der  Brand

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/bʁant/

🔥 What Exactly is 'der Brand'?

The word der Brand is a masculine noun with several meanings:

• Fire, conflagration: The most common meaning is an uncontrolled, destructive fire. Example: Der Brand im Wald war schwer zu löschen. (The fire in the forest was difficult to extinguish.)
• Intense thirst: Colloquially, "Brand" can also refer to very strong thirst. Example: Nach dem Marathon hatte ich einen Mordshunger und einen riesen Brand. (After the marathon, I was ravenous and extremely thirsty.)
• Medicine (Gangrene, Necrosis): In medicine, 'der Brand' refers to the death of tissue (Gewebsbrand, Wundbrand). Example: Unbehandelt kann die Wunde zu einem Brand führen. (If left untreated, the wound can lead to gangrene.)
• Mark, brand (obsolete/regional): Less commonly, it can mean a mark burned into something (e.g., Brandzeichen on animals).

🚨 Attention: The meaning heavily depends on the context!

📝 Grammar of 'der Brand' at a Glance

'Brand' is a masculine noun. Here is its declension:

💡 Example Sentences for Grammar

1. Die Feuerwehr bekämpfte den Brand. (The fire department fought the fire. - Accusative Singular)
2. Der Geruch des Brandes lag noch in der Luft. (The smell of the fire still lingered in the air. - Genitive Singular)
3. Nach dem Sport hatte er einen ordentlichen Brand. (After sports, he was really thirsty. - Accusative Singular, meaning: thirst)
4. Mehrere Brände wüteten gleichzeitig in der Region. (Several fires raged simultaneously in the region. - Nominative Plural)
5. Man gedachte der Opfer der Brände. (They commemorated the victims of the fires. - Genitive Plural)

🗣️ When and How to Use 'der Brand'?

The usage of der Brand strongly depends on the intended meaning:

• Fire: This is the most frequent use. People talk about a Hausbrand (house fire), Waldbrand (forest fire), Großbrand (large fire), etc. It usually implies destruction and danger. The more general word is das Feuer (which can also be a controlled fire, e.g., in a fireplace).
• Thirst: Used more colloquially and often slightly exaggerated ("Ich habe einen Brand!" - "I'm extremely thirsty!"). It emphasizes very strong thirst. The neutral word is der Durst.
• Medicine: Technical term for necrosis or gangrene. Usually used with an addition, e.g., Wundbrand (wound gangrene), kalte Brand (dry gangrene).

⚠️ Don't confuse der Brand with die Brandung (the surf, the breaking of waves on the shore).

🧠 Mnemonic Devices for 'der Brand'

For the article: Imagine Derek the fireman fighting der Brand. Derek is a masculine name -> der Brand.

For the meanings: Think of the English verb 'to burn'. A fire burns, your throat might feel like it's burning when you're very thirsty ('Brand'), and gangrene ('Brand') involves tissue destruction, which you can loosely associate with a destructive 'burning' process.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms for 'der Brand'

⚠️ Similar but Different Words

• die Brandung: The surf, the sound and motion of waves breaking on the shore. Nothing to do with fire.
• brandneu: Adjective meaning 'brand new'.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten: "Warum haben Sie den Wald angezündet?"
Antwortet der Angeklagte: "Ich hatte einfach einen Brand!"

Translation: The judge asks the defendant: "Why did you set the forest on fire?"
The defendant answers: "I simply had a 'Brand'!" (Pun on 'Brand' meaning both 'fire' and 'thirst')

📜 Poem about 'der Brand'

Rot lodert hell der Brand im Haus,
Schlägt gierig um sich, kennt kein Graus.
Die Sirene heult, die Wehr eilt schnell,
Bekämpft die Flammen, grell und hell.

Ein andrer Brand quält meine Kehle,
Nach Wasser lechzt die trockne Seele.
Ein kühler Trunk, oh welche Wonne,
Stillt diesen Durst, bringt neue Sonne.

Translation:
Bright red the fire ('der Brand') flares in the house,
Lashes out greedily, knows no dread.
The siren wails, the brigade rushes fast,
Fights the flames, glaring and vast.

Another thirst ('Brand') torments my throat,
For water yearns my soul, dry and remote.
A cool drink, oh what bliss,
Quenches this thirst, brings new sun's kiss.

🤔 Little Riddle

Ich kann Wälder fressen und Häuser verzehren,
Oder dich nach dem Sport nach Wasser begehren.
In der Medizin bin ich ein schlimmes Leiden.
Maskulin bin ich in all diesen Zeiten.

Was bin ich?

Translation:
I can eat forests and devour houses,
Or make you crave water after sports rouses.
In medicine, I am a severe affliction.
Masculine I am in all these depictions.

What am I?

Solution: der Brand

🧩 Other Information about 'der Brand'

Word Origin (Etymology):

The word "Brand" comes from the Old High German word "brant", which is related to the verb "brennen" (Old High German: "brennan"), meaning 'to burn'. The original meaning refers directly to the result of burning – the fire, the conflagration, or something branded (Brandmal - brand mark).

Compound Words (Komposita):

"Brand" is part of many compound words reflecting its various meanings:

• Fire: Brandstiftung (arson), Brandschutz (fire protection), Brandmauer (firewall), Brandmelder (fire alarm), Waldbrand (forest fire), Dachstuhlbrand (roof truss fire), Kabelbrand (cable fire)
• Thirst: Durstbrand (rare, intense thirst)
• Medicine: Wundbrand (wound gangrene), Gasbrand (gas gangrene), Kaltbrand (dry gangrene)
• Marking: Brandzeichen (brand mark on animals), Brandmal (brand mark, stigma)
• Other: Sonnenbrand (sunburn), Schnapsbrand (distillation of spirits)