das  Quartier

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/kvaʁˈtiːɐ̯/

🏠 What does "das Quartier" mean?

The German word das Quartier (neuter noun) has several meanings:

• Lodging, accommodation: This refers to a place to stay or live, often temporarily. It could be a room, an apartment, or a house. Example: Wir haben für den Urlaub ein schönes Quartier am Meer gefunden. (We found nice lodging by the sea for our vacation.)
• Neighborhood, district: In this sense, it denotes a part of a city, often with a distinct character. Example: Das Künstlerviertel ist ein beliebtes Quartier in der Stadt. (The artists' district is a popular neighborhood in the city.)
• Military quarters: This refers specifically to the housing of soldiers or military units. Example: Die Soldaten bezogen ihr neues Quartier in der Kaserne. (The soldiers moved into their new quarters in the barracks.)

🚨 Important: Although there are multiple meanings, the article always remains das.

🧐 Grammar of "das Quartier" in Detail

Das Quartier is a neuter noun.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die Touristen suchten ein günstiges Quartier für die Nacht. (The tourists looked for affordable lodging for the night.)
2. Im neuen Quartier gibt es viele Cafés und kleine Läden. (In the new district, there are many cafés and small shops.)
3. Nach dem Marsch mussten die Soldaten ihr Quartier beziehen. (After the march, the soldiers had to move into their quarters.)
4. Die Qualität des Quartiers war entscheidend für den Urlaub. (The quality of the lodging was crucial for the vacation. - Genitive Singular)
5. Die verschiedenen Quartiere der Stadt haben alle ihren eigenen Charme. (The different districts of the city all have their own charm. - Nominative Plural)

🗣️ How to use "das Quartier"?

The usage of das Quartier depends heavily on the context:

• Travel/Accommodation: Here, it's often used synonymously with Unterkunft (accommodation) or Bleibe (place to stay), but can sound slightly more formal or elevated. People talk about "Quartier suchen" (looking for quarters) or "Quartier nehmen/beziehen" (to take up quarters).
• Urban Planning/Geography: As a Stadtviertel (neighborhood) or Bezirk (district), it describes a defined area within a city. It's often used when discussing the development of neighborhoods (e.g., "ein neues Wohnquartier" - a new residential district).
• Military: In this context, it's the specific term for troop accommodation ("Winterquartier" - winter quarters, "Truppenquartier" - troop quarters).

Compared to Wohnung (apartment) or Haus (house), Quartier often emphasizes the temporary nature or the function as a shelter/lodging, not necessarily a permanent home (except in the sense of a city district).

🧠 Mnemonics for "das Quartier"

Here are a couple of memory aids:

For the article (das): Think of 'das Hotel' or 'das Viertel' (the district). Many neutral places seem to end in '-ier' (though this isn't a rule, it might help: das Revier, das Klavier). Or: Imagine a neutral, impersonal booking system: "Das System finds das Quartier."

For the meaning: Imagine dividing a city into four quarters (from French 'quartier' = quarter). Each quarter can be a residential Quartier, a military Quartier, or a holiday Quartier. A place that provides quarters for you.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms of "das Quartier"

⚠️ Similar but different words:

• Der Kiez: More colloquial term for a (often alternative or lively) neighborhood, mainly used in Berlin.
• Die Wohnung: Refers more specifically to a private living space within a building.

😂 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Hotelgast den Portier: "Sagen Sie mal, ist dieses Quartier auch wirklich ruhig?" Portier: "Absolut! Bisher hat sich noch kein Gast beschwert. Die, die hier waren, schlafen alle noch... seit Wochen!"

English Translation: A hotel guest asks the porter: "Tell me, are these quarters really quiet?" Porter: "Absolutely! No guest has complained so far. The ones who were here are all still sleeping... for weeks!"

📜 A Poem about das Quartier

German:
Ob Kaserne, Stadt, Hotel,
Das Quartier, es dient dir schnell.
Ein Dach, vier Wände, warm und licht,
Mal schlichtes Zimmer, mal mit Sicht.

Ein Viertel bunt, voll Lebensart,
Ein andres ruhig, fast erstarrt.
Soldaten zieh'n ins Feldquartier,
Der Reisende, er sucht es hier.

English Translation:
Be it barracks, city, hotel grand,
The quarter serves you close at hand.
A roof, four walls, both warm and bright,
Sometimes a simple room, sometimes with sight.

A district colorful, full of life's art,
Another quiet, almost set apart.
Soldiers move to quarters in the field,
The traveler seeks it, wants its yield.

🧩 Riddle Time

German:
Ich kann ein Teil der Stadt bedeuten,
oder Schutz für müde Leute.
Auch Soldaten finden hier ihr Dach.
Mein Artikel ist stets sächlich, ach!

Was bin ich?
Lösung: das Quartier

English Translation:
I can mean a part of the town,
Or shelter for tired folks, lying down.
Soldiers too find their roof here.
My article is always neuter, oh dear!

What am I?
Solution: das Quartier

💡 Other Information

Etymology: The word "Quartier" comes from the French quartier, which originally meant "quarter" (from Latin quartarius = the fourth part). This often referred to a city district (a quarter of the city) or a quarterly rent. The meaning "lodging" or "accommodation" developed later, particularly in the military context (perhaps accommodation for a quarter of the troops?).

Compound Words: There are many German compound words with "Quartier", such as: Hauptquartier (headquarters), Winterquartier (winter quarters), Notquartier (emergency shelter), Künstlerviertel (artists' quarter - as a type of Quartier), Quartiergeber/in (person providing lodging).