der
Fluss
🏞️ What does „der Fluss“ mean?
The German word der Fluss primarily has two meanings:
- A natural flowing body of water (River): This is the most common meaning. It refers to a large, natural watercourse that flows into a sea, a lake, or another river. Examples include der Rhein, die Donau, or die Elbe.
- A continuous movement or current (Flow, figurative): It can also be used metaphorically to describe a steady progression or movement. For example: der Fluss der Zeit (the flow of time), der Fluss der Rede (the flow of speech), der Verkehrsfluss (the flow of traffic).
⚠️ It's important to consider the context to understand the correct meaning. However, in most cases, „der Fluss“ refers to the body of water.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-us/-uss/-uß → mostly masculine.
Including -ismus nouns (100% masculine, e.g. der Tourismus)
🧐 Grammar of „der Fluss“
The noun „Fluss“ is masculine. The article is der. It declines as follows:
Declension Singular
| Case | Masculine |
|---|---|
| Nominative | der Fluss |
| Accusative | den Fluss |
| Dative | dem Fluss (less common: Flusse) |
| Genitive | des Flusses |
Declension Plural
| Case | Plural |
|---|---|
| Nominative | die Flüsse |
| Accusative | die Flüsse |
| Dative | den Flüssen |
| Genitive | der Flüsse |
📝 Example Sentences
- Nominative: Der Fluss fließt durch die Stadt. (The river flows through the city.)
- Accusative: Wir überqueren den Fluss mit einer Fähre. (We cross the river with a ferry.)
- Dative: Das Boot liegt an dem Fluss. (The boat is on the river.)
- Genitive: Das Wasser des Flusses ist sehr sauber. (The water of the river is very clean.)
- Plural: Viele Flüsse münden ins Meer. (Many rivers flow into the sea.)
- Figurative: Der Fluss der Informationen hörte nicht auf. (The flow of information didn't stop.)
💡 How to use „Fluss“?
„Der Fluss“ is very commonly used in the context of geography, nature, and travel.
- Geographically: When talking about landscapes, routes, or locations (e.g., „Die Stadt liegt am Fluss.“ - The city is located on the river., „Der längste Fluss Deutschlands ist der Rhein.“ - The longest river in Germany is the Rhine.).
- Activities: In connection with leisure activities like fishing, boating, or swimming (e.g., „Wir machen eine Bootsfahrt auf dem Fluss.“ - We are taking a boat trip on the river.).
- Figuratively: In a metaphorical sense to express continuity or movement (e.g., „im Fluss sein“ means something is in flux or developing; „der Redefluss“ describes fluent speech).
Difference to similar words:
🧠 Mnemonics for „der Fluss“
For the article „der“: Think of a powerful, mighty current – rivers can be very forceful (kraftvoll). This strength and power fit well with the masculine article der. Imagine Der strong river.
For the meaning: The word „Fluss“ sounds a bit like the English word "flows". A Fluss is something that constantly flows. Picture the sound of flowing water when you think of Fluss.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar words):
- For „River“:
- For „Flow“ (figurative):
Antonyms (opposites):
- For „River“ (indirectly):
- For „Flow“:
- Stillstand (der): Standstill, halt.
- Stockung (die): Interruption of flow (e.g., traffic jam).
- Stagnation (die): Stagnation.
🚨 Watch out! Potential for confusion!
- Flut (die): Usually refers to the high tide (Gezeiten) or a flood/inundation (Hochwasser/Überschwemmung), not the river itself.
😄 A little joke
German: Fragt ein Tourist am Flussufer einen Angler: „Beißen die Fische?“ Sagt der Angler: „Nein, Sie können sie ruhig streicheln.“
English: A tourist asks an angler on the riverbank: "Are the fish biting?" The angler replies: "No, you can pet them if you like."
📜 Poem about the River
German:
Der Fluss, er fließt bei Tag und Nacht,
hat Länder schon zusammengebracht.
Mal sanft und leise, mal voll Kraft,
hat Leben er an Ufern erschafft.
Er spiegelt Wolken, Himmelsblau,
mal ist er trüb, mal klar und rau.
Sein Lauf, er endet erst im Meer,
der Fluss, er gibt uns immer mehr.
English Translation:
The river, it flows by day and night,
has brought countries together tight.
Sometimes gentle, sometimes full of might,
it created life on banks so bright.
It mirrors clouds, the sky's blue hue,
sometimes murky, sometimes clear and new.
Its course only ends within the sea,
the river, it gives endlessly.
❓ Riddle
German:
Ich habe ein Bett, doch schlafe nie.
Ich habe einen Mund, doch spreche nie.
Ich fließe ständig, Tag und Nacht,
und habe schon manch Schiff gebracht.
Wer bin ich?
English:
I have a bed, but never sleep.
I have a mouth, but never speak.
I flow constantly, day and night,
and have carried many ships to sight.
What am I?
Solution: Der Fluss (The River)
✨ Other Information
- Etymology: The word „Fluss“ comes from the Old High German „fluz“ and is closely related to the verb „fließen“ (to flow).
- Word Compounds: There are many compound words with „Fluss“, e.g., Flussbett (riverbed), Flusslauf (course of the river), Flussmündung (river mouth), Flusspferd (hippopotamus, lit. 'river horse'), Flusswasser (river water), Nebenfluss (tributary), Flussdiagramm (flowchart, for the 'flow' of processes).
- Figurative Use: The idiom „alles ist im Fluss“ (everything is in flow/flux), originally attributed to the Greek philosopher Heraclitus („Panta rhei“), means that everything is constantly changing.
Summary: is it der, die or das Fluss?
The word "Fluss" referring to a river or a flow is masculine, so the correct article is always der Fluss. The plural form is die Flüsse.