das  Skifahren

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈskiːˌfaːʁən/

⛷️ What does "das Skifahren" mean?

Das Skifahren refers to the activity or sport of travelling on skis. It's the nominalized form of the verb skifahren (to ski).

As a nominalized verb (a verb turned into a noun), it's neuter and therefore always uses the article das.

• Meaning: The act of gliding over snow on two boards (skis), usually as a sport or leisure activity.

⚠️ There are no other articles or meanings for this specific word.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📐 Grammar of "das Skifahren" in Detail

Das Skifahren is a nominalized infinitive (from the verb skifahren - to ski). Such nominalizations in German are always neuter and thus take the article das.

It is mostly treated as an uncountable noun and therefore almost exclusively used in the singular. A plural form is highly unusual.

Declension (Singular)

Note: The genitive ending -s (des Skifahrens) is correct, but sometimes paraphrased, especially in spoken language (e.g., "während des Skifahrens" - during skiing or "beim Skifahren" - while skiing).

Example Sentences

1. Das Skifahren macht im Winter viel Spaß. (Skiing is a lot of fun in winter.)
2. Wir freuen uns schon auf das Skifahren in den Alpen. (We are already looking forward to skiing in the Alps.)
3. Bei schlechtem Wetter ist an Skifahren nicht zu denken. (In bad weather, skiing is out of the question.)
4. Er widmet seine Freizeit dem Skifahren. (He dedicates his free time to skiing.)

🏂 When to use "das Skifahren"?

Das Skifahren is used to refer to the general activity or sport itself.

• Contexts: Talking about hobbies, winter sports, holiday planning, weather conditions for winter sports.
• Distinction: While skifahren (lowercase) is the verb ("Ich fahre Ski" - I ski / I am skiing), das Skifahren (capitalized) is the noun denoting the activity itself ("Das Skifahren ist mein Hobby" - Skiing is my hobby).
• Typical Phrases: "Beim Skifahren" (while skiing), "für das Skifahren" (for skiing), "Spaß am Skifahren haben" (to have fun skiing).

🧠 Mnemonics for "das Skifahren"

For the article (das): Remember that nominalized verbs (verbs turned into nouns, like das Laufen - running, das Schwimmen - swimming, das Fahren - driving) are almost always neuter in German. Think of 'the act of doing something' as 'das Tun' -> 'das Fahren' -> 'das Skifahren'. It describes *the* event, *the* experience of skiing.

For the meaning: Imagine you 'fahren' (drive/ride) on 'Ski' (skis) – that's 'Skifahren'. The word itself describes the action!

↔️ Synonyms & Opposites

Similar, but Different Words

• Der Ski: The equipment itself (plural: die Ski or die Skier).
• Der Skifahrer / Die Skifahrerin: The person who skis (male/female).

😄 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Skelette nie am Skifahren teil?

Weil sie nicht den nötigen Schneid haben! 😉🦴

(Translation: Why do skeletons never take part in skiing? Because they don't have the guts/nerve! - 'Schneid haben' means 'to have guts/nerve', but 'schneiden' also means 'to cut', playing on snow/blades perhaps, and skeletons lack 'guts' literally.)

📜 Poem about Skiing

Auf Brettern schnell den Hang hinab,
Das Skifahren hält uns auf Trab.
Der Schnee staubt auf, die Luft ist klar,
Ein Wintertraum wird endlich wahr.
Kurven ziehen, elegant und fein,
So soll das Skifahren immer sein!

(Translation:
On boards quickly down the slope,
Skiing keeps us on the go.
The snow sprays up, the air is clear,
A winter dream is finally here.
Making turns, elegant and fine,
That's how skiing should always shine!)

❓ Little Riddle

Ich brauch' zwei Bretter und viel Schnee,
bergab geht's schnell, bergauf – oh weh!
Helm auf dem Kopf, Stöcke zur Hand,
Wie nennt man's Rutschen durch das Winterland?

(Translation:
I need two boards and lots of snow,
Downhill is fast, uphill – oh woe!
A helmet on head, poles in hand,
What's this sliding through the winter land called?)

Solution: Das Skifahren (Skiing)

💡 More Tidbits

Word Composition:

Das Skifahren is composed of:

• Ski: The sports equipment. The word comes from Norwegian ('ski' meaning 'split piece of wood').
• fahren: The verb for travelling/driving/riding, used here for moving on skis.

The combination creates the nominalized activity of riding on skis.