der
Campingplatz
🏕️ What does "der Campingplatz" mean?
A Campingplatz is a designated area of land where people can pitch tents or park their caravans (Wohnwagen) or motorhomes (Wohnmobile), usually for a holiday or recreational activity. It's essentially a campsite or campground.
The word is masculine, so the correct article is der Campingplatz.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-tz → almost always masculine.
📐 Grammar in Detail: Der Campingplatz
The noun "Campingplatz" is masculine. Here are the declension tables:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Campingplatz |
| Genitive | des | Campingplatzes |
| Dative | dem | Campingplatz / Campingplatze |
| Accusative | den | Campingplatz |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Campingplätze |
| Genitive | der | Campingplätze |
| Dative | den | Campingplätzen |
| Accusative | die | Campingplätze |
Example Sentences
- Wir suchen einen schönen Campingplatz am Meer. (We are looking for a nice campsite by the sea.)
- Die Ausstattung des Campingplatzes war sehr modern. (The facilities of the campsite were very modern.)
- Auf dem Campingplatz lernten wir nette Leute kennen. (We met nice people at the campsite.)
- Viele Familien verbringen ihren Urlaub auf Campingplätzen. (Many families spend their holidays on campsites.)
💡 How to use "Campingplatz"?
The term "Campingplatz" is mainly used in the context of holidays (Urlaub), travel (Reisen), and leisure activities (Freizeitaktivitäten).
- Holiday Planning: People look for a Campingplatz in a specific region or with particular facilities (e.g., Schwimmbad - swimming pool, Spielplatz - playground).
- Accommodation Type: It describes outdoor accommodation, contrasting with Hotels or Ferienwohnungen (holiday apartments).
- Related Terms: Sometimes Zeltplatz (tent site) is used, although a Campingplatz often implies more infrastructure (sanitary facilities, electricity hookups, shops) than a basic Zeltplatz. The Anglicism Campingground is also sometimes used.
Common phrases include auf einen Campingplatz fahren (to go to a campsite), auf einem Campingplatz übernachten (to stay overnight at a campsite), or einen Campingplatz buchen (to book a campsite).
🧠 Memory Aids for "der Campingplatz"
Article Mnemonic: The word ends in "-platz". Many German words for places ending in "-platz" are masculine (der Marktplatz - market square, der Spielplatz - playground). So, think of der Platz (the place) for camping -> der Campingplatz.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you are camping in a specific Platz (place/spot). The word is a direct combination: Camping + Platz = Campingplatz.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Similar Words (Synonyms):
- Zeltplatz: Often simpler, primarily for tents.
- Campingground: Anglicism, often used synonymously.
- Campingareal: More formal term for the entire camping area.
Opposites (Antonyms):
- Hotel: Fixed accommodation with rooms and service.
- Ferienwohnung/Ferienhaus: Private, furnished rental accommodation (holiday apartment/house).
- Pension: A simpler form of hotel, often family-run (guesthouse/B&B).
⚠️ Note: A Stellplatz is often just a parking space specifically for motorhomes (Wohnmobile), usually offering less infrastructure than a full Campingplatz.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum nehmen Skelette keinen Urlaub auf dem Campingplatz?
Weil sie keinen Körper haben, um ihn irgendwohin mitzunehmen! 😉
(Why don't skeletons take a holiday at the campsite? Because they have no body to take anywhere!)
📜 Poem about the Campingplatz
Der Platz, wo Zelte stehen dicht,
und Wohnmobil im Sonnenlicht.
Wo Kinder lachen, frei und laut,
haben Eltern ihr Nest gebaut.
Gemeinschaftsdusche, früh am Morgen,
vertreibt die letzten kleinen Sorgen.
Der Grill entfacht den Abendduft,
der Campingplatz in Sommerluft.
(The place where tents stand close,
and motorhomes in sunlight repose.
Where children laugh, freely and loud,
parents have built their nest in the crowd.
Communal shower, early morn,
chases away the last small thorns.
The barbecue sparks the evening scent,
the campsite in summer air is spent.)
❓ Little Riddle
Ich bin ein Ort mit vielen Parzellen,
wo Leute mit Zelt und Wagen verweilen.
Man kocht im Freien, schläft unterm Sternenzelt,
bin oft im Grünen, in der Natur bestellt.
Was bin ich? Lösung: Der Campingplatz
(I am a place with many plots,
where people with tents and campers stop.
They cook outside, sleep under starry skies,
I'm often in green spaces, nature's prize.
What am I?)(Answer: The campsite / Der Campingplatz)
➕ Additional Information
Word Composition
The word "Campingplatz" is a compound noun, formed from:
- Camping: The gerund of the English verb "to camp", adopted into German.
- Platz: A German noun meaning place, spot, area, or square.
Trivia
Campingplätze (campsites) vary greatly in size and facilities. Some offer luxurious amenities ('glamping'), while others are very basic. Wild camping (Wildcampen) is strictly regulated in Germany, making official campsites an important part of the infrastructure for campers.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Campingplatz?
The German word for campsite or campground is der Campingplatz (masculine). The plural is die Campingplätze.