das
Freibad
🏊 What exactly is a Freibad?
The word das Freibad (noun, neuter) refers to a public swimming facility in the open air. So, it's a swimming pool located outdoors, typically open only during the warmer months (spring/summer).
A Freibad usually has several pools (for swimmers, non-swimmers, sometimes paddling pools for children), lawns for sunbathing (Liegewiesen), and often additional attractions like water slides (Wasserrutschen), diving towers (Sprungtürme), or playgrounds (Spielplätze).
It's a popular place for leisure activities, sports, and relaxation during the summer months.
🚨 Attention: It's always das Freibad. The articles der or die are incorrect here.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: das Freibad
The noun "Freibad" is neuter. It is used with the article das.
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das Freibad | ein Freibad |
| Genitive | des Freibad(e)s | eines Freibad(e)s |
| Dative | dem Freibad | einem Freibad |
| Accusative | das Freibad | ein Freibad |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Freibäder | Freibäder |
| Genitive | der Freibäder | Freibäder |
| Dative | den Freibädern | Freibädern |
| Accusative | die Freibäder | Freibäder |
Example Sentences
- Im Sommer gehen wir oft ins Freibad. (In summer, we often go to the outdoor pool.)
- Das Freibad öffnet normalerweise im Mai. (The outdoor pool normally opens in May.)
- Die Eintrittspreise des Freibades wurden erhöht. (The entrance fees of the outdoor pool were increased.)
- Wir treffen uns morgen an dem Freibad um 14 Uhr. (We'll meet at the outdoor pool tomorrow at 2 p.m.)
- Viele Städte haben schöne Freibäder. (Many cities have nice outdoor pools.)
☀️ When and how to use "Freibad"?
"Das Freibad" is used to talk about public outdoor swimming pools. It's a very common word, especially in summer.
- Context: Leisure, summer, sports, relaxation, family, friends.
- Typical Situations: Making plans for the weekend ("Gehen wir ins Freibad?" - Shall we go to the outdoor pool?), talking about the weather ("Perfektes Wetter fürs Freibad!" - Perfect weather for the outdoor pool!), arranging to meet ("Treffpunkt ist am Eingang vom Freibad." - Meeting point is at the entrance of the outdoor pool.).
- Distinction: The counterpart to the Freibad is the Hallenbad (indoor swimming pool), which is usually open year-round. Sometimes there are also Kombibäder, which have both indoor and outdoor areas.
💡 Mnemonics for "das Freibad"
For the article (das): Think of "das Bad" (the bath/pool). Many compound words ending in "-bad" are neuter, like das Schwimmbad (swimming pool), das Hallenbad (indoor pool), das Thermalbad (thermal bath). So, it's also: das Freibad. You could also think: swimming is something neutral, something anyone can do -> das.
For the meaning (outdoor pool): Imagine feeling frei (free) and happy splashing in the water under the freien Himmel (open sky). A bath/pool (Bad) in the open air (im Freien) = Freibad.
🔄 Similar and Opposing Terms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Schwimmbad (im Freien): General term for swimming pool, but can also mean indoor pools. Often "im Freien" (outdoors) is added for clarity.
- Badeanstalt (im Freien): Slightly dated term for bathing establishment, but still understood.
- Sommerbad: Emphasizes seasonal use (summer pool).
⚠️ Risk of Confusion: Don't confuse it with a private pool in a garden (which is just called "Pool" or "Schwimmbecken") or a Badesee (bathing lake, a natural body of water).
😂 A Little Joke
DE: Fragt der Bademeister: "Warum schwimmen Sie denn mit einem Pullover?" Antwortet der Gast: "Ich bin heute zum Strickschwimmen hier!"
EN: The lifeguard asks: "Why are you swimming with a sweater on?" The guest replies: "I'm here for the knitting swim today!" (It's a pun: "Strickschwimmen" sounds like "Freistilschwimmen" - freestyle swimming, but "stricken" means to knit).
✒️ Poem about the Freibad
DE:
Die Sonne lacht, der Himmel blau,
Ein jeder weiß es ganz genau:
Heut' ist der Tag, so frisch und klar,
Fürs Freibad, ja, das ist doch wahr!
Das Wasser glitzert, kühl und rein,
Wir springen fröhlich mit hinein.
Auf grüner Wiese, Decke breit,
Genießen wir die Sommerzeit.
EN:
The sun laughs, the sky is blue,
Everyone knows it's true:
Today's the day, so fresh and clear,
For the outdoor pool, yes, it's truly dear!
The water glitters, cool and clean,
We jump right in, a happy scene.
On the green lawn, blanket wide,
We enjoy the summertime tide.
❓ Riddle Time
DE:
Ich habe Becken, groß und klein,
doch Fische schwimmen hier nicht ein.
Im Sommer bin ich sehr beliebt,
weil's draußen kühle Freude gibt.
Man rutscht und springt und sonnt sich hier.
Was bin ich wohl, sag es mir!
EN:
I have pools, both big and small,
But fish don't swim here, none at all.
In summer, I'm a popular place,
Bringing cool joy with outdoor grace.
You slide and jump and sunbathe here.
What am I then, make it clear!
Solution: Das Freibad (The outdoor pool)
🧩 Other Information
Word Composition:
The word "Freibad" is a compound noun, composed of:
- frei: Adjective, meaning "free" but here specifically "in the open", "outdoors", "under the open sky".
- Bad: Noun (das Bad), meaning a facility for bathing or swimming.
So, literally: a bath/pool in the open air.
Trivia:
- Freibäder are often important social meeting points in communities during the summer.
- Many Freibäder have a long tradition and were built in the early 20th century.
- Typical Freibad snacks in Germany include French fries (often "Pommes rot-weiß" with ketchup and mayonnaise) and ice cream.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Freibad?
The word "Freibad" means an outdoor swimming pool and is always neuter. The correct article is das Freibad.