der
Korridor
🚶 What does "der Korridor" mean?
Der Korridor is a masculine noun meaning a corridor or hallway in a building, connecting different rooms. It serves as a passageway.
Figuratively, der Korridor can also refer to a narrow strip of land (e.g., a politischer Korridor, political corridor, between countries) or a designated airspace (Luftkorridor for airplanes). A humanitärer Korridor (humanitarian corridor) allows safe access in crisis areas.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-or → almost always masculine.
🧐 Grammar of "der Korridor" in Detail
The word "Korridor" is a masculine noun. The article is der.
Declension
| Case | Article | Noun | (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Korridor | (the corridor) |
| Genitive | des | Korridors | (of the corridor) |
| Dative | dem | Korridor | (to/for the corridor) |
| Accusative | den | Korridor | (the corridor) |
| Case | Article | Noun | (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Korridore | (the corridors) |
| Genitive | der | Korridore | (of the corridors) |
| Dative | den | Korridoren | (to/for the corridors) |
| Accusative | die | Korridore | (the corridors) |
Example Sentences
- Der lange Korridor führte zu den Schlafräumen.
(The long corridor led to the bedrooms.) - Wir mussten durch einen dunklen Korridor gehen.
(We had to walk through a dark corridor.) - Im Korridor des Hotels hingen viele Bilder.
(Many pictures hung in the hotel corridor.) - Die Tür am Ende des Korridors war verschlossen.
(The door at the end of the corridor was locked.) - Flugzeuge müssen sich an die vorgegebenen Korridore halten.
(Airplanes must adhere to the designated corridors.)
💡 How "Korridor" is Used
Der Korridor is mostly used in the context of buildings (homes, hotels, offices, hospitals, schools) to describe the connecting hallway.
In politics and geography, people speak of Korridore as narrow connecting routes between areas (e.g., Danziger Korridor - Danzig Corridor) or for safe passages (humanitärer Korridor - humanitarian corridor).
In aviation, a Luftkorridor refers to a defined flight path.
There is little risk of confusion, as the meaning is usually clear from the context. Similar German words like Gang or Flur are often synonymous, although Korridor can sometimes sound slightly more formal or refer to a larger passage.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
Article Mnemonic: Imagine a doorman, der man at der door, standing guard at the entrance to der Korridor. The 'der' links the masculine article.
Meaning Mnemonic: A Korridor sounds a bit like 'courier door'. Imagine a courier running down the long hallway (Korridor) to deliver a package through a door. It helps remember it's a passage. (Relates to the origin: Italian correre = to run).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- der Flur: (Hallway) Very common synonym, often used in private homes.
- der Gang: (Passage, aisle, walk) General term for a passageway, often interchangeable with Korridor.
- der Durchgang: (Passage, thoroughfare) Emphasizes the function of passing through.
- die Passage: (Passage, arcade) More often for public, sometimes covered, walkways (e.g., shopping arcade - Einkaufspassage).
⚠️ Note: While Flur and Gang are often good substitutes, Korridor can be more specific, e.g., in large buildings or in its figurative meanings.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Geist Angst vor dem Korridor?
Weil er nicht weiß, ob er durch Wände oder Türen gehen soll!
(Why is the ghost afraid of the corridor? Because he doesn't know whether to go through walls or doors!)
📜 A Little Poem
Der Korridor, lang und schmal,
Verbindet Räume, ohne Wahl.
Schritte hallen, Licht fällt ein,
Ein Weg hindurch, so soll es sein.
(The corridor, long and narrow,
Connects rooms, without choice.
Footsteps echo, light enters,
A path through, so it shall be.)
❓ Riddle Time
Ich habe Türen links und rechts,
Doch selbst kein Zimmer, ist das schlecht?
Ich führe dich von A nach B,
In Hotel, Büro oder Klinik, oh weh!
Was bin ich?
(I have doors left and right,
But no room myself, is that bad?
I lead you from A to B,
In a hotel, office, or clinic, oh dear!
What am I?)Answer: Der Korridor (The corridor)
✨ Other Information
Etymology: The word "Korridor" comes from the Italian word corridoio, which originally meant "place for running" (from correre = to run). It entered German via French (corridor).
Trivia: In architecture, the design of Korridore plays a significant role in wayfinding, lighting, and the overall atmosphere of a building.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Korridor?
The noun "Korridor" is masculine, so the correct article is der. The genitive case is "des Korridors", and the plural form is "die Korridore". It means corridor or hallway.