der
Krankenwagen
🚑 What exactly is a Krankenwagen?
A Krankenwagen (article: der) is a specially equipped vehicle designed for transporting sick, injured, or otherwise needy individuals. Its primary purpose is to quickly and safely transport patients to medical facilities (like hospitals) or to provide initial medical care on site.
The term is often used synonymously with Rettungswagen (RTW), which translates more directly to 'rescue vehicle', although there can be subtle differences in equipment and purpose (e.g., Krankentransportwagen (KTW) for non-acute cases).
In English, the most common translation is ambulance.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-en → mostly masculine.
1. All diminutives with '-chen' are neutral, like 'das Mädchen'. 2. Nouns derived from verbs are always neutral ('das Schrieben'). 3. There are many -en words, we won't list them all.
Grammatical Details: Der Krankenwagen
The noun "Krankenwagen" is masculine. Its article is der. It declines as follows:
Declension
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | der Krankenwagen | ein Krankenwagen |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | den Krankenwagen | einen Krankenwagen |
| Dative (To/For Whom?) | dem Krankenwagen | einem Krankenwagen |
| Genitive (Whose?) | des Krankenwagens | eines Krankenwagens |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Krankenwagen | Krankenwagen |
| Accusative | die Krankenwagen | Krankenwagen |
| Dative | den Krankenwagen | Krankenwagen |
| Genitive | der Krankenwagen | Krankenwagen |
Example Sentences
- Der Krankenwagen traf schnell am Unfallort ein.
(The ambulance arrived quickly at the accident scene.) - Sie riefen sofort einen Krankenwagen.
(They immediately called an ambulance.) - Die Sanitäter halfen dem Patienten aus dem Krankenwagen.
(The paramedics helped the patient out of the ambulance.) - Das Martinshorn des Krankenwagens war schon von weitem zu hören.
(The siren of the ambulance could be heard from afar.) - Mehrere Krankenwagen wurden zur Großveranstaltung beordert.
(Several ambulances were dispatched to the large event.)
Usage in Context 🚦
"Der Krankenwagen" is the standard German term for vehicles used in emergency medical services and patient transport. You'll often hear or read the word in news reports about accidents or medical emergencies.
- In an emergency: "Schnell, ruf einen Krankenwagen!" (Quick, call an ambulance!)
- In a report: "Ein Krankenwagen brachte den Verletzten ins nächste Krankenhaus." (An ambulance took the injured person to the nearest hospital.)
- Colloquially: Sometimes "Sanka" (from Sanitätskraftwagen) is used, but it's a bit dated. "Rettungswagen" (RTW) is often the technically more precise term for emergency response vehicles.
⚠️ Be aware that "Krankenwagen" is a general term. Depending on the context, more specific terms like Rettungswagen (RTW), Notarztwagen (NAW - emergency doctor's vehicle), or Krankentransportwagen (KTW - patient transport ambulance) might be more appropriate.
Memory Aids for Krankenwagen 🧠
Article Mnemonic (der):
Think of a strong vehicle: Der Wagen (the car/wagon) is masculine in German. Since a Krankenwagen is a type of 'Wagen', it takes the masculine article 'der'. Imagine 'der' strong Wagen carrying 'den' Kranken (the sick person).
Meaning Mnemonic:
Break it down: Kranken (genitive plural of 'krank' = sick, meaning 'of the sick people') + Wagen (car/vehicle). It literally means a 'vehicle for the sick'. Easy peasy!
Similar and Opposite Terms ↔️
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Rettungswagen (RTW): (Rescue vehicle) Often used interchangeably, typically for emergency responses.
- Sanitätskraftwagen (Sanka): (Medical motor vehicle) Somewhat dated, colloquial term.
- Notarztwagen (NAW): (Emergency doctor vehicle) An ambulance staffed with an emergency physician.
- Krankentransportwagen (KTW): (Patient transport vehicle) For scheduled, non-urgent transports.
- Ambulanz: (Ambulance) Internationally understood, but less common in German than "Krankenwagen" or "Rettungswagen".
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning - conceptually):
- Privatwagen/PKW: (Private car) Vehicle for personal use, not medical transport.
- Leichenwagen: (Hearse) Vehicle for transporting the deceased (opposite of the life-saving purpose).
- Feuerwehrauto: (Fire truck) Another emergency vehicle with a different purpose (firefighting, technical rescue).
Potential Confusion:
Be careful not to confuse the different types of emergency vehicles (RTW vs. KTW), as they have different equipment and roles.
A Little Joke 😂
German: Fragt der Arzt den Patienten im Krankenwagen: "Wohin fahren wir denn so eilig?" Sagt der Patient: "Ins Krankenhaus, Herr Doktor, wo denken Sie denn hin?" Arzt: "Puh, Glück gehabt! Ich dachte schon, Sie wollten wieder zur Eisdiele..."
English Translation: The doctor asks the patient in the ambulance: "Where are we going in such a hurry?" The patient says: "To the hospital, Doctor, where else do you think?" Doctor: "Phew, lucky! I thought you wanted to go to the ice cream parlor again..."
A Short Poem ✒️
German:
Mit Blaulicht schnell und lautem Ton,
eilt er herbei, man hört es schon.
Der Krankenwagen, rot und weiß,
bringt Hilfe auf die schnelle Reis'.
Für Kranke da, in Not und Pein,
fährt er geschwind, lässt keinen allein.
English Translation:
With flashing lights and siren's sound,
It hurries close, can be heard around.
The ambulance, in red and white,
Brings help along its speedy flight.
For sick folks there, in need and pain,
It drives so fast, leaves none in vain.
A Little Riddle 🤔
German:
Ich habe Sirenen und Lichter, die blitzen,
in mir Sanitäter auf Sitzen.
Ich fahre schnell, wenn jemand leidet,
und ins Hospital ihn begleitet.
Was bin ich?
Lösung: Der Krankenwagen
English Translation:
I have sirens and lights that flash bright,
Inside me, paramedics sit tight.
I drive fast when someone's in pain,
And take them to the hospital again.
What am I?
Solution: The ambulance (Der Krankenwagen)
Trivia & Word Origin 🧐
Word Composition:
The word "Krankenwagen" is a compound noun, made up of:
- Kranken: Genitive plural of "der Kranke" (the sick person / the patient). So it means "of the sick people".
- Wagen: Means car, vehicle, or wagon.
Together, the meaning is literally: A vehicle for the sick people.
Trivia:
- The Europe-wide emergency number to call an ambulance (or fire department/police) is 112.
- The typical color for ambulances in Germany is white or ivory with bright red or bright yellow elements.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Krankenwagen?
The word "Krankenwagen" is masculine. The correct article is der Krankenwagen. It refers to an ambulance, a vehicle used for transporting and providing initial care for sick or injured people.