das  Sammeln

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈzamln̩/

📖 What does "das Sammeln" mean?

Das Sammeln is the nominalization (making a noun) of the verb sammeln (to collect, to gather). It describes the act or activity of collecting or gathering itself. Nominalized infinitives in German are always neuter, which is why it's always das Sammeln.

It refers to the action of bringing things together, accumulating them, or adding them to a collection. This can apply to physical objects (like stamps, coins, mushrooms - Briefmarken, Münzen, Pilze) or abstract things (like information, experiences, donations - Informationen, Erfahrungen, Spenden).

🚨 Important Note: Don't confuse das Sammeln (the activity) with die Sammlung (the result, the collection).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Das Sammeln

Das Sammeln is a nominalized infinitive and therefore always neuter (*sächlich*). It is generally used only in the singular, as it describes the action itself.

A plural form is grammatically unusual and generally avoided. One would use phrases like "verschiedene Arten des Sammelns" (different types of collecting) instead.

✍️ Example Sentences

• Das Sammeln von Briefmarken ist sein größtes Hobby.
  (Collecting stamps is his biggest hobby.)
• Beim Sammeln von Pilzen muss man vorsichtig sein.
  (One must be careful when gathering mushrooms.)
• Das Sammeln von Spenden für den Tierschutz war erfolgreich.
  (The collecting of donations for animal welfare was successful.)
• Sie widmet sich dem Sammeln alter Bücher.
  (She devotes herself to the collecting of old books.)

💡 How "das Sammeln" is used

Das Sammeln is used to emphasize the process or activity of bringing things together:

• Hobbies: Often in the context of building a collection (e.g., das Sammeln von Münzen - the collecting of coins, das Sammeln von Kunst - the collecting of art).
• Nature: When gathering things from nature (e.g., das Sammeln von Beeren - the gathering of berries, das Sammeln von Holz - the gathering of wood).
• Information/Data: In the context of research or data acquisition (e.g., das Sammeln von Informationen - the gathering of information, das Sammeln von Beweisen - the gathering of evidence).
• Abstract Concepts: Also for non-material things (e.g., das Sammeln von Erfahrungen - the gathering of experiences, das Sammeln von Kräften - the gathering of strength).
• Charity: When collecting donations (e.g., das Sammeln für einen guten Zweck - collecting for a good cause).

It stresses the action itself, unlike die Sammlung, which refers to the result (the collection).

🧠 Mnemonics for "das Sammeln"

Article Mnemonic: All German nouns formed from verbs (infinitives) are neuter (*das*). Think of "das Tun" (the doing), "das Laufen" (the running), "das Essen" (the eating) – and also "das Sammeln". The 'a' sound might loosely remind you of das.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine *the act* of collecting itself as a neutral, abstract concept or process. Processes and concepts often take *das* in German. *The* process of collecting = *das* Sammeln.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words:

• Die Sammlung: This means the collection itself, the result of collecting (e.g., eine Briefmarkensammlung - a stamp collection). Remember: das Sammeln is the *activity*, die Sammlung* is the *result*.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Staubsauger mit dem Sammeln aufgehört?
Weil er fand, dass der Job ihn total einsaugt! 😄

(Why did the vacuum cleaner stop collecting?
Because he found the job totally sucked him in!)

📜 A Poem About Collecting

Ob Steine bunt, ob Marken alt,
ob Wissen, das im Kopf erschallt.
Das Sammeln ist 'ne Leidenschaft,
die Ordnung und auch Freude schafft. Stück für Stück, mit ruhiger Hand,
wächst an, was man einst wertvoll fand.

(Whether stones bright, or stamps old,
Whether knowledge that rings in the mind.
Collecting is a passion,
that creates order and also joy.
Piece by piece, with a calm hand,
grows what was once found valuable.)

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin eine Tätigkeit, kein Ding zum Anfassen,
doch bringe ich Dinge zusammen in Massen.
Man tut es mit Briefmarken, Pilzen und Geld,
es ist eine Handlung, die vielen gefällt.
Was bin ich, stets sächlich, als Tun bekannt?

(I am an activity, not a thing to touch,
but I bring things together in masses.
One does it with stamps, mushrooms, and money,
it is an action that many enjoy.
What am I, always neuter, known as an action?)

Solution: Das Sammeln (The collecting/gathering)

➕ Other Information

Word Formation (Wortbildung):

• Das Sammeln is a nominalization of the verb sammeln (to collect/gather).
• The verb sammeln comes from the Old High German word samanōn, meaning „to bring together“.
• More specific terms can be formed by prefixing the object being collected, e.g.: das Briefmarkensammeln (stamp collecting), das Pilzesammeln (mushroom gathering), das Datensammeln (data collecting). These compounds are also neuter (*das*).

Cultural Aspects: Collecting (Sammeln) is a widespread hobby (Hobby) and can range from simple childhood activities (collecting stones - Steine sammeln) to highly specialized and valuable collections (wertvolle Sammlungen).