das  Gewitter

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɡəˈvɪtɐ/

⛈️ What does "das Gewitter" mean?

Das Gewitter (noun, neuter) refers to a meteorological phenomenon characterized by electrical discharges (Blitze - lightning) and acoustic phenomena (Donner - thunder). It typically occurs in conjunction with cumulonimbus clouds and is often accompanied by heavy rain (starker Regen), hail (Hagel), and/or squalls (Sturmböen).

There is only one article for this word: "das".

Article rules for der, die, and das

The Grammar of "das Gewitter"

"Gewitter" is a noun of neuter gender (sächlich). Here are the declension tables:

💡 Example Sentences

1. Im Sommer gibt es oft heftige Gewitter. (In summer, there are often severe thunderstorms.)
2. Das Gewitter zog schnell über die Stadt hinweg. (The thunderstorm quickly passed over the city.)
3. Wir suchten Schutz vor dem Gewitter. (We sought shelter from the thunderstorm.)
4. Die Folgen des Gewitters waren überall sichtbar. (The consequences of the thunderstorm were visible everywhere.)

🗣️ How to use "Gewitter"

• Weather forecast (Wetterbericht): "Für den Nachmittag sind lokale Gewitter vorhergesagt." (Local thunderstorms are predicted for the afternoon.)
• Everyday language (Alltagssprache): "Gestern Abend gab es ein schlimmes Gewitter mit Hagel." (Last night, there was a bad thunderstorm with hail.)
• Descriptions: "Der Himmel verdunkelte sich, ein Gewitter zog auf." (The sky darkened, a thunderstorm was approaching.)
• Figurative meaning (seldom): Sometimes used metaphorically for a heated argument or emotional outburst, but Sturm (storm) or Unwetter (severe weather) are more common here. Example: "Nach seiner Aussage gab es ein politisches Gewitter." (After his statement, there was a political storm/uproar.)

It's often combined with adjectives like heftig (severe), stark (strong), plötzlich (sudden), and verbs like aufziehen (to approach/gather), losbrechen (to break out).

🧠 Mnemonics for "das Gewitter"

For the article "das": Think of "das Wetter" (the weather). Many weather phenomena in German are neuter, like das Wetter, das Klima (climate), das Hoch (high-pressure system), das Tief (low-pressure system), and also das Gewitter. It's THE big spectacle (das Spektakel) in the sky.

For the meaning: Imagine the weather GETS WITTY (Gewitter sounds a bit like 'gets witty') during a thunderstorm, playing tricks with lightning and thunder. Or think of the GE- prefix indicating a collection, and 'Wetter' meaning weather – a collection of intense weather events.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words:

• Das Wetter: The general state of the atmosphere.
• Der Blitz: The electrical discharge itself (lightning).
• Der Donner: The sound of the lightning (thunder).

😄 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Blitz den Donner: "Warum brüllst du immer so laut?" Sagt der Donner: "Na, damit die Leute nicht übersehen, was für einen tollen Auftritt du gerade hingelegt hast!"

English Translation: The lightning asks the thunder: "Why do you always roar so loudly?" The thunder says: "Well, so that people don't miss what a great entrance you just made!"

📜 Poem about the Thunderstorm

German:
Der Himmel grau, die Luft steht still,
Ein Grollen fern, das kommen will.
Dann zuckt ein Blitz, so grell und klar,
Das Gewitter ist nun endlich da.
Der Donner folgt mit lautem Krach,
Der Regen prasselt auf das Dach.
Ein Schauspiel wild, voll Kraft und Macht,
Bevor die Ruhe kehrt zur Nacht.

English Translation:
The sky is grey, the air stands still,
A distant rumble, that wants to come near.
Then flashes lightning, so bright and clear,
The thunderstorm is finally here.
The thunder follows with a loud crack,
The rain patters upon the roof track.
A spectacle wild, full of power and might,
Before calm returns into the night.

❓ Riddle Time

German:
Ich komme mit Blitz und mit Krach,
Bring Regen oft übers Dach.
Manchmal auch Hagel, kalt und rund,
Tu' meine Ankunft lautstark kund.

Was bin ich?

English Translation:
I come with lightning and with crash,
Often bring rain over the roof in a dash.
Sometimes hail too, cold and round,
I announce my arrival with a loud sound.

What am I?

Solution: Das Gewitter (The thunderstorm)

✨ Other Interesting Facts

Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung): "Gewitter" is composed of the collective prefix "Ge-" (like in Gebirge - mountains, Gewässer - bodies of water), which indicates a collection or intensification, and the word "Wetter" (weather). So, a Gewitter is essentially an intense collection of weather events (lightning, thunder, rain, etc.).

Fear of Thunderstorms (Angst vor Gewittern): The fear of thunderstorms is called Astraphobia.