das  Pentagon

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈpɛntəɡɔn/

🏛️📐 What exactly is "das Pentagon"?

The German word Pentagon has two main meanings, but it always uses the article das:

• Geometric Shape: A pentagon (ein Fünfeck), a geometric figure with five corners (fünf Ecken) and five sides (fünf Seiten).
• Building/Institution: The headquarters of the United States Department of Defense (das Verteidigungsministerium der Vereinigten Staaten) in Arlington, Virginia. The name comes from the pentagonal shape of the building. Often, "das Pentagon" is used metonymically for the US Department of Defense itself or its leadership.

🚨 It's important to consider the context to understand the intended meaning. As it's a loanword from Greek (via English), it mostly retains its original form and the neuter article in German.

🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Das Pentagon

The word "Pentagon" is a noun of neuter gender (sächlich). It always takes the article das.

💡 Example Sentences

1. Der Architekt zeichnete ein perfektes Pentagon auf den Plan.
   (The architect drew a perfect pentagon on the plan.)
2. Die Entscheidung wurde im Pentagon getroffen.
   (The decision was made in the Pentagon.)
3. Im Mathematikunterricht lernen wir, wie man Pentagone konstruiert.
   (In math class, we learn how to construct pentagons.)
4. Ein Sprecher des Pentagons gab eine Erklärung ab.
   (A spokesperson for the Pentagon issued a statement.)

🗣️ How to use "das Pentagon"?

The use of das Pentagon strongly depends on the context:

• In mathematical or geometric contexts, it clearly refers to the five-sided shape (das Fünfeck).
• In news reports, political discussions, or conversations about the US military, it refers to the building or the institution of the US Department of Defense.

It's an established loanword and generally understood. There are no common pitfalls or frequent mistakes in its usage, except perhaps confusing it with other geometric shapes if one is not careful, which is rare.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

• Mnemonic for the Article (das):

  Think of das Gebäude (the building) or das geometrische Gebilde (the geometric structure) – both are neuter concepts in German, hence 'das' Pentagon.

• Mnemonic for the Meaning:

  Penta sounds like 'five' in Greek. A pentagon has five corners, just like the famous building in the USA gets its shape.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ There aren't really common words easily confused with "Pentagon", other than perhaps other geometric terms if one isn't paying attention.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum treffen sich Mathematiker nie im Pentagon?

Weil sie Angst haben, in zu viele Ecken gedrängt zu werden! 😉

(Why do mathematicians never meet at the Pentagon?
Because they're afraid of getting cornered too much!)

✍️ Poem about the Pentagon

Fünf Ecken hat's, ganz akkurat,
Ein Stern oft in der Mitte trat.
Mal Form, mal Haus mit ernstem Sinn,
Das Pentagon steckt beides drin.
In Mathe zählt man Seit' an Seit',
In Washington steht's weit und breit.

(It has five corners, quite precise,
A star often appeared in its midst.
Sometimes shape, sometimes house with serious sense,
Das Pentagon contains both.
In math, you count side by side,
In Washington, it stands far and wide.)

❓ Little Riddle

Ich habe fünf Ecken, doch kein Tier.
Ich bin ein Haus, doch wohnst nicht hier.
Man zeichnet mich, man kennt mich gut,
In den USA mit ernstem Mut.
Welches Wort mit 'das' ist hier gesucht?

(I have five corners, but I'm not an animal.
I am a house, but you don't live here.
People draw me, know me well,
In the USA, with serious courage.
Which word with 'das' is sought here?)

Solution: das Pentagon

🧩 Other Information

• Word Origin: The word comes from Greek: pente (πέντε) means "five" and gonia (γωνία) means "angle" or "corner".
• The Building: Construction of the Pentagon building began in 1941 and was completed in 1943. It is one of the world's largest office buildings. Its shape was chosen to conform to the existing road layout on the site.