das
Ries
📖 What exactly is 'das Ries'?
The German word das Ries primarily has two meanings:
-
A unit of measure for paper: Traditionally, das Ries refers to a specific quantity of paper sheets. Usually, this means 500 sheets (formerly often 480 sheets, known as a “short ream” or “German ream”). It's a technical term used in the paper industry and printing.
-
A geographical designation: Das Ries (often called Nördlinger Ries) is a large, almost circular impact crater in Southern Germany, formed about 15 million years ago by a meteorite impact. It's a significant geological structure and landscape.
⚠️ Attention: The meaning usually becomes clear only from the context.
🧐 Grammar of 'das Ries' in Detail
The noun “Ries” is neuter and takes the article “das”.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das | Ries |
| Genitive | des | Rieses |
| Dative | dem | Ries(e) |
| Accusative | das | Ries |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Riese |
| Genitive | der | Riese |
| Dative | den | Riesen |
| Accusative | die | Riese |
Note: The plural „die Riese“ is only used for the unit of measure. For the geographical region „das Ries“, there is no established direct plural; one usually just says „das Ries“ or uses descriptive phrases.
Example Sentences
- (Paper): Wir benötigen noch zwei Ries Kopierpapier für das Büro. (We still need two reams of copy paper for the office.)
- (Paper): Ein Ries Druckerpapier enthält 500 Blatt. (A ream of printer paper contains 500 sheets.)
- (Geography): Das Nördlinger Ries ist ein beeindruckendes geologisches Phänomen. (The Nördlinger Ries is an impressive geological phenomenon.)
- (Geography): Eine Wanderung durch das Ries offenbart seine einzigartige Landschaft. (A hike through the Ries reveals its unique landscape.)
🗣️ How is 'das Ries' used?
The usage of das Ries strongly depends on the context:
- As a unit of measure: Primarily in the jargon of paper manufacturing, paper trade, and printing presses. In general language, people are more likely to talk about a „Paket“ (pack) or „Packung“ (package) of paper, even if these often contain 500 sheets (i.e., one Ries). Example: „Bestellen Sie bitte 10 Ries A4-Papier.“ (Please order 10 reams of A4 paper.)
- As a geographical name: In the context of geography, geology, tourism, or the history of Southern Germany, specifically Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Example: „Das Ries entstand durch einen Meteoriteneinschlag.“ (The Ries was formed by a meteorite impact.) or „Wir machen Urlaub im Ries.“ (We are vacationing in the Ries.)
There is a potential for confusion with the word „der Riese“ (a giant person or mythical figure).
🧠 Mnemonics for 'das Ries'
For the article: Think of das Papier (the paper) or das Land (the land/country) – both are neuter, hence das Ries.
For the meanings: Imagine a RIESig (huge/giant) stack of paper (ein Ries) or a RIESig crater (das Ries).
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms
Similar Words
🚨 Do not confuse with:
😄 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Drucker so viel Papier bestellt?
(Why did the printer order so much paper?)
Er dachte, ein Ries würde nicht lange reichen, er brauchte einen RIESEN-Vorrat!
(He thought one ream (Ries) wouldn't last long, he needed a GIANT (RIESEN) supply!)
📜 A Little Poem
Fünfhundert Blatt, ganz fein und licht,
so liegt das Ries, hält sein Gewicht.
Gedruckt wird drauf, was man ersann,
Ein Stapel Papier, seit Alters Bann.
Doch auch ein Krater, weit und rund,
Das Ries genannt, auf tiefem Grund.
Wo einst ein Stein vom Himmel fiel,
Ein Wunder der Natur, ein Erdenspiel.
Five hundred sheets, so fine and light,
So lies the ream, holding its weight tight.
Printed upon it, what minds devise,
A stack of paper, an age-old prize.
But also a crater, wide and round,
Called the Ries, on deep ground.
Where once a stone from heaven fell,
A wonder of nature, an earthly spell.
🤔 Little Riddle
Ich bin ein Maß, doch mess' kein Band,
halte Papier fest in der Hand.
Manchmal bin ich auch ein Krater weit,
entstanden in vergang'ner Zeit.
Was bin ich?
(I am a measure, but measure no tape,
I hold paper firmly in my shape.
Sometimes I'm also a crater wide,
created in a long-past tide.
What am I?)
... Das Ries
💡 More about 'das Ries'
- Etymology (Paper): The word „Ries“ for paper likely comes via Italian („risma“) and Spanish („resma“) from the Arabic word „rizmah“, meaning „bundle“.
- Nördlinger Ries: The crater has a diameter of about 24 kilometers (15 miles) and is one of the best-preserved large impact structures on Earth. The town of Nördlingen lies in the middle of the crater. Suevite, a rock formed by the impact, was used, for example, in the construction of Nördlingen's St. George's Church (St.-Georgs-Kirche).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Ries?
The word "Ries" is neuter: das Ries. It refers either to a unit of measure for 500 sheets of paper (plural: die Riese) or to the Nördlinger Ries impact crater in Southern Germany (no common plural used).