das
Journal
📖 What exactly is 'das Journal'?
The German word das Journal (neuter noun) has several meanings:
- Diary or Logbook: A chronological record of events, observations, or thoughts. Often personal (Tagebuch) or factual (e.g., Bordjournal on a ship, Laborjournal - lab notebook).
- Academic Journal or Periodical: A regularly published scholarly or specialized publication (Fachzeitschrift).
- (Business/Accounting) Daybook or Ledger: A book in accounting where all business transactions are recorded chronologically (Grundbuch or Hauptbuch).
It's a loanword from French (journal), originally meaning 'daily' (from Latin diurnalis).
Article rules for der, die, and das
Books, documents → mostly neutral.
Caution: see exceptions
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 Journal'
Das Journal is a neuter noun. Here is its declension:
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das | ein | Journal |
| Genitive | des | eines | Journals |
| Dative | dem | einem | Journal |
| Accusative | das | ein | Journal |
| Case | Definite Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Journale |
| Genitive | der | Journale |
| Dative | den | Journalen |
| Accusative | die | Journale |
Example Sentences
- Im Journal notierte der Kapitän die Wetterbedingungen. (In the journal/logbook, the captain noted the weather conditions. - Meaning: Logbook)
- Dieses wissenschaftliche Journal veröffentlicht vierteljährlich neue Forschungsergebnisse. (This scientific journal publishes new research findings quarterly. - Meaning: Academic Journal)
- Alle Buchungen müssen zuerst im Journal erfasst werden. (All entries must first be recorded in the journal/ledger. - Meaning: Ledger)
- Sie führt seit Jahren ein persönliches Journal über ihre Reisen. (She has kept a personal journal about her travels for years. - Meaning: Diary)
💡 How to use 'das Journal'?
The use of das Journal strongly depends on the context:
- In a personal context, it's often a synonym for Tagebuch (diary), sometimes more formal or focused (e.g., Traumjournal - dream journal, Dankbarkeitsjournal - gratitude journal).
- In scientific and academic settings, it clearly refers to Fachzeitschriften (academic journals). It's an established technical term here.
- In shipping, aviation, or research, it denotes a Logbuch (logbook) for documentation.
- In business / accounting, it's the Grundbuch (daybook) or Hauptbuch (ledger).
Distinction from similar words:
- Die Zeitschrift: A more general term for regularly published periodicals, often for entertainment or broader topics than a scientific *Journal*.
- Das Tagebuch: Usually more personal and intimate than a factual *Journal/Logbuch*.
Although it has multiple meanings, the context usually makes it clear which one is intended.
🧠 Mnemonics for 'das Journal'
Article Mnemonic: Think of 'the record' or 'the book'. In German, similar concepts like 'das Protokoll' (the protocol/minutes) or 'das Buch' (the book) are neuter ('das'). Das Journal fits this pattern as a type of written record or book.
Meaning Mnemonic: The French word 'Jour' means 'day'. A Journal is something 'daily' or regular – like a diary (Tagebuch), daily entries in a ledger (Hauptbuch), or a regularly (though not always daily) appearing academic journal (Fachzeitschrift).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- For diary/logbook: das Tagebuch (diary), das Logbuch (logbook), die Aufzeichnung (record), das Protokoll (protocol, minutes)
- For academic journal: die Fachzeitschrift (specialist journal), das Periodikum (periodical), die Publikation (publication)
- For ledger: das Grundbuch (daybook), das Hauptbuch (ledger)
Antonyms (Indirect)
- Mündliche Überlieferung (oral tradition - as opposed to written record)
- Roman or Belletristik (novel or fiction - as opposed to a factual academic journal)
- Unordnung (disorder) or fehlende Buchführung (lack of accounting - as opposed to an orderly ledger)
⚠️ Similar Words
Der Journalismus (journalism): Refers to the activity of researching and publishing news and information, not the *Journal* itself.
Der Journalist / Die Journalistin (journalist): The person working in journalism.
😄 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Buchhalter immer kalte Hände?
Weil er den ganzen Tag mit nackten Zahlen im Journal arbeitet!
(Why does the accountant always have cold hands?
Because he works with naked numbers/figures in the journal all day!)
✍️ Poem about 'das Journal'
Das Journal, sächlich, klar,
hält fest, was täglich war.
Im Labor, auf hoher See,
tut's als Logbuch nicht weh.
Als Fachblatt klug und schlau,
macht Wissen sichtbar, grau für grau.
Und in der Firma, Zahl um Zahl,
ist's im Geschäft zentral.
(The Journal, neuter, clear,
records what happened daily, year by year.
In the lab, or on the high sea,
as a logbook, it causes no plea.)
(As a journal, smart and wise,
makes knowledge visible before our eyes.
And in the company, number by number,
it's central to business, without slumber.)
🧩 Little Riddle
Ich habe Blätter, doch kein Baum.
Ich spreche Fakten, selten Traum.
Mal bin ich persönlich, mal ganz exakt,
mal voller Zahlen, im Geschäftstakt.
Mal les' mich Forscher, mal ein Kapitän.
Ich bin sächlich, wer kann mich verstehen?
(I have leaves, but I'm not a tree.
I speak of facts, rarely fantasy.
Sometimes I'm personal, sometimes exact,
sometimes full of numbers, a business tract.
Sometimes read by researchers, sometimes a captain.
I am neuter, who am I then?)
Solution: das Journal
🌐 Other Information
Etymology
Das Journal comes from the French word journal, which in turn derives from Late Latin diurnalis ('daily'), derived from Latin dies ('day'). The original meaning thus referred to daily records.
Compound Words
There are several compound words with 'Journal', e.g.:
- das Bordjournal (logbook on a ship or aircraft)
- das Fachjournal (academic or technical journal)
- das Laborjournal (lab notebook)
- das Finanzjournal (journal about financial topics)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Journal?
The correct article for Journal is das. It is a neuter noun and, depending on the context, can mean a diary/logbook, an academic journal/periodical, or a ledger in accounting.