das
Geburtshaus
🏠 What exactly is a Geburtshaus?
Das Geburtshaus (neuter gender) primarily refers to the house or building where a person was born. The term is often used in connection with famous personalities whose birth houses are now memorials or museums (e.g., Mozarts Geburtshaus - Mozart's birthplace).
In a more modern sense, das Geburtshaus can also refer to a facility where women can give birth under the care of midwives, as an alternative to a hospital or home birth. It's a kind of maternity home or birthing center that offers a more home-like atmosphere.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Ge- → mostly neutral.
Nouns beginning with Ge- are usually neutral, unless other rules apply. We do not list all Ge nouns.
🧐 Grammar Focus: Das Geburtshaus
The word "Geburtshaus" is a noun and takes the article das (neuter).
It's composed of "Geburt" (die Geburt - the birth) and "Haus" (das Haus - the house). As with many compound nouns in German, the gender is determined by the last component ("Haus"), making the whole word neuter.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das | Geburtshaus |
| Genitive | des | Geburtshauses |
| Dative | dem | Geburtshaus(e) |
| Accusative | das | Geburtshaus |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Geburtshäuser |
| Genitive | der | Geburtshäuser |
| Dative | den | Geburtshäusern |
| Accusative | die | Geburtshäuser |
📝 Example Sentences
- Das Geburtshaus von Goethe steht in Frankfurt.
(Goethe's birthplace is in Frankfurt.) - Sie entschied sich für eine Geburt in dem Geburtshaus statt im Krankenhaus.
(She opted for a birth in the birthing center instead of the hospital.) - Viele Touristen besuchen die Geburtshäuser berühmter Komponisten.
(Many tourists visit the birthplaces of famous composers.) - Die Ausstattung des Geburtshauses war sehr modern.
(The furnishing of the birthplace/birthing center was very modern.)
🗣️ How to Use "Geburtshaus"
- Historical Context: Most commonly, "das Geburtshaus" refers to the actual place where a (usually famous) person was born. It emphasizes the historical or cultural significance of the location. Example: "Das Beethoven-Haus in Bonn ist sein Geburtshaus." (The Beethoven House in Bonn is his birthplace.)
- Modern Obstetrics: Less frequently, but increasingly, it denotes a special facility for childbirth. Here, the focus is on the type of institution (non-clinical, midwife-led). Example: "Sie hat sich in einem Geburtshaus angemeldet." (She registered at a birthing center.)
- Distinction: It's more specific than "Geburtsort" (place of birth), which can also be a city or region. It implies a more homely setting than a "Krankenhaus" (hospital) or a "Klinik" (clinic).
💡 Memory Aids
Article Aid: Remember das Haus (the house). Since "Geburtshaus" ends in "-haus" and "Haus" is neuter, "Geburtshaus" is also neuter: das Geburtshaus.
Meaning Aid: Imagine a small Haus (house) from which you hear a baby crying – the place of Geburt (birth). A Geburts-Haus!
🔄 Similar and Opposing Terms
Synonyms
- Geburtsort: (More general, can also mean city/country of birth)
- Entbindungsheim: (Synonym for the modern meaning as a birthing facility)
- Heimstätte: (Figurative, place of origin, homestead)
Antonyms
- Sterbehaus: (The house where someone died)
⚠️ Watch out for these!
- Krankenhaus/Klinik: (Hospital/Clinic) These are medical facilities for various purposes, including births, but not exclusively and usually more clinical.
- Wohnhaus: (Residential house) A general term for a house people live in.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum hat das Baby im Geburtshaus geweint?
Es hat die Rechnung für die Erstausstattung gesehen!
Why did the baby cry in the birthing center?
It saw the bill for the initial baby supplies!
📜 A Little Poem
Das Geburtshaus, alt und klein,
Hier fing das Leben an, so fein.
Mauern, die Geschichten wissen,
Vom ersten Schrei, den wir vermissen.
Ob Dichterfürst, ob Musikus,
Hier gab das Leben seinen Kuss.
The house of birth, old and small,
Here life began, standing tall.
Walls that know stories untold,
Of the first cry, brave and bold.
Whether poet prince or musician bright,
Here life bestowed its first light.
🧩 Who am I?
Ich bin ein Haus, doch nicht zum Wohnen für jedermann.
Ich sehe den Anfang, den ersten Lebensplan.
Berühmte Leute kamen hier zur Welt,
Manchmal bin ich auch modern bestellt,
Für Mütter, die natürlich wollen,
Dass neue Erdenbürger rollen.
Was bin ich?
➔ Das Geburtshaus
I am a house, but not for everyone to reside.
I see the beginning, the first life plan inside.
Famous people entered the world through my door,
Sometimes I'm modern, offering something more,
For mothers who naturally desire,
That new citizens of Earth aspire.
What am I?
➔ The Birthplace / Birthing Center (das Geburtshaus)
✨ Other Interesting Details
Word Composition:
The word "Geburtshaus" is a compound noun, composed of:
Cultural Significance:
Many Geburtshäuser of famous personalities (e.g., Goethe, Schiller, Mozart, Beethoven) are important cultural monuments and tourist attractions in Germany and Austria today.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Geburtshaus?
The correct article for Geburtshaus is das. It is a neuter noun. Remember: das Haus → das Geburtshaus.