der / die  Mast

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/mast/

📖 What does Mast mean? A Dual Perspective

The German word Mast has two genders, leading to different meanings:

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Der and Die Mast

Let's take a closer look at the declension of der Mast and die Mast.

Declension of der Mast (masculine)

Example sentences for der Mast:

• Der hohe Mast des Segelschiffes brach im Sturm. (The tall mast of the sailboat broke in the storm.)
• Viele Vögel sitzen auf dem Antennenmast. (Many birds are sitting on the antenna mast.)
• Der Sturm knickte mehrere Strommasten um. (The storm knocked over several electricity pylons.)

Declension of die Mast (feminine)

Note: The plural of die Mast is uncommon. It's mainly used when referring to the fruits (acorns, beechnuts) and meaning different harvests or types.

Example sentences for die Mast:

• Die Mast der Schweine dauert mehrere Monate. (The fattening of the pigs lasts several months.)
• Im Herbst suchen Wildschweine im Wald nach Mast. (In autumn, wild boars search for mast (acorns and beechnuts) in the forest.)
• Eine gute Buchenmast sorgt für volle Mägen bei den Waldtieren. (A good beech mast ensures full stomachs for the forest animals.)

🛠️ Application and Context: Using Mast

The usage of Mast heavily depends on its article.

Usage of der Mast

Der Mast is used whenever referring to a physical, usually tall and slender structure. The context is often technical or nautical.

• Nautical: Hauptmast (main mast), Besanmast (mizzenmast), Fockmast (foremast) are specific masts on a ship.
• Technical: Sendemast (transmission mast), Mobilfunkmast (cell tower), Richtfunkmast (radio relay mast) are common terms. A Freileitungsmast is another term for an electricity pylon.
• General: A Fahnenmast (flagpole) is often found in front of public buildings or in gardens.

There's little risk of confusion as the form and function are usually clear. Sometimes 'Mast' can be used metaphorically for something tall and supportive, but this is rare.

Usage of die Mast

Die Mast refers to processes or substances in agriculture and forestry.

• Agriculture: One speaks of Schweinemast (pig fattening), Rindermast (cattle fattening), Geflügelmast (poultry fattening). It's about rearing and feeding for weight gain. The term can also be used critically in the context of factory farming.
• Forestry/Hunting: The forest mast (acorns, beechnuts) is important for the forest ecosystem and the diet of wild animals. A 'Mastjahr' is a year with a particularly abundant fruit yield from trees.

A related verb is mästen, meaning to fatten animals for Mast.

🧠 Mnemonics for Mast

Article Mnemonic

Der pole is masculine and tall, like a Master.
Die feed is what she (feminine) Masticates (chews), or it's the process of making them fat.

Meaning Mnemonic

Der Mast stands mastive and tall.
Die Mast is what animals must eat to get big, or the process of making them so.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

😂 A Little Joke about Mast

German: Frage: Warum hat der Funkmast so gute Laune? Antwort: Weil er immer auf Sendung ist und tolle Verbindungen knüpft!

English: Question: Why is the radio mast in such a good mood? Answer: Because it's always on air and making great connections!

📜 A Poem about the Mast

Der Schiffsmast (The Ship's Mast)

Hoch ragt der Mast zum Himmelszelt, (High towers the mast to heaven's tent,)
ein starker Riese in der Welt. (a mighty giant in the world.)
Er trägt die Segel, weiß und rein, (It bears the sails, so white and pure,)
fährt mit dem Wind ins Weit-hinein. (sails with the wind into the yonder lure.)
Dem Sturm er trotzt, der See so rau, (It defies the storm, the sea so rough,)
ein Ankerpunkt, so stark und schlau. (an anchor point, so strong and tough.)

Die Waldmast (The Forest Mast)

Im Herbst, wenn Blätter fallen sacht, (In autumn, when leaves gently fall,)
beginnt die Mast, vom Baum gebracht. (begins the mast, from trees for all.)
Eicheln und Bucheckern klein, (Acorns and beechnuts small,)
für Wildschwein, Reh ein Festtags-Schmaus für all'. (for boar and deer, a feast for all.)
Die Tiere mästet sie so rund, (It fattens animals so round,)
ein Segen aus der Erde Grund. (a blessing from the earth's deep ground.)

🤔 Little Riddle

Version 1 (der Mast):
German: Ich stehe hoch und trage viel,
ob Segel, Fahne oder Funk als Ziel.
Mal aus Holz, mal Stahl so blank,
was bin ich? Rate, sei nicht bang!
English: I stand up high and carry much,
Be it sail, or flag, or radio's touch.
Sometimes of wood, sometimes steel so grand,
What am I? Guess now, close at hand!

Solution: Der Mast (the mast/pole)

Version 2 (die Mast):
German: Ich mache Tiere dick und schwer,
als Futter komm ich aus dem Walde her.
Im Herbst bin ich besonders fein,
was mag ich nur für Tiere sein?
English: I make animals fat and grand,
As fodder, I come from the forest land.
In autumn, I am a special treat,
What am I, for animals to eat?

Solution: Die Mast (the mast/feed or fattening process)

💡 Other Interesting Facts about Mast

Word Origin and Compounds:

• Der Mast: The word Mast (m.) comes from Old High German 'mast' and is related to Latin 'mālus' (apple tree, also mast-tree). It originally referred to a tree trunk used as a pole.
• Die Mast: The word Mast (f.) comes from Old High German 'mast' (fattening, rich fodder) and is related to 'mästen' (to fatten). It referred to feeding animals with forest fruits.

Interesting Facts:

• The world's tallest freestanding mast is the Gerbrandy Tower in the Netherlands, over 366 meters high (a transmission mast).
• In so-called Mastjahren (mast years), trees like oaks and beeches produce a particularly large amount of fruit, which has a significant impact on wildlife populations.
• In the past, ship masts were often made from a single, very tall tree trunk, which was an enormous logistical challenge.