das  Gaspedal

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈɡaːsˌpeːdal/

🚗 What does 'das Gaspedal' mean?

The German word das Gaspedal refers to the 'accelerator' or 'gas pedal' in a vehicle. It's the pedal you press with your foot to make the vehicle go faster.

It's a compound noun formed from Gas (in the sense of fuel, power, or acceleration) and Pedal (pedal).

Since 'Pedal' is neuter in German (das Pedal), 'Gaspedal' is also neuter. The only correct article is das.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar at a Glance: Das Gaspedal

The noun 'Gaspedal' is neuter. Here is its declension:

Example Sentences

• Der Fahrer drückte das Gaspedal durch. (The driver floored the gas pedal.)
• Beim Anfahren muss man vorsichtig mit dem Gaspedal umgehen. (When starting off, one must be careful with the accelerator.)
• Das Gaspedal klemmt ein wenig. (The gas pedal is sticking a bit.)
• Die Position der Gaspedale ist in den meisten Autos ähnlich. (The position of the accelerator pedals is similar in most cars.)

💡 Everyday Usage

The word Gaspedal is primarily used in the context of vehicles (cars, trucks, sometimes motorcycles or boats with foot controls). It specifically denotes the pedal used for acceleration.

• Typical Verbs: drücken (to press), treten (to step on), durchtreten (to floor it), loslassen (to release), betätigen (to operate), bedienen (to use)
• Context: Autofahren (driving), Fahrschule (driving school), Verkehr (traffic), Fahrzeugtechnik (vehicle technology)
• Distinction: The Bremspedal is used for slowing down or stopping, and the Kupplung(spedal) (clutch pedal) is used for changing gears in manual transmission cars.

Colloquially, people often say "Gas geben" (literally 'to give gas') when they mean to accelerate, which directly refers to the function of the Gaspedal.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

1. Remembering the Article ('das'): Think of 'das Pedal'. Many technical items or tools in German are neuter: das Werkzeug (the tool), das Gerät (the device), das Instrument (the instrument)... and also das Pedal (and therefore das Gaspedal). Alternatively, think of a DAShboard and the peDAL underneath it - DAS peDAL.
2. Remembering the Meaning: Imagine the car needs 'Gas' to go faster, and you use the 'Pedal' to give it that gas. Gas + Pedal = Gaspedal.

When you press das Pedal, the car goes fast, it gets the 'Gas'!

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat das Auto schlechte Laune?

Weil jemand ständig auf seinem Gaspedal herumtritt!

(Why is the car in a bad mood? Because someone is constantly stepping on its gas pedal!)

📜 A Short Poem

Ein Fuß, ganz leicht,
auf das Pedal,
die Straße weicht,
Tempo wird zur Qual?
Nein, Freude pur,
die Fahrt beginnt,
des Motors Schnur,
der Fahrtwind singt.

(A foot, so light,
upon the pedal,
the road gives way,
speed becomes torment?

No, pure joy,
the journey starts,
the engine hums,
the driving wind sings.)

❓ Riddle Time

Ich habe keinen Mund, doch gebe Gas.
Man tritt mich mit dem Fuß, mal hier, mal da.
Ich mache Autos schnell, das ist mein Spaß.
Was bin ich?

(I have no mouth, but I give gas.
You step on me with your foot, now here, now there.
I make cars fast, that's my fun.
What am I?)

Solution: Das Gaspedal (The accelerator / gas pedal)

⚙️ Word Breakdown and Trivia

The word "Gaspedal" is a clear compound:

• Gas: Refers generally to the propulsion energy or acceleration ('to give it gas'), not necessarily gaseous fuel.
• Pedal: A lever operated by foot (from Latin 'pes, pedis' = foot).

Interestingly, the term is also used for electric cars, even though they don't consume 'Gas' in the traditional sense. The term has become established for the acceleration pedal regardless of the drive type.