der
Hinterhof
🧱 What exactly is a Hinterhof?
A Hinterhof refers to a *courtyard* or *backyard* that is located behind a building (hinter means *behind*) or between several buildings. Typically, it's enclosed by buildings and not directly visible from the street.
You often find *Hinterhöfe* (plural) in urban areas, especially with older apartment buildings (called *Mietskasernen*). Historically, they were often used as work areas, storage spaces, or simply as a source of light and air for the rear apartments. Today, they are sometimes used as gardens, playgrounds, or communal areas, but they can also be barren and unused.
The article is always der: der Hinterhof.
🧐 Grammar: Der Hinterhof in Detail
The word 'Hinterhof' is a masculine noun. Here is its declension:
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun | English Case Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der | Hinterhof | Nominative (Subject) |
| Genitiv | des | Hinterhof(e)s | Genitive (Possessive) |
| Dativ | dem | Hinterhof(e) | Dative (Indirect Object) |
| Akkusativ | den | Hinterhof | Accusative (Direct Object) |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun | English Case Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | die | Hinterhöfe | Nominative |
| Genitiv | der | Hinterhöfe | Genitive |
| Dativ | den | Hinterhöfen | Dative |
| Akkusativ | die | Hinterhöfe | Accusative |
Example Sentences 📝
- Der Hinterhof war ruhig und schattig. (The backyard was quiet and shady.)
- Die Kinder spielten im Hinterhof. (The children played in the backyard.)
- Durch das Fenster konnte man einen Blick auf den grauen Hinterhof werfen. (Through the window, one could catch a glimpse of the grey courtyard.)
- Die Mülltonnen stehen im Hinterhof. (The garbage cans are in the backyard.)
- Die Anwohner verschönerten ihren Hinterhof mit Pflanzen. (The residents beautified their courtyard with plants.)
🏙️ Everyday Usage
The term Hinterhof is mainly used to describe the area behind an urban residential building. It often carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting confinement, lack of light, and sometimes neglect, although this isn't always the case.
Compared to a Garten (*garden*), which is usually green and used for recreation, a *Hinterhof* is often paved or concreted and serves more functional purposes (e.g., for trash cans, bicycles).
In films or literature, the *Hinterhof* sometimes symbolizes social milieus or a hidden, private space contrasting with the public facade of the building.
🧠 Memory Aids
Article 'der': Think of 'der Hof' (the courtyard/yard). Many open spaces are masculine in German (der Platz - the square, der Park - the park). The yard (*Hof*) *behind* (*hinter*) the house is also masculine: der Hinterhof.
Meaning: The word is a compound of 'hinter' (*behind*) and 'Hof' (*courtyard* or *yard*). So, a Hinterhof is literally the yard *behind* the building.
↔️ Opposites and Similarities
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
Watch out! ⚠️
😂 A Little Joke
DE: Warum hat der Hinterhof keine Geheimnisse?
Weil die Nachbarn immer alles durch die Fenster sehen!
EN: Why does the backyard have no secrets?
Because the neighbours always see everything through the windows!
📜 Poem about the Hinterhof
DE:
Grauer Stein, ein Baum so karg,
Im Hinterhof, Tag für Tag.
Kinderlachen, leis und fern,
Man sieht den Himmel, nicht den Stern.
Ein eignes Reich, versteckt, gering,
Wo Stille wohnt, ein leises Ding.
EN:
Grey stone, a tree so bare,
In the backyard, day by day there.
Children's laughter, soft and far,
You see the sky, but not a star.
A realm its own, hidden, small,
Where silence lives, a quiet thrall.
❓ Riddle
DE:
Ich liege hinter Mauern, selten schön,
man kann mich oft vom Küchenfenster sehn.
Bin manchmal grau, doch manchmal auch belebt,
ein Platz, der nah am Haus und doch versteckt oft klebt.
Was bin ich?
EN:
I lie behind walls, rarely pretty,
you can often see me from the kitchen window, you see.
Sometimes I'm grey, but sometimes full of life's zest,
a place near the house, yet hidden like a secret nest.
What am I?
(Solution: der Hinterhof / the backyard/courtyard)
💡 More Facts
Word Composition: The word is a compound noun, formed from:
- hinter: (preposition/adverb) meaning 'behind' or 'rear'.
- Hof: (noun) meaning 'courtyard', 'yard', or 'farmstead'.
Cultural Significance: The *Hinterhof* is a recurring motif in German literature and film (e.g., in works depicting Berlin life by Heinrich Zille or in various films). It often serves as a setting for social studies or as a symbol of private life, sometimes also representing social confinement or the less glamorous side of urban living.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Hinterhof?
The German word 'Hinterhof' is a masculine noun. The correct article is always der. Therefore, you say: der Hinterhof (nominative), des Hinterhof(e)s (genitive), dem Hinterhof(e) (dative), den Hinterhof (accusative). The plural form is die Hinterhöfe.