der  Hort

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/hɔʁt/

📚 What does 'der Hort' mean?

The word der Hort has several meanings, some quite distinct:

• After-school care center 👶: The most common modern meaning is a facility for supervising schoolchildren after their classes, often called Kinderhort or simply Hort. Here, children do homework, play, and are looked after until their parents finish work.
• Refuge / Safe haven 🛡️: An older, more elevated or poetic meaning is a safe place, a refuge, shelter, or a sense of security. Example: "Die Familie war ihr einziger Hort." (The family was her only refuge.)
• Hoard / Treasure ✨: Also an older, poetic meaning, often used in sagas or myths (e.g., der Nibelungenhort - the hoard of the Nibelungs), referring to an accumulated treasure or valuable possession that is guarded.

⚠️ Pay attention to the context to understand the correct meaning. The first meaning (after-school care) is the most common in everyday life.

📐 Grammar of 'der Hort' in Detail

Der Hort is a masculine noun. It follows the strong declension pattern.

Example Sentences

• (After-school care) Nach der Schule gehen viele Kinder in den Hort. (After school, many children go to the after-school care center.)
• (Refuge) In Zeiten der Not war die Kirche oft ein Hort der Sicherheit. (In times of need, the church was often a haven of safety.)
• (Hoard, poetic) Der Drache bewachte den goldenen Hort in seiner Höhle. (The dragon guarded the golden hoard in its cave.)
• (Genitive) Die Leiterin des Hortes begrüßte die Eltern. (The director of the after-school care center greeted the parents.)
• (Plural) In unserer Stadt gibt es mehrere Horte für Schulkinder. (In our city, there are several after-school care centers for schoolchildren.)

🗣️ How is 'der Hort' used?

• Everyday Language (After-school care): The most frequent use refers to the afternoon care for schoolchildren. People talk about the Kinderhort, Schulhort, or just Hort. Example: "Mein Sohn ist bis 16 Uhr im Hort." (My son is at the after-school care center until 4 p.m.)
• Elevated/Literary Language (Refuge): In this meaning, the word sounds more formal or poetic. It describes a place or state of security and safety. Example: "Die Bibliothek war für ihn ein Hort des Wissens." (The library was a sanctuary of knowledge for him.)
• Mythology/Literature (Hoard): This meaning is found almost exclusively in older texts, sagas, or poems when referring to a guarded treasure. Example: "Siegfried kämpfte um den Hort der Nibelungen." (Siegfried fought for the hoard of the Nibelungs.)

Risk of Confusion? The word itself is quite distinct, but the context is crucial for the meaning. Confusion with similar-sounding words is rare.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'der Hort'

Article Mnemonic: Think of the afteR-school caRe centeR run by DER BetreueR (the male caregiver). The 'R' sounds might help you remember the masculine article 'der'. Or, think of it as a place that gives support ('Hort' sounds a bit like 'port').

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine children going to a safe port after school (der Hort), a place that's a treasure (Hort) of safety and fun for them, and a relief (Hort) for their parents.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar Sounding Words:

• Horde (die): A disorderly group or crowd of people or animals. Don't confuse! Example: "Eine Horde wilder Kinder stürmte den Spielplatz." (A horde of wild children stormed the playground.)

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt die Lehrerin: "Fritzchen, was ist der Unterschied zwischen einem Hort und einem Kindergarten?"
Fritzchen: "Im Hort sind die Kinder schon größer und können besser weglaufen!" 😄

Teacher asks: "Fritzie, what's the difference between an after-school care center (Hort) and a kindergarten?"
Fritzie: "At the Hort, the kids are already bigger and can run away better!" 😄

📜 A Poem about the Hort

Wenn die Schule schließt ihr Tor,
wartet schon der liebe Hort.
Mit Spiel und Spaß, ganz ohne Zwang,
wird keinem Nachmittag zu lang.

Ein sich'rer Platz, ein warmer Raum,
ein Kindertraum, man glaubt es kaum.
Ein Hort der Freude, hell und rein,
so soll Betreuung für Kinder sein.

When the school gate closes near,
Waits the lovely Hort so dear.
With games and fun, no forced demand,
No afternoon is ever bland.

A place secure, a room so warm,
A childhood dream, safe from the storm.
A Hort of joy, pure and bright,
That's how childcare should feel right.

🤔 A Little Riddle

Ich bin ein Ort für Groß und Klein,
nach Schulschluss kehren sie hier ein.
Mal bin ich Schutz in Sturm und Not,
mal bin ich Schatz, wie Gold so rot.

Was bin ich? ... Der Hort

I am a place for young and old,
After school, their stories unfold.
Sometimes a shelter from storm and need,
Sometimes a treasure, a golden seed.

What am I?
... Der Hort

💡 Other Interesting Facts

Word Origin: The word "Hort" comes from the Old High German word "hort", which meant "treasure", "stored supplies", or "protected place". It is related to the German verb "hüten" (to guard, protect). This original meaning still shines through in the poetic uses ("Hort der Sicherheit" - haven of safety, "Nibelungenhort" - hoard of the Nibelungs).

Cultural Significance: The term "Nibelungenhort" from the Nibelungenlied (Song of the Nibelungs) is a famous example of the meaning "hoard" in German literature and mythology.