das
Rund
What exactly is 'das Rund'? 🤔
The noun das Rund (neuter gender) has several meanings:
- The round shape or area: It describes something geometrically round, a circle, or a round surface. It's often used in a slightly more formal or technical context. Example: das Rund des Tisches (the round shape of the table).
- A round (e.g., in sports): Especially in boxing or wrestling, 'das Rund' refers to a phase or round of the fight. Example: Sieg durch K.o. im dritten Rund. (Victory by K.O. in the third round.)
- The ensemble (theatre): In theatre terminology, 'das Rund' can also refer to the entire cast of actors or the theatre building itself (especially the auditorium). Example: Das ganze Rund applaudierte. (The entire house/ensemble applauded.)
🚨 Attention: The adjective rund (lowercase) is much more common and simply means 'round' or 'approximately'.
📐 Grammar of 'das Rund'
'Das Rund' is a nominalized adjective and is declined as follows:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das | Rund |
| Genitive | des | Runds / Rundes |
| Dative | dem | Rund |
| Accusative | das | Rund |
Examples
- Das weite Rund des Stadions war beeindruckend. (The vast roundness/circle of the stadium was impressive.)
- Der Boxer bereitete sich auf das nächste Rund vor. (The boxer prepared for the next round.)
- Er blickte ins Rund und verbeugte sich. (He looked into the auditorium/at the audience and bowed.)
Usage in Context 🗣️
'Das Rund' is rather uncommon in everyday language for 'round shape'. People more often say 'der Kreis' (the circle) or describe the object directly (e.g., 'der runde Tisch' - the round table).
- Geometry/Architecture: Here, it often describes round openings, squares, or parts of buildings (e.g., das Rund einer Kuppel - the round shape of a dome).
- Sports (Boxing/Wrestling): Very common for the individual sections of a fight (ein Kampf über zwölf Runde - a twelve-round fight. Note the plural form 'Runde').
- Theatre: Used to describe the auditorium or the entire theatre/ensemble (im weiten Rund des Theaters - in the vast auditorium of the theatre).
⚠️ Potential confusion: Don't mix it up with the adjective 'rund' (ein runder Ball - a round ball) or the noun 'die Runde' (fem., e.g., eine Runde gehen - to go for a walk/lap, eine Runde ausgeben - to buy a round of drinks), although the plural of 'das Rund' is formally 'die Runde'.
Memory Aids 🧠
For the article: Think of a round THING. Many simple 'things' in German are neuter ('das Ding'). So: das (round) thing -> das Rund.
For the meaning: Think of a boxing Ring. In the Ring, there are Rounds. Das Rund is the round in the ring, or simply something round.
Similar and Opposing Terms 🔄
Similar words:
A Little Joke 😄
Warum sind Mathematiker schlecht im Boxen?
Weil sie immer nur im Ring herumstehen und über das Rund nachdenken!
Why are mathematicians bad at boxing?
Because they always just stand around in the ring thinking about 'das Rund' (the round shape/the round)!
Poem about das Rund 📜
Im Theater, groß und weit,
erstrahlt das Rund in Dunkelheit.
Im Ring, zum Kampf bereit,
beginnt das Rund, die harte Zeit.
Ein Kreis, vollkommen rein,
kann auch das Rund, das Schöne, sein.
In the theatre, large and wide,
the auditorium/house glows in the dark.
In the ring, ready to fight,
the round begins, the hard time.
A circle, perfectly pure,
can also be the round shape, the beautiful thing.
What am I? 🤔
Ich habe keine Ecken, keine Kanten,
bin im Theater bei den eleganten Tanten.
Im Boxkampf zähle ich die Zeit,
mal bin ich Form, mal Kampfabschnitts-Bereit.
Was bin ich?
I have no corners, no edges,
I'm in the theatre with the elegant aunts.
In a boxing match, I count the time,
Sometimes I'm a shape, sometimes ready for a phase of the fight.
What am I?
Solution: das Rund
Trivia 💡
Word Formation: 'Das Rund' is an example of nominalization (Substantivierung), where the adjective 'rund' (round) becomes a noun. This often happens to name abstract concepts or specific objects.
Related terms:
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Rund?
The word 'Rund' used as a noun always takes the article das: das Rund. It refers to a round shape/area, a round (in sports), or an ensemble/auditorium (in theatre).