der  Gehweg

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈɡeːveːk/

🚶 What exactly is a Gehweg?

A Gehweg is a paved path specifically intended for pedestrians. It is typically located next to a road and structurally separated from it, often by a curb (Bordstein).

The main purpose of a Gehweg is to provide pedestrians with a safe area away from vehicle traffic.

• Article: der (masculine)
• Meaning: Path for pedestrians alongside a roadway (sidewalk, pavement)

⚠️ Attention: Although often used synonymously with Bürgersteig, there can be regional differences. In some areas, people might prefer Bürgersteig or Trottoir.

Article rules for der, die, and das

Grammar Walk: A Closer Look at 'der Gehweg' 🧐

The word "Gehweg" is a masculine noun. It uses the article der.

Declension (Deklination):

Singular

Plural

Example Sentences (Beispielsätze)

1. Bitte benutzen Sie den Gehweg und gehen Sie nicht auf der Straße. (Please use the sidewalk and do not walk on the street.)
2. Der Gehweg vor unserem Haus muss gekehrt werden. (The sidewalk in front of our house needs to be swept.)
3. Auf vielen Gehwegen ist das Radfahren verboten. (Cycling is forbidden on many sidewalks.)
4. Die Wurzeln des Baumes haben den Gehweg angehoben. (The tree's roots have lifted the sidewalk.)

👟 When and how to use "Gehweg"?

The term Gehweg is the neutral and widely used designation for the pedestrian path along a street (sidewalk or pavement in English).

• Standard Use: In everyday life, in official contexts (e.g., road traffic regulations - Straßenverkehrsordnung), in news reports.
• Comparison with Bürgersteig: Often used synonymously. "Bürgersteig" perhaps emphasizes the urban context slightly more ("path for the citizens" - Bürger).
• Comparison with Trottoir: Rather formal or regional (especially Southwestern Germany, Switzerland, Austria), borrowed from French.
• Comparison with Fußweg: Can also refer to a path not directly adjacent to a road (e.g., through a park). "Gehweg" usually implies proximity to the roadway (Fahrbahn).

One speaks of walking auf dem Gehweg (on the sidewalk), crossing it (ihn überqueren), or keeping it clean (ihn sauber halten).

💡 Mnemonics to Remember

Article Mnemonic: Think of DER dude GEH-ing (going) on the WEG (way/path). -> der Gehweg.

Meaning Mnemonic: The word itself tells you: A path (Weg) for walking/going (gehen) -> Geh-weg.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Words

Potentially Confusing Words

• Gehwegerecht: The legal right to use a path across someone else's property (right of way - a legal term).
• Weg: General term for a way, path, or route, not specific to pedestrians next to a road.

😄 A Little Sidewalk Joke

German: Fragt ein Polizist einen Mann auf dem Gehweg: "Haben Sie etwas getrunken?" Antwortet der Mann: "Nein, warum? Ist der Gehweg schon wieder so schmal?"

English: A police officer asks a man on the sidewalk: "Have you been drinking?" The man replies: "No, why? Is the sidewalk this narrow again?"

📜 Poem about the Gehweg

Der Gehweg

Am Rande der Straße, breit und grau, (At the edge of the street, wide and grey,)
liegt er da für Mann und Frau. (it lies there for man and woman.)
Ein Pfad zum Schreiten, sicher, klar, (A path for striding, safe and clear,)
das ist der Gehweg, wunderbar. (that is the sidewalk, wonderful.)

Autos brausen schnell vorbei, (Cars rush quickly past,)
doch hier ist man vom Lärm fast frei. (but here one is almost free from the noise.)
Ein Platz zum Schlendern, Schritt für Schritt, (A place to stroll, step by step,)
komm, geh einfach mit! (come, just walk along!)

❓ Little Riddle

German:
Ich liege neben der lauten Bahn,
bin sicher für den Fußesmann.
Manchmal heiße ich Bürgersteig,
doch mein Name ist nicht weich.

Was bin ich?

English Translation:
I lie beside the noisy lane,
am safe for the pedestrian.
Sometimes I'm called Bürgersteig,
but my name isn't weak or slight.

What am I?

(Solution: Der Gehweg / The sidewalk)

🧩 Other Info about Gehweg

Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung)

The word "Gehweg" is a compound noun (Kompositum), composed of:

• gehen: Verb meaning 'to go' or 'to walk'.
• Weg: Noun meaning 'way', 'path', or 'route'.

So, literally: A way for walking.

Trivia

• The German Road Traffic Regulations (Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung - StVO) specify exactly who is allowed to use the Gehweg (primarily pedestrians) and what exceptions exist (e.g., children on bicycles up to a certain age).
• The width of sidewalks (Breite von Gehwegen) is often a topic in urban planning debates to ensure accessibility and sufficient space for everyone.