das  Gewann

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɡəˈvan/

🗺️ What does "das Gewann" mean?

The noun das Gewann (plural: die Gewanne) usually refers to a narrow, long strip of arable land or a Flurstück (plot of land, parcel). It's a term primarily used in agriculture, land surveying, and historical contexts to designate a specific parcel or section of a field.

Sometimes the term is also used in mining for a section of a pit (Grubenabschnitt), but this is less common.

It's often a rather regional or technical term.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "das Gewann" in Detail

The word "Gewann" is a neuter noun (sächlich). It follows the strong declension pattern.

Declension

💡 Example Sentences

1. Der Bauer pflügte sein schmales Gewann am Waldrand.
   (The farmer plowed his narrow plot of land at the edge of the forest.)
2. Im alten Flurbuch ist jedes Gewann genau verzeichnet.
   (In the old land register, every parcel is precisely recorded.)
3. Die Erbengemeinschaft teilte das Feld in mehrere Gewanne auf.
   (The community of heirs divided the field into several plots.)
4. Dieses Gewann gehört seit Generationen unserer Familie.
   (This plot of land has belonged to our family for generations.)

✍️ How is "das Gewann" used?

The term das Gewann is not very common in everyday colloquial German. You mainly find it:

• In agriculture: To designate specific strips of fields or parts of fields.
• In land surveying and cadastre systems: As a synonym for Flurstück (plot) or Parzelle (parcel).
• In historical texts: To describe old land divisions (e.g., in three-field crop rotation).
• Regionally: The term is more familiar in some areas of Germany.

Compared to Feld (field) or Acker (acre, farmland), "Gewann" is more specific and often refers to a clearly defined part of a larger area. It emphasizes the shape (often elongated) or the ownership/usage boundary.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Article: Imagine das Auto (a neuter noun) winning (gewann - sounds like Gewann) a race on a special strip of land – das Gewann.

Meaning: Think of land that was "won" or acquired (gewonnen) through clearing or allocation in the past. A Gewann is thus a "won" piece of land.

↔️ Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Attention: "Der Gewinn" (profit, gain) is a completely different word and should not be confused, even though it sounds similar!

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat das Gewann immer gute Laune?
Weil es nie aus der Reihe tanzt, sondern immer schön in seiner Parzelle bleibt! 😉

(Why is the plot of land always in a good mood?
Because it never gets out of line, it always stays nicely within its parcel!)

📜 A Short Poem

Am Rande, schmal und lang,
liegt still das grüne Gewann.
Vom Ahnen einst erworben,
wo gute Saaten korben.
Ein Stückchen Heimatland,
fest in des Bauern Hand.

(At the edge, narrow and long,
lies quietly the green plot.
Acquired once by ancestors,
where good seeds yielded.
A small piece of homeland,
firmly in the farmer's hand.)

❓ A Little Riddle

Ich bin ein Streifen Land, oft schmal und lang,
im Kataster findet man meinen Rang.
Der Bauer kennt mich, pflügt mich Jahr für Jahr.
Mein Artikel ist sächlich, das ist sonnenklar.

Was bin ich?

(I am a strip of land, often narrow and long,
in the land register, you find my rank.
The farmer knows me, plows me year after year.
My article is neuter, that is crystal clear.)

What am I?

Solution: das Gewann

✨ Other Information

Etymology: The word "Gewann" derives from the Old High German word "giwan", meaning "to win" or "to acquire". It originally referred to a piece of land gained (gewonnen) through clearing or allocation.

Regional Variations: The exact meaning and usage can vary slightly by region (regionale Unterschiede).