, mal als festes Haus (provisorisch).
Sportler kommen, um zu trainieren hier,
Kinder spielen gern mit mir.
Mein Artikel ist sächlich, merk es dir gut!

Was bin ich?

Lösung: Das Camp

I'm often found outdoors, my home,
Sometimes tents, sometimes a makeshift dome.
Athletes come here for their training's sake,
Children love the games they make.
My article is neuter, remember it well!

What am I?

Solution: Das Camp

✨ Other Interesting Info

• Origin: The word "Camp" comes directly from English and was adopted into German during the 20th century.
• Compound Words (Wortzusammensetzungen): It forms many compound nouns that specify the type of camp: Sommercamp (summer camp), Trainingscamp (training camp), Zeltcamp (tent camp), Fußballcamp (football camp), Sprachcamp (language camp), Feriencamp (holiday camp), Survival-Camp (survival camp), Protestcamp (protest camp).
• Cultural Significance: Camps often have a strong social component – community experiences, learning outside of school, or intensive preparation within a group.