das  Tief

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/tiːf/

🌦️ What does "das Tief" mean?

The German word "das Tief" (noun, neuter) primarily has two meanings:

• Meteorology: An area of low atmospheric pressure, also called a Tiefdruckgebiet (low-pressure area). It often brings bad weather like rain or wind. 🌬️🌧️
• Abstract low point: A state of decline, depression, or a minimum value (e.g., an emotionales Tief (emotional low), a Kurstief (low on the stock market), a Rekordtief (record low temperature)). 📉😔

🚨 Attention: Don't confuse it with the adjective "tief" (deep/low), e.g., "das tiefe Wasser" (the deep water), "eine tiefe Stimme" (a deep voice). "Das Tief" is always a noun.

🧐 Grammar of "das Tief" in Detail

"Das Tief" is a substantivized adjective (an adjective turned into a noun) and is declined as follows:

Example Sentences 📝

• Meteorology: Ein neues Tief nähert sich von Westen. (A new low is approaching from the west.)
• Meteorology: Die Meteorologen beobachten die Entwicklung des Tiefs genau. (The meteorologists are closely monitoring the development of the low.)
• Abstract: Nach der Trennung fiel er in ein emotionales Tief. (After the breakup, he fell into an emotional low.)
• Abstract: Die Aktienkurse erreichten gestern ein neues Tief. (The stock prices reached a new low yesterday.)

💬 When and how to use "das Tief"?

The usage of "das Tief" heavily depends on the context:

• In weather forecasts: Here, it almost always refers to the Tiefdruckgebiet (low-pressure area). It's often used with geographical names or designations (e.g., "das Islandtief" - the Icelandic low, "Tiefdruckgebiet Sabine" - low-pressure system Sabine).
• In business news: People talk about a "Kurstief" (share price low), "Jahrestief" (yearly low), or "Rekordtief" (record low) for stocks, indices, or other economic indicators.
• In personal conversation / psychology: When someone talks about a "Tief", they usually mean a phase of despondency, listlessness, or sadness ("ein persönliches Tief" - a personal low, "ein emotionales Tief" - an emotional low).

It's important to distinguish "das Tief" (noun) from the adjective "tief" (deep/low). "Tief" as an adjective describes a quality (tiefe Grube - deep pit, tiefer Schlaf - deep sleep), whereas "das Tief" names a state or phenomenon.

💡 Mnemonics for "das Tief"

• Article Mnemonic (das): Think of das Wetter (the weather) or das Gefühl (the feeling). Both are neutral concepts or states, hence "das Tief". It refers to 'the thing' that is low, which aligns well with the neuter article das.

• Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine looking at a weather map: the barometer needle points down, into the Tief (low). Or picture a graph (like for stocks or emotions) hitting its lowest point – das Tief.

🔄 Opposites and Similarities: Das Tief

⚠️ Similar Words

• tief (adjective): Describes downward extension (tiefes Loch - deep hole) or intensity (tiefer Schlaf - deep sleep). Not the noun!
• die Tiefe (noun): Refers to the dimension or state of being deep (die Tiefe des Ozeans - the depth of the ocean, die Tiefe der Gedanken - the depth of thoughts).

😄 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Wetterfrosch seinen Kollegen: "Was ist der Unterschied zwischen einem Hoch und einem Tief?"
Antwortet der Kollege: "Beim Hoch feiern wir mit Sonnenschein, beim Tief ertrinken wir unsere Sorgen – meistens im Regen!" ☔

English: The weatherman asks his colleague: "What's the difference between a high and a low?"
The colleague replies: "With a high, we celebrate with sunshine; with a low, we drown our sorrows – mostly in the rain!" ☔

📜 A Poem about das Tief

German:
Ein Tief zieht auf, der Himmel grau,
der Wind weht kalt, der Regen lau.
Der Luftdruck sinkt, die Stimmung mit,
ein Wetter-Blues, Schritt für Schritt.

Doch auch im Herzen kann es sein,
ein Tief, man fühlt sich klein und allein.
Doch wie das Wetter, zieht's vorbei,
dann kommt das Hoch, und man ist frei.

English Translation:
A low moves in, the sky is grey,
The wind blows cold, the rain holds sway.
The pressure drops, the mood does too,
A weather blues, passing through.

But in the heart, it can reside,
A low, where feelings hide.
But like the weather, it moves on,
The high returns, a brand new dawn.

🧩 Little Riddle

German:
Ich bringe Regen, Wind und Nass,
mach auf der Wetterkarte Spaß (oder Frust, je nachdem).
Manchmal beschreib' ich auch ein Gefühl,
bin unten, kühl und gar nicht schwül.

Was bin ich? (Lösung: das Tief)

English Translation:
I bring the rain, the wind, the wet,
On weather maps, I'm often set.
Sometimes a feeling I describe,
I'm down below, a different vibe.

What am I? (Solution: das Tief / the low)

ℹ️ More Tidbits

• Word Formation: "Das Tief" is a nominalization (substantivization) of the adjective "tief" (deep/low).
• Compounds: It often forms compounds like "Rekordtief" (record low), "Allzeittief" (all-time low), "Tagestief" (daily low - temperature, stock market) or geographical terms like "Islandtief" (Icelandic low).
• Naming Low-Pressure Systems: Meteorological institutes often assign human first names to low (and high) pressure systems to simplify communication (e.g., Tief "Xandra").