das
Panorama
🖼️ What exactly is 'das Panorama'?
The German word das Panorama (noun, neuter) primarily has two meanings:
Wide view: A comprehensive, wide view of a landscape or cityscape, often from an elevated viewpoint. You might talk about a Bergpanorama (mountain panorama), Stadtpanorama (city panorama), or Alpenpanorama (Alpine panorama).
Wide-format depiction: An artistic representation (painting, photograph) showing such a wide view, often in a wide format. A comprehensive overview of a topic or time period can also be called a Panorama (e.g., ein Panorama der modernen Literatur - a panorama of modern literature).
There is only one article for this word: das. It's a loanword from Greek.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Many foreign words → mostly neutral.
There are many foreign words, we won't list them all.
-ma → mostly neutral.
🧐 Grammar under the microscope: Das Panorama
The noun 'Panorama' is neuter (sächlich) and uses the article das.
Declension (Deklination):
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das | Panorama |
| Genitive | des | Panoramas |
| Dative | dem | Panorama |
| Accusative | das | Panorama |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Panoramen / Panoramas |
| Genitive | der | Panoramen / Panoramas |
| Dative | den | Panoramen / Panoramas |
| Accusative | die | Panoramen / Panoramas |
Note: Both plural forms are used, but 'Panoramen' is more common.
Example Sentences (Beispielsätze)
- Von diesem Turm hat man ein wunderbares Panorama der Stadt.
(From this tower, you have a wonderful panorama of the city.) - Der Fotograf erstellte ein beeindruckendes Panorama der Bergkette.
(The photographer created an impressive panorama of the mountain range.) - Im Museum wurde ein historisches Panorama von Berlin ausgestellt.
(A historical panorama of Berlin was exhibited in the museum.) - Das Buch bietet ein umfassendes Panorama der Ereignisse des letzten Jahrhunderts.
(The book offers a comprehensive panorama of the events of the last century.)
🏞️ When to use 'das Panorama'?
The term 'das Panorama' is used in various contexts:
- Travel & Nature: Very common for describing views from mountains, towers, or viewpoints. (e.g., "Das Alpenpanorama war atemberaubend." - The Alpine panorama was breathtaking.)
- Art & Photography: To describe wide-format pictures or paintings. (e.g., "Er ist bekannt für seine Stadtpanoramen." - He is known for his city panoramas.)
- Figurative meaning: To provide a comprehensive overview of a topic, era, or situation. (e.g., "Der Film zeichnet ein düsteres Panorama der Nachkriegszeit." - The film paints a bleak panorama of the post-war era.)
It's a slightly more elevated word but is also used in everyday language, especially regarding travel and views.
🧠 Mnemonics for 'das Panorama'
For the article 'das': Think of 'das picture' (das Bild) or 'das painting' (das Gemälde). A Panorama is often like a large picture, and 'Bild' is neuter (das). So: das Panorama. Alternatively, neuter nouns in German often end in '-a' when they are loanwords (like das Thema, das Drama) - Panorama fits this pattern.
For the meaning: 'Panorama' sounds a bit like 'Pan around'. Imagine you 'pan around' with your eyes or a camera to take in the wide view. That helps remember the 'wide view' aspect.
↔️ Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Aussicht: (View) General term for what one sees.
- Ausblick: (Outlook, view) Similar to Aussicht, often from a window or specific point.
- Rundblick / Rundsicht: (Panoramic view, round view) Emphasizes the 360-degree perspective.
- Überblick: (Overview) Often used figuratively for a summary or general view.
- Weitblick: (Vista, far-sightedness) Emphasizes the distance of the view.
- Gesamtbild: (Overall picture) More often used figuratively.
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Detail / Detailansicht: (Detail / Detailed view) Focus on a small section.
- Nahaufnahme: (Close-up) Focus on something near.
- Ausschnitt: (Section, excerpt) Only a part of a larger whole.
- Tunnelblick: (Tunnel vision) Restricted view (often metaphorical).
😂 A little joke
Warum hat der Fotograf sein Stativ mit auf den Berg genommen?
Damit das Panorama nicht verwackelt und eine ruhige Aussicht hat!
Translation:
Why did the photographer take his tripod up the mountain?
So that the panorama wouldn't shake and would have a steady view! (A pun on 'ruhige Aussicht' meaning both 'calm/steady view' and figuratively 'peaceful outlook')
📜 Poem about a Panorama
Von hoher Zinne schweift der Blick,
Ein weites Land, welch ein Glück.
Berg und Tal und Fluss so klar,
Das Panorama, wunderbar.
Ein Bild, gemalt von Meisterhand,
Das schönste in dem ganzen Land.
Translation:
From lofty battlement, the gaze does roam,
A wide land unfolds, a lucky home.
Mountain, valley, river so clear,
The Panorama, wonderfully dear.
A picture painted by a master's hand,
The fairest in the entire land.
❓ Riddle Time
Ich zeige dir die Welt ganz weit,
Von Bergeshöh' zur Himmelsbreit'.
Bin oft gemalt, oft fotografiert,
Ein breiter Blick, der dich berührt.
Was bin ich?... Das Panorama
Translation:
I show you the world so wide,
From mountain heights to heaven's stride.
I'm often painted, often shot by lens,
A broad view that touches your sense.
What am I?
... The Panorama
🌐 More Fun Facts
Word Origin (Wortherkunft): The word 'Panorama' comes from Greek. It combines pan (πᾶν), meaning 'all', and hórāma (ὅραμα), meaning 'sight' or 'view'. It was coined in the late 18th century by the Irish painter Robert Barker, who used it to describe his large-scale circular paintings.
Panorama Paintings (Panoramabilder): Historical panoramas were often huge circular paintings displayed in special buildings (rotundas), designed to give viewers the feeling of being right in the middle of the scene depicted.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Panorama?
The word 'Panorama' is always neuter, so the correct article is das. It refers to a wide view or a wide-format depiction (like a picture or an overview).