das
Kreisen
🔄 What does „das Kreisen“ mean?
„Das Kreisen“ is the nominalization (making a noun) of the verb „kreisen“ (to circle, revolve, rotate, circulate). It describes the action or state of moving in a circle or circulating. It always uses the article „das“ because all nominalized verbs in German are neuter (sächlich).
Possible meanings include:
- Moving in a circle: The physical act of turning or rotating around a center point (e.g., Planeten um die Sonne - planets around the sun, ein Vogel am Himmel - a bird in the sky).
- Circulation: Flowing within a closed system (e.g., das Kreisen des Blutes - the circulation of blood).
- Rumination / Overthinking: Repeatedly thinking about the same topics or worries, often without reaching a solution (e.g., das Kreisen der Gedanken - the circling of thoughts).
⚠️ It's an abstract noun describing the process itself.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Deverbal nouns → immer neutral.
These are nouns derived from verbs. They are also called Verbalsubstantive or Verbalnomen.
Deverbal nouns → immer neutral.
These are nouns derived from verbs. They are also called Verbalsubstantive or Verbalnomen.
🧐 Grammar of „das Kreisen“ in Detail
„Das Kreisen“ is a nominalized verb (from the infinitive „kreisen“) and is therefore always neuter (Neutrum). It is generally only used in the singular, as it describes a process or state.
Declension (Singular):
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das | Kreisen |
| Genitive | des | Kreisens |
| Dative | dem | Kreisen |
| Accusative | das | Kreisen |
Note: A plural form („die Kreisen“) is grammatically unusual and practically never used.
Examples for clarification:
- Das ständige Kreisen der Gedanken machte ihn müde. (The constant circling of thoughts made him tired.)
- Er beobachtete das Kreisen der Planeten. (He observed the revolving of the planets.)
- Die Ursache des Schwindels lag im Kreisen des Blutes. (The cause of the dizziness lay in the circulation of the blood. - Dative, rather rare, often with preposition)
- Trotz des unaufhörlichen Kreisens fand er keine Ruhe. (Despite the incessant circling, he found no peace. - Genitive)
💡 How to use „das Kreisen“?
„Das Kreisen“ is used to describe the act of moving in a circle or circulating. Typical contexts include:
- Astronomie/Physik (Astronomy/Physics): Das Kreisen von Himmelskörpern (The revolution of celestial bodies).
- Biologie/Medizin (Biology/Medicine): Das Kreisen des Blutes (The circulation of blood) or other fluids.
- Psychologie (Psychology): Das Kreisen der Gedanken (The circling of thoughts), often with negative connotations like rumination.
- Alltagssprache (Everyday language): Describing a repetitive, often aimless movement or action.
It is often more abstract than, for example, „die Drehung“ (the turn/rotation, which describes a single, often faster movement) or „der Umlauf“ (the orbit/circulation, which often emphasizes a complete circuit).
🧠 Mnemonics for „das Kreisen“
For the article: Remember that verbs turned into nouns (nominalized infinitives) in German are always neuter, taking das. Think: das Laufen (running), das Schwimmen (swimming), das Essen (eating) – and therefore also das Kreisen.
For the meaning: Imagine something endlessly going 'round in a Kreis (circle). The sound 'kreis' might remind you of 'crisis' when thoughts are kreisen (circling) endlessly.
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms for „das Kreisen“
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Die Rotation: Often technical, emphasizes turning on an axis.
- Der Umlauf: Emphasizes movement in an orbit around something.
- Die Zirkulation: Usually refers to fluids in a system (e.g., blood circulation).
- Das Herumirren / Das Umherwandern (der Gedanken): Similar to the concept of thoughts circling aimlessly.
- Das Drehen: A more general term for a rotational movement.
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Der Stillstand: Standstill, no movement.
- Die Geradlinigkeit / Linearität: Movement in a straight line.
- Die Ruhe: Calmness, absence of movement or circling thoughts.
- Die Zielgerichtetheit: Purposefulness, movement or thought with a clear goal (opposite of aimless circling).
😄 A little joke
Warum wurde dem Planeten schwindelig? Wegen des ständigen Kreisens um die Sonne!
(Why did the planet get dizzy? Because of the constant circling around the sun!)
✍️ Poem about Circling
Ein Gedanke fängt zu wandern an,
(A thought begins to wander,)
zieht leis' im Kopf die nächste Bahn.
(Quietly traces the next path in the head.)
Ein stetes Kreisen, ohne Halt,
(A constant circling, without stopping,)
macht innen müde, außen kalt.
(Makes one tired inside, cold outside.)
Wie Blut, das fließt, wie Sterne zieh'n,
(Like blood that flows, like stars that move,)
lässt dieses Kreisen uns nie flieh'n.
(This circling never lets us flee.)
Mal sanft, mal wild, mal klar, mal trüb,
(Sometimes gentle, sometimes wild, sometimes clear, sometimes cloudy,)
des Lebens endloser Umschwung, lieb.
(Life's endless turning, dear.)
❓ Little Riddle
Ich habe keinen Anfang und kein End',
(I have no beginning and no end,)
bin Bewegung, die man endlos kennt.
(Am movement that is known endlessly.)
Mal im Kopf, mal im All so weit,
(Sometimes in the head, sometimes far in space,)
ich bin die Schwester der Ewigkeit.
(I am the sister of eternity.)
Was bin ich?
(What am I?)
Answer: Das Kreisen (Circling/Revolving/Circulation)
🧩 Other Information
Wortbildung (Word Formation):
„Das Kreisen“ is a typical example of nominalization in German. This involves taking the infinitive of a verb (here: kreisen), capitalizing it, and using the neuter article „das“. This is a very productive way of forming words in German to refer to actions or processes as nouns.
Its origin lies in the word „Kreis“ (der Kreis - the circle), referring to a round shape.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Kreisen?
The word „Kreisen“ is the nominalization of the verb „kreisen“ and therefore always takes the article das: das Kreisen. It describes the process of moving in a circle, circulation, or repetitive thinking.