das
Rennen
🏁 What Exactly is 'das Rennen'?
The noun das Rennen primarily refers to a competition of speed, where participants (people, animals, or vehicles) try to cover a certain distance first or reach a specific goal the fastest.
- Main meaning: A sports competition where speed is crucial (e.g., Autorennen - car race, Pferderennen - horse race, Laufrennen - running race).
- Figurative meaning: It can also figuratively describe a contest or competition (e.g., das Rennen um einen Job - the race for a job, das Wettrüsten - the arms race).
- Less common meaning: The act of running itself (nominalization of the verb rennen), e.g., "Das Rennen zur U-Bahn war anstrengend." (The run/race to the subway was exhausting.)
🚨 Attention: The noun das Rennen should not be confused with the verb rennen (to run, to race).
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 Rennen' in Detail
Das Rennen is a noun of neuter gender (Neutrum). It follows the strong declension pattern.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das | Rennen |
| Genitive | des | Rennens |
| Dative | dem | Rennen |
| Accusative | das | Rennen |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Rennen |
| Genitive | der | Rennen |
| Dative | den | Rennen |
| Accusative | die | Rennen |
Example Sentences:
- Das Rennen beginnt um 14 Uhr. (The race starts at 2 PM.)
- Der Sieger des Rennens erhielt eine Goldmedaille. (The winner of the race received a gold medal.)
- Wir fieberten bei dem Rennen mit. (We were excited during the race.)
- Hast du das Rennen im Fernsehen gesehen? (Did you watch the race on TV?)
- Viele spannende Rennen fanden dieses Wochenende statt. (Many exciting races took place this weekend.)
- Die Ergebnisse der Rennen wurden veröffentlicht. (The results of the races were published.)
- Bei diesen Rennen geht es um hohe Preisgelder. (These races involve high prize money.)
- Er liebt es, schnelle Rennen zu fahren. (He loves to drive fast races.)
🏃♀️ How and When to Use 'das Rennen'
Das Rennen is very commonly used in the context of sports and competition.
- Sports: People talk about Pferderennen (horse races), Autorennen (car races), Radrennen (bicycle races), Skirennen (ski races), Hunderennen (dog races), Marathonrennen (marathon races), etc.
- Expressions:
- Ein enges Rennen: A close race.
- Das Rennen machen: To win, to be successful. (e.g., "Welcher Kandidat wird das Rennen machen?" - Which candidate will win the race?)
- Aus dem Rennen sein: To be out of the running, to no longer have a chance to win or participate.
- Ins Rennen schicken/gehen: To enter someone/something into a competition / to participate oneself.
- Figurative meaning: Often used for competitive situations outside of sports, e.g., das Rennen um die besten Plätze (the race for the best spots), das Rennen gegen die Zeit (the race against time).
Compared to der Lauf, which can also mean 'the run' or 'running', das Rennen emphasizes the aspect of competition and speed more strongly.
🧠 Mnemonics for 'das Rennen'
Article Mnemonic: Think of das neutral starting signal or das finish tape at a race. Both are neuter, just like das Rennen. Or think: *The* race is *das* main event (sounds a bit like 'das').
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine everyone having to *render* their best performance in *das Rennen* (the race). The sounds are somewhat similar.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar words):
- Wettlauf: Very similar, emphasizes the running aspect.
- Wettrennen: Almost identical, often interchangeable.
- Wettkampf: More general ('competition'), not limited to speed.
- Konkurrenzkampf: ('Competitive struggle') More likely in a figurative sense (e.g., economy).
- Lauf: Can mean a race, but also simply 'the run/running'.
Antonyms (Opposite concepts):
- Stillstand: ('Standstill') The opposite of movement/racing.
- Gehen / Spaziergang: ('Walking' / 'Stroll') Slow movement without competition.
- Kooperation: ('Cooperation') Working together instead of competing.
⚠️ Similar but different words:
- rennen (verb): The action of running fast. ("Ich renne zum Bus." - I run to the bus.)
- Raserei: ('Frenzy', 'speeding') Excessive, often reckless, driving or acting.
😂 A Little Racing Joke
DE: Fragt der eine Rennfahrer den anderen: "Sag mal, warum ist deine Boxencrew eigentlich so langsam?" Antwortet der andere: "Die warten immer, bis das Rennen zu Ende ist, damit sie die Reifen in Ruhe wechseln können!"
EN: One race car driver asks the other: "Tell me, why is your pit crew so slow?" The other replies: "They always wait until the race (das Rennen) is over so they can change the tires in peace!"
📜 Poem about 'das Rennen'
DE:
Motoren dröhnen, Muskeln brennen,
Startschuss fällt für das Rennen.
Wer wird heute Erster sein?
Geschwindigkeit, Adrenalin – so fein!
Die Ziellinie lockt, der Sieg ist nah,
Ein Kampf bis zum Ende, wunderbar!
EN Translation:
Engines roar, muscles burn,
Starting shot falls for the race (das Rennen).
Who will be first today?
Speed, adrenaline – so fine!
The finish line beckons, victory is near,
A fight until the end, wonderful!
❓ Riddle Time
DE:
Ich habe einen Start und ein Ziel,
manchmal viele, manchmal nicht viel.
Menschen, Tiere, Autos schnell,
wollen Erster sein an meiner Stell'.
Was bin ich?
EN:
I have a start and a finish,
sometimes many participants, sometimes not so much.
People, animals, cars fast,
want to be first in my place.
What am I?
Answer
Das Rennen (The race)
💡 Other Interesting Facts
Word Compounds: Das Rennen is part of many compound words that specify the type of race:
- Autorennen (Car race)
- Pferderennen (Horse race)
- Radrennen (Bicycle race)
- Skirennen (Ski race)
- Wettrüsten (Arms race - figurative)
- Seifenkistenrennen (Soapbox derby)
Etymology: The word derives from the Old High German verb 'rennen', which originally meant 'to make run (fast), to chase'.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Rennen?
The correct article for the word Rennen is das: das Rennen. It signifies a competition of speed or, less commonly, the act of running itself.