das  Feld

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/fɛlt/

🌾 What does "das Feld" mean?

The German word das Feld is a noun with several meanings, often describing an open, defined area. It is always neuter (sächlich).

• Agriculture & Nature: A piece of land used for farming (Acker) or an open area in nature (Wiese - meadow, Heide - heath). Example: Die Kühe grasen auf dem Feld. (The cows graze in the field.)
• Sports: A marked area for sports (Spielfeld - playing field). Example: Die Mannschaft betrat das Feld. (The team entered the field.)
• Area/Domain: A subject area, field of expertise, or area of activity. Example: Sie ist eine Expertin auf dem Feld der Physik. (She is an expert in the field of physics.)
• Data Processing: A specific area in a dataset or database (Datenfeld - data field). Example: Bitte füllen Sie das Feld "Name" aus. (Please fill in the "Name" field.)
• Physics: A region of space where a physical force acts (e.g., Magnetfeld - magnetic field, elektrisches Feld - electric field). Example: Das Magnetfeld der Erde schützt uns. (The Earth's magnetic field protects us.)
• Military: The area where combat takes place (Schlachtfeld - battlefield). Often in idioms like "ins Feld ziehen" (to go to war). Example: Die Soldaten zogen ins Feld. (The soldiers went into the field / went to war.)
• Other: A square on a chessboard (Schachbrett) or a section of a coat of arms (Wappen) is also called a Feld.

🚨 There is only das Feld (neuter), no variations with 'der' or 'die'.

🧐 Grammar of "das Feld" in Detail

"Das Feld" is a neuter noun. Here is its declension:

📝 Example Sentences

• Der Bauer bestellt sein Feld.
  (The farmer cultivates his field. - Accusative Singular)
• Die Größe des Feldes ist beeindruckend.
  (The size of the field is impressive. - Genitive Singular)
• Wir spielen Fußball auf dem Feld hinter dem Haus.
  (We play football on the field behind the house. - Dative Singular)
• Im Frühling blühen viele Blumen auf den Feldern.
  (In spring, many flowers bloom in the fields. - Dative Plural)
• Dieses Forschungsfeld ist sehr komplex.
  (This field of research is very complex. - Nominative Singular)

💡 How to Use "das Feld"

"Das Feld" is a versatile word. The context determines the specific meaning:

• Agricultural: When talking about farmers or harvests, it usually means the Acker (arable field). ("Auf dem Feld arbeiten" - to work in the field)
• Sports: In a sports context, it means the Spielfeld (playing field). ("Das Feld stürmen" - to storm the field, "vom Feld gehen" - to leave the field)
• Abstract/Scientific: Here, "Feld" stands for an area or domain. ("ein weites Feld" - a broad/complex subject, "auf diesem Feld tätig sein" - to work in this field)
• Technical/IT: Refers to data fields in forms or databases. ("Pflichtfeld" - mandatory field, "das Feld ausfüllen" - to fill in the field)
• Military: Often historical or in idioms ("ins Feld ziehen" - to go to war, "die Fahne im Feld lassen" - to desert).
• Physical: Specific terms like Magnetfeld (magnetic field), Kraftfeld (force field), Gravitationsfeld (gravitational field).

Typical Collocations (Word Combinations):

• das Feld bestellen/pflügen: farming
• das Feld räumen: to leave the place (often figuratively)
• ins Feld führen (Argumente): to bring forward arguments
• jemandem das Feld überlassen: to let someone else go first, to yield
• ein weites Feld sein: to be a complex, extensive topic

Distinction from similar words:

• Wiese: More like a naturally grown meadow, not primarily for cultivation.
• Acker: Clearly a field intended for growing crops.
• Gebiet/Bereich: More general than Feld, can refer to geographical or thematic areas. Feld is often more concrete or specialized (e.g., Forschungsfeld - research field).

🧠 Memory Aids for "das Feld"

1. Remembering the Article "das":

   Imagine das Auto (the car - also neuter) driving across das wide, neutral Feld. Both are neuter. Or: Think of das data (often treated as singular/neuter concept in some contexts) fitting into das data Feld.

2. Remembering the Meaning "Feld":

   The German word Feld sounds very similar to the English word "field" and shares many meanings (a corn field, a field of study, a data field). Picture a wide-open field – the word Feld sounds similarly open and somewhat flat.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for "das Feld"

⚠️ Similar Words (Potential Confusion):

• Fels (der): Rock, cliff. Sounds similar, but different meaning and article (masculine).
• Fell (das): Fur, animal skin with hair. Sounds similar, but different meaning (though same article).

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat das Feld beim Versteckspiel gewonnen?
Weil es sich gut getarnt hat – es war hervorragend im Maisfeld!

(Why did the field win at hide-and-seek?
Because it camouflaged itself well – it was outstanding in the cornfield! - "outstanding" is a pun here, meaning both excellent and literally standing out in the field)

📜 Poem about the Field

Das weite Feld

Das Feld liegt still im Morgentau,
So weit das Auge blickt, so grau, so blau.
Ein Acker fruchtbar, grün und breit,
Bereit für Ernte, weit und breit.

Ein Feld der Forschung, tief und klar,
Wo Wissen wächst, Jahr für Jahr.
Ein Datenfeld, ganz klein und fein,
Trägt Information, allein.

Das Fußballfeld, wo Jubel klingt,
Wo Leidenschaft die Menge singt.
Ob Acker, Wissen oder Spiel,
Das Feld hat stets ein klares Ziel.

The Wide Field

The field lies still in morning dew,
As far as the eye can see, so grey, so blue.
A fertile acre, green and wide,
Ready for harvest, far and wide.

A field of research, deep and clear,
Where knowledge grows, year after year.
A data field, so small and fine,
Carries information, solely thine.

The football field, where cheers resound,
Where passion makes the crowd astound.
Be it acre, knowledge, or game's thrill,
The field always has a purpose still.

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich bin mal Acker, mal für Sport,
Mal bin ich ein digitaler Ort.
Mal bin ich Thema, das man kennt,
Mal Kraftbereich, den man so nennt.
Ich trage meistens "das" als Kleid,
Was bin ich wohl, zur jetzigen Zeit?

(I'm sometimes farmland, sometimes for sport,
Sometimes I'm a digital sort.
Sometimes a topic, widely known,
Sometimes a force field that is shown.
I usually wear "das" as my dress,
What am I now, can you guess?)

Solution: das Feld

💡 More about "das Feld"

Compound Words (Komposita):

"Feld" is a very productive component in many German words. Here are some examples showing the different meanings:

• Agriculture: Kornfeld (cornfield), Kartoffelfeld (potato field), Reisfeld (rice paddy), Stoppelfeld (stubble field)
• Sports: Fußballfeld (football pitch), Spielfeld (playing field), Mittelfeld (midfield), Strafraumfeld (penalty area field - usually just "Strafraum")
• Science/Area: Forschungsfeld (research field), Arbeitsfeld (field of work), Blickfeld (field of vision), Gesichtsfeld (visual field)
• Technology/IT: Datenfeld (data field), Eingabefeld (input field), Suchfeld (search field), Textfeld (text field)
• Physics: Magnetfeld (magnetic field), Kraftfeld (force field), elektrisches Feld (electric field), Gravitationsfeld (gravitational field)
• Military: Schlachtfeld (battlefield), Minenfeld (minefield), Feldherr (military commander), Feldlazarett (field hospital)
• Social/Psychology: Spannungsfeld (area of conflict/tension)
• Other: Feldweg (dirt track/field path), Feldbett (camp bed), Feldfrucht (field crop)

Etymology (Word Origin):

The word "Feld" comes from the Old High German word "feld," which already had a similar meaning: 'open, uncultivated land', 'plain'. It is related to the English word "field" and the Dutch "veld".