der  Parcours

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/paʁˈkuːʁ/

🗺️ What does "der Parcours" mean?

The word der Parcours (pronounced [paʁˈkuːɐ̯] or [parˈkuːr]) comes from French and in German primarily refers to:

• A defined course or track with natural or artificial obstacles that must be overcome. This is particularly common in sports (e.g., Springreiten - show jumping, Hindernislauf - obstacle running, mountain biking, parkour/freerunning, agility for dogs, archery).
• More generally, a predetermined path or route to be followed or driven.

⚠️ Attention: Although the sport "Parkour" sounds similar and often involves obstacles, der Parcours is more about the course itself, while "Parkour" (often used without an article or as 'das Parkour') describes the discipline of overcoming obstacles.

📐 Grammar in Detail: Der Parcours

The noun "Parcours" is masculine and uses the article "der". It is mostly used without a plural form, or the plural is identical to the singular (die Parcours).

Example Sentences

1. Der Springreiter meisterte den schwierigen Parcours fehlerfrei.
   (The show jumper mastered the difficult course flawlessly.)
2. Für das Mountainbike-Rennen wurde ein neuer Parcours im Wald angelegt.
   (A new course was created in the forest for the mountain bike race.)
3. Der Bogenschieß-Parcours führte durch hügeliges Gelände.
   (The archery course led through hilly terrain.)
4. Beim Agility muss der Hund einen bestimmten Parcours möglichst schnell durchlaufen.
   (In agility, the dog must complete a specific course as quickly as possible.)

🏃‍♀️ How is "der Parcours" used?

"Der Parcours" is almost always used in the context of sports, leisure activities, or competitions where a set course with challenges needs to be completed.

• Sport: Springreiten (Show jumping), Vielseitigkeitsreiten (eventing), motorsport (rally), cycling (downhill, cross-country), running (obstacle course race, orienteering), archery (3D course), dog sports (agility).
• Leisure: Climbing parks (high ropes course - Hochseilgarten-Parcours), adventure playgrounds, sometimes also for educational trails or circular routes with stations.
• Figurative Meaning: Less commonly, "Parcours" can be used metaphorically for a difficult or challenging phase or process in life (e.g., "der Parcours des Studiums" - the course of study), but this is rather unusual.

The term emphasizes the structure and sequence of obstacles or stations along a defined route.

🧠 How to remember "der Parcours"

Article Mnemonic: Think of "DER Kurs" (the course). A Parcours is a type of Kurs or Strecke (track). Both Kurs and Strecke (when meaning a specific race track) can conceptually lean towards masculine energy (the defined path, the challenge). Stick with DER Kurs -> der Parcours.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you park your car (sounds like the start of Parcours) and then run a course (sounds like the end of Parcours) with obstacles.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

Risk of Confusion: Do not confuse with the sport Parkour (often without an article or 'das'), which focuses on the movement itself, not primarily on the course/track.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Gärtner den Parcours für die Schnecken so kompliziert gebaut?
Damit sie nicht so schnell ins Ziel schleimen!

(Why did the gardener build such a complicated course for the snails?
So they wouldn't slime their way to the finish line so quickly! - "schleimen" means both "to slime" and "to suck up/brown-nose")

📜 A Poem about the Parcours

Der Parcours ruft, der Weg ist klar,
Mal über Stock, mal über Stein, wunderbar.
Ein Hindernis, dann noch geschwind,
Durch diesen Lauf, getragen vom Wind.
Der Reiter lenkt, der Läufer springt,
Bis die Glocke am Ziele klingt.
Der Parcours fordert Mut und Kraft,
Wer ihn bezwingt, hat's geschafft.

(The course calls, the path is clear,
Sometimes over logs, sometimes stones, it's wonderful here.
An obstacle, then quickly fast,
Through this run, carried by the blast.
The rider steers, the runner leaps,
Until the bell at the finish line beeps.
The course demands courage and might,
Whoever conquers it, has won the fight.)

🧩 Riddle Time

Ich bin ein Weg, doch nicht zum Wandern frei,
Hab Hürden, Sprünge, mancherlei.
Im Sport bin ich oft zu Haus,
Pferd, Rad und Läufer kennen sich aus.
Man folgt mir streng von Start bis Ziel.
Wie heiß ich wohl, wer raten will?

(I am a path, but not free for hiking,
I have hurdles, jumps, of various liking.
In sports, I am often found,
Horse, bike, and runner know the ground.
You follow me strictly from start to end.
What am I called, my guessing friend?)

Solution: der Parcours

💡 More Interesting Facts

Origin: The word "Parcours" was adopted directly from French, where "parcours" (masculine) means "run", "course", "track", or also "career path" (figuratively). It derives from the verb "parcourir", meaning "to run through", "to traverse".

Pronunciation: The pronunciation can vary slightly. In German, one often hears [paʁˈkuːɐ̯] with a faint 'r' sound at the end, or [parˈkuːr], closer to the French original.