das
Segment
🔍 What does "das Segment" mean?
Das Segment (noun, neuter) refers to a part, section, or area that is separated or delimited from a larger whole. It is used in various contexts:
- Geometry: A part of a line, surface, or body (e.g., Kreissegment - circle segment).
- Technology/IT: A part of memory, a program, or a network (e.g., Speichersegment - memory segment, Netzwerksegment - network segment).
- Business/Marketing: A sub-market or customer group with similar characteristics (e.g., Marktsegment - market segment, Kundensegment - customer segment).
- Biology: A section of a body or organ (e.g., Wirbelsäulensegment - spinal segment).
There is only this one article, das, for this word. The meaning is always similar – a separated part.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ment → mostly neutral.
Caution: Nouns with '-ent' are often masculine.
🧐 Grammar of "das Segment" in Detail
"Segment" is a noun with the neuter article das. It comes from Latin (segmentum). Here is the declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das | Segment |
| Genitive | des | Segment(e)s |
| Dative | dem | Segment(e) |
| Accusative | das | Segment |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Segmente |
| Genitive | der | Segmente |
| Dative | den | Segmenten |
| Accusative | die | Segmente |
Example Sentences
- Das Kreissegment wird durch eine Sehne abgetrennt.
(The circle segment is separated by a chord.) - Unser Unternehmen konzentriert sich auf ein spezielles Marktsegment.
(Our company focuses on a specific market segment.) - Der Programmierer analysierte die Speichersegmente.
(The programmer analyzed the memory segments.) - Die Wirbelsäule besteht aus vielen einzelnen Segmenten.
(The spine consists of many individual segments.) - Wir unterteilen das Projekt in überschaubare Segmente.
(We divide the project into manageable segments.)
💡 How to use "das Segment"?
"Das Segment" is used to describe clearly defined parts of a larger whole. The context determines the precise meaning:
- Technical Language: In mathematics, computer science, biology, and economics, it is an established technical term.
- General Language: It's used less frequently here, mostly to emphasize a clear division or section (e.g., ein Segment einer Diskussion - a segment of a discussion, ein Segment einer Reise - a segment of a journey). Often, Teil (part), Abschnitt (section), or Bereich (area) are more common.
- Differentiation: Compared to Teil, "Segment" often implies a more precise boundary or a specific function within the whole. Abschnitt is very similar but is more often used for periods of time or texts. Bereich is often spatial or thematic in nature.
Typical combinations: Marktsegment (market segment), Kundensegment (customer segment), Preissegment (price segment), Speichersegment (memory segment), Netzwerksegment (network segment), Kreissegment (circle segment), Liniensegment (line segment).
🧠 Mnemonics for "das Segment"
- Article Mnemonic: Think of "das Element". Many words ending in "-ment" borrowed from Latin are neuter in German (das Argument, das Instrument, das Dokument, das Segment). It's das Element of a whole → das Segment.
- Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine an orange. You break off a piece – a Segment. It's a clearly separated part of the whole. Or think of measuring tape (Messlatte) divided into segments.
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Abschnitt: (Section) Very similar, often used for texts or periods of time.
- Teil: (Part) General term for a component.
- Bereich: (Area, field) Often spatial or thematic.
- Sektor: (Sector) Common in economics and geometry (circle sector).
- Stück: (Piece) More physical, often more irregular than a segment.
- Anteil: (Share, portion) Often refers to a proportional part.
Antonyms (opposites):
- Ganzes: (Whole) The complete object or system.
- Gesamtheit: (Entirety, totality) The sum of all parts.
- Einheit: (Unit) Something considered as undivided.
⚠️ Caution: Sektor and Segment can mean different things in geometry (Kreissektor - circle sector vs. Kreissegment - circle segment).
😂 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Mathematiker den Kuchen in unendlich viele Segmente geteilt?
Weil er das "Pi-ece" of Cake wollte! 🥧😉
(Why did the mathematician divide the cake into infinitely many segments?
Because he wanted the "pi-ece" of cake!)
📜 Poem about Segments
Ein Kreis, so rund, so ganz und klar,
wird durch die Sehne teilbar gar.
Ein Bogen oben, Strich darunter,
das Segment macht Wissen bunter.
Im Markt, da gibt's auch Teile klein,
die Zielgruppe, fein säuberlich rein.
Das Segment, genau bedacht,
hat manchem Händler Erfolg gebracht.
(A circle, so round, so whole and clear,
Is made divisible by the chord, oh dear.
An arc above, a line below,
the segment makes knowledge grow.)
(In the market, there are small parts too,
The target group, neat and true.
The segment, precisely thought out,
Has brought success to many a merchant, no doubt.)
🧩 Little Riddle
Ich bin ein Teil, doch klar begrenzt,
in Kreisen, Märkten, oft präsent.
Vom Ganzen bin ich abgeteilt,
in Mathe und IT verweilt.
Was bin ich, mit sächlichem Kleid?
(I am a part, yet clearly defined,
In circles, markets, often aligned.
From the whole, I am set apart,
In math and IT, I play my part.
What am I, with a neuter heart [article]?)
Solution: das Segment
🌐 Other Information
Word Origin: The German word "Segment" comes from the Latin word segmentum, meaning "a cutting, shred, strip". It derives from the verb secare, meaning "to cut".
Related Words: segmentieren (verb - to segment), Segmentierung (noun - segmentation).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Segment?
The German word "Segment" exclusively uses the article das. There are no other articles for this noun. It is always das Segment (nominative singular) and die Segmente (nominative plural).