das
Hospital
🏥 What exactly is a Hospital?
The German word Hospital (neuter gender, article das) refers to an institution for the medical treatment and care of the sick or injured. It is a synonym for Krankenhaus, but is used less frequently in modern German. It often has a slightly dated or more formal connotation, or refers to specific, sometimes historical, institutions.
⚠️ Attention: While das Hospital is neuter in German, its English counterpart 'hospital' uses 'the' or no article. The most common German equivalent is das Krankenhaus.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Many foreign words → mostly neutral.
There are many foreign words, we won't list them all.
-al → mostly neutral.
Exceptions: -aal nouns are always masculine.
📖 Grammar of 'das Hospital' in Detail
The noun Hospital is neuter. Here are the declension tables:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das | Hospital |
| Genitive | des | Hospitals |
| Dative | dem | Hospital |
| Accusative | das | Hospital |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Hospitäler / Hospitale |
| Genitive | der | Hospitäler / Hospitale |
| Dative | den | Hospitälern / Hospitalen |
| Accusative | die | Hospitäler / Hospitale |
Note: The plural form Hospitäler is more common than Hospitale.
📝 Example Sentences
- Das alte Hospital am Stadtrand wird bald renoviert. (The old hospital on the outskirts of town will soon be renovated.)
- Die Versorgung im örtlichen Hospital ist ausgezeichnet. (The care at the local hospital is excellent.)
- Viele historische Städte haben noch Gebäude, die einst als Hospital dienten. (Many historic cities still have buildings that once served as hospitals.)
- Man brachte den Verletzten sofort ins nächste Hospital. (They immediately took the injured person to the nearest hospital.)
🗣️ How to use 'Hospital'?
Das Hospital is used less often today than das Krankenhaus. Its usage might imply specific contexts:
- Historical Context: Often refers to older institutions, e.g., medieval hospitals that also accommodated pilgrims.
- Formal Language: Sometimes found in more formal or literary texts.
- Specific Institutions: Some institutions still have 'Hospital' in their name, often due to tradition (e.g., the former Bürgerhospital).
- Veterinary Clinics: Occasionally, the term is used for animal clinics (Tierhospital), although 'Tierklinik' is more common.
In everyday language, das Krankenhaus is the standard term for a modern medical facility of this kind.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
For the article 'das': Think of 'das Haus' (the house). A Hospital is also a kind of building, albeit a special one. Maybe the 's' sounds in Hospital and Haus help? Or: Remember it's a neutral 'das' building for medical cases.
For the meaning: Imagine a host providing hospitality in a special building ('Spital' is an older German word for hospital) for the sick. Host + Spital = Hospital (a place of hospitality for the sick).
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Krankenhaus: The most common word for hospital.
- Klinik / Klinikum: Often used for specialized facilities or university hospitals.
- Spital: Rather dated or regional (e.g., common in Switzerland, Austria).
- Heilanstalt: Archaic, often used for psychiatric or pulmonary clinics in the past.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Zuhause / Daheim: Home, place of health or recovery after hospital.
- Gesundheitszentrum: Health center, often focuses more on prevention and outpatient care.
- Arbeitsplatz / Schule: Workplace / School, places of daily life, not acute care.
Words that might cause confusion:
😄 A Little Joke
Warum nehmen Skelette keine Erkältungsmittel im Hospital ein?
Weil sie keine Körper haben, durch die etwas laufen könnte! 💀
--- Translation ---
Why don't skeletons take cold medicine in the hospital?
Because they have no body to run it through! 💀
📜 A Short Poem about the Hospital
Ein Haus, nicht heimelig und traut,
das Hospital, wo man auf Hilfe baut.
Mit weißen Kitteln, leisem Schritt,
nimmt man die Kranken sorgsam mit.
Heilung das Ziel, Linderung der Schmerz,
ein Ort der Hoffnung tief im Herz.
--- Translation ---
A house, not cozy, not like home,
The hospital, where folks for help will roam.
With white coats moving, steps so light,
They take the sick and care with might.
Healing the goal, easing the pain,
A place of hope in heart's domain.
❓ Little Riddle
Ich habe Betten, aber schlafe nicht.
Ich habe viele Gäste, doch lade nicht.
Ärzte und Pfleger gehen ein und aus,
man nennt mich oft auch Krankenhaus.
Was bin ich?
Lösung: Das Hospital
--- Translation ---
I have beds, but I don't sleep.
I have many guests, but don't invite them to keep.
Doctors and nurses walk in and out my door,
I'm often called 'Krankenhaus' and more.
What am I?
Solution: The Hospital
💡 More Trivia
Word Origin (Etymology): The word Hospital comes from the Middle Latin word hospitāle, meaning 'inn' or 'guesthouse'. This, in turn, derives from the Latin hospes ('guest', 'stranger', but also 'host'). Historically, hospitals were often intended not only for the sick but also for pilgrims, the poor, and travelers.
Compounds: You can still find the word in compounds like Feldhospital (field hospital, military) or Tierhospital (animal hospital).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Hospital?
The German word Hospital is neuter, so the correct article is das Hospital. It refers to an institution for nursing the sick, but is less common than das Krankenhaus.