das  Nachbarhaus

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈnaːxbaːɐ̯ˌhaʊ̯s/

What does 'das Nachbarhaus' mean? 🏡

The German word das Nachbarhaus simply means the house next door or the house belonging to the neighbor. It refers to the building immediately adjacent to or very close to one's own house.

It's a compound noun formed from:

• der Nachbar (male neighbor) / die Nachbarin (female neighbor)
• das Haus (house)

Because the second part of the word is 'das Haus', the compound word takes its neuter article 'das'. There are no other meanings or articles for this word. Simple, right? 😊

A closer look at the grammar of das Nachbarhaus 🧐

Das Nachbarhaus is a neuter noun. Its declension follows the standard pattern for neuter nouns, similar to 'das Haus'.

Example Sentences

1. Das Nachbarhaus wird gerade renoviert. (The neighbor's house is currently being renovated.)
2. Der Ball flog über den Zaun in den Garten des Nachbarhauses. (The ball flew over the fence into the garden of the neighbor's house.)
3. Wir haben unseren neuen Nachbarn im Nachbarhaus besucht. (We visited our new neighbors in the house next door.)
4. Ich kann das bunte Dach des Nachbarhauses von meinem Fenster aus sehen. (I can see the colorful roof of the neighbor's house from my window.)
5. Die Kinder spielen oft mit den Kindern aus den umliegenden Nachbarhäusern. (The children often play with the children from the neighboring houses.)

How and when to use 'das Nachbarhaus'? 🤔

Das Nachbarhaus is used in everyday language to refer to the house situated directly next to one's own or nearby. It's a very common and straightforward word.

• Context: Conversations about the neighborhood, giving directions, talking about local events.
• Comparison:
  • Nebenhaus (das): A synonym, often interchangeable, but sometimes less specifically implying ownership by 'the neighbor'.
  • Haus nebenan: A common descriptive phrase meaning exactly the same thing ('house next door').
  • Eigenheim/eigenes Haus (das): The opposite – the house one lives in ('own home').

It's mostly used to express a spatial relationship: "Der Lärm kam aus dem Nachbarhaus." (The noise came from the neighbor's house.) Or to indicate possession: "Das ist das Nachbarhaus von Familie Müller." (That is the Müller family's house next door.)

Memory aids for das Nachbarhaus 🧠

Article Mnemonic: Focus on the core of the word: das Haus (the house). Just like the individual house, the Nachbarhaus is neuter. Think: 'The house next door is also just das Haus.' It's neutral territory!

Meaning Mnemonic: Break it down: Nachbar (neighbor) + Haus (house). It logically means the neighbor's house. Super simple!

Similar and opposite terms ↔️

⚠️ Careful: Don't confuse it with 'Nachbarschaft' (neighborhood) or 'Nachbar'/'Nachbarin' (the person/neighbor).

A little joke on the topic 😄

Fragt der eine Nachbar den anderen: "Warum streichen Sie Ihr Haus denn in Regenbogenfarben?"

Sagt der andere: "Damit die Leute nicht immer sagen, mein Haus sei grau und langweilig wie das Nachbarhaus!" 😉

Translation:

One neighbor asks the other: "Why are you painting your house in rainbow colors?"

The other replies: "So that people don't always say my house is gray and boring like the neighbor's house!" 😉

A little poem ✍️

Das Nachbarhaus, so nah, so klar,
steht gleich nebenan, Jahr für Jahr.
Mal laut, mal leis', mal Licht, mal Schatten,
man teilt den Zaun, die Blumenmatten.
Manchmal winkt man rüber, sagt 'Hallo!',
So ist das Leben nebenan, sowieso.

Translation:

The neighbor's house, so near, so clear,
stands right next door, year after year.
Sometimes loud, sometimes quiet, light, then shadows,
one shares the fence, the flower meadows.
Sometimes a wave across, a 'Hello!',
That's life next door, just how it goes.

Who or what am I? 🤔

Ich steh' direkt neben dir, Wand an Wand,
bin nicht dein eigen, doch bekannt im Land.
Mal grün, mal blau, mal alt, mal neu,
wer wohnt da drin? Rate mal treu!

Was bin ich? (Lösung/Solution: das Nachbarhaus)

Translation:

I stand right beside you, wall to wall,
Not your own, but known to all.
Sometimes green, sometimes blue, sometimes old, sometimes new,
Who lives inside? Guess now, be true!

What am I? (Answer: the neighbor's house)

Trivia and Word Structure 🧩

Word Composition:

The word 'Nachbarhaus' is a classic example of a German compound noun (Kompositum). It's composed of:

• der Nachbar: The neighbor (male or generally).
• das Haus: The house.

The gender of the compound noun is typically determined by the last component (the 'Grundwort' or base word). Since 'Haus' is neuter ('das Haus'), 'Nachbarhaus' is also neuter ('das Nachbarhaus').

Cultural Note: The relationship with the 'Nachbarhaus' and its inhabitants is often a significant part of social life, especially in residential areas and villages in German-speaking countries.