das  Inland

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈɪnlant/

🗺️ What does "das Inland" mean?

Das Inland means the domestic territory or one's own country, as opposed to das Ausland (foreign countries/abroad). It refers to the area within the national borders.

• It's a noun and takes the article das (neuter).
• It's often used in contexts like travel, politics, economics, and postal services.
• 🚨 There are no different meanings based on different articles for "Inland", as it only uses "das".

📐 Grammar in Detail: Das Inland

"Inland" is a neuter noun. It is mostly used in the singular, often without an article or with the definite article "das", especially when contrasted with "das Ausland". The plural form referring to the territory itself is uncommon (die Inländer refers to people, not the territory).

Declension (Singular):

Note: The Genitive and Dative forms ending in "-e" (Inlande) are less common and can sound more formal or dated.

Example Sentences

1. Wir verbringen unseren Urlaub dieses Jahr im Inland.
   (We are spending our vacation domestically this year.)
2. Die Produkte werden im Inland hergestellt.
   (The products are manufactured domestically / in the country.)
3. Der Inlandsgeheimdienst beobachtet extremistische Gruppen im Inland.
   (The domestic intelligence service monitors extremist groups within the country.)
4. Briefe ins Inland sind günstiger als ins Ausland.
   (Letters within the country are cheaper than those going abroad.)
5. Das Bruttoinlandsprodukt misst die Wirtschaftsleistung des Inlandes.
   (The Gross Domestic Product measures the economic output of the country.)

💡 Usage in Context

"Das Inland" is typically used in the following contexts:

• Travel & Tourism: To describe travel within one's own country borders (e.g., Inlandsflug - domestic flight, Urlaub im Inland - vacation within the country).
• Economy & Trade: To distinguish between domestic and foreign markets, products, or investments (e.g., Inlandsmarkt - domestic market, Inlandsnachfrage - domestic demand).
• Politics & Administration: When referring to internal state affairs (e.g., Inlandsgeheimdienst - domestic intelligence agency, Inlandspolitik - domestic policy).
• Post & Communication: For mail or shipments staying within the country (e.g., Porto Inland - domestic postage).

Contrast: The clear opposite of "das Inland" is "das Ausland" (foreign country/abroad).

⚠️ Sometimes "Binnenland" is used synonymously, but "Binnenland" can also specifically refer to a landlocked country.

🧠 Mnemonics

For the article 'das': Think of "das Land" (the country/land). "Inland" is simply in this "Land". Countries in German are often neuter, so das Land -> das Inland.

For the meaning: "Inland" sounds like "in the land". It refers to what's inside the borders of one's own country, not outside.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar, potentially confusing words:

• Inländer/in (der/die): Refers to a person living in the country or a citizen (a domestic resident), not the territory itself.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Grenzbeamte: "Reisen Sie ins Ausland?"
Antwortet der Tourist: "Nein, ich komme gerade aus dem Ausland zurück ins Inland. Ich hatte nur vergessen, wo das genau anfängt!"

Translation:
The border guard asks: "Are you traveling abroad?"
The tourist replies: "No, I'm just coming back from abroad to home. I just forgot where exactly 'home' starts!"

📜 Poem about 'das Inland'

Das Inland, so vertraut und nah,
liegt hier, nicht fern, ganz wunderbar.
Von Nord nach Süd, von Ost nach West,
hält es die Grenzen für uns fest.

Kein Pass wird hier von uns verlangt,
wenn man durch deutsche Städte bangt?
Nein, frei bewegt man sich im Land,
das man als Inland hat erkannt.

Rough Translation:
The homeland, so familiar and near,
lies here, not far, quite wonderful dear.
From North to South, from East to West,
it holds the borders for us, put to the test.

No passport here is asked of us,
when through German cities we make a fuss?
No, freely one moves within the land,
that one as 'Inland' has understand.

🧩 Riddle

Ich bin das Gegenteil von fern,
hab meine eig'nen Grenzen gern.
Reist du in mir, brauchst du kein Visum meist,
weil du innerhalb meiner Grenzen reist.

Was bin ich?

Translation:
I am the opposite of far away,
I like my own borders, I must say.
If you travel within me, no visa you need claim,
because within my borders you remain.

What am I?

Solution: das Inland

✨ Other Information

Word Composition:

The word "Inland" is composed of:

• in: (preposition meaning 'in' or 'inside')
• Land (das): (noun meaning 'country' or 'land')

Typical Compound Words with "Inland":

• Inlandsflug (der): A domestic flight.
• Inlandsmarkt (der): The domestic market.
• Inlandsporto (das): Domestic postage rate.
• Inlandsgeheimdienst (der): Domestic intelligence service.