der
Pass
🛂 What Exactly is 'der Pass'? More Than Just a Document!
The German word der Pass (masculine) has several meanings:
- 📄 Official Document: The most common meaning is an official document for identification and travel, especially the Reisepass (passport). It can also refer to other IDs (e.g., Personalpass, an older term for identity card).
- ⛰️ Geographical Crossing: A Pass also refers to a route across a mountain range, a lower point between peaks (e.g., der Brennerpass - the Brenner Pass).
- ⚽ Sporting Move: In sports, particularly football (soccer) or basketball, a Pass is the act of passing the ball to a teammate.
- 🐎 Gait (less common): For horses, der Pass denotes a specific gait (Passgang or pace), where the legs on one side of the body move forward simultaneously.
⚠️ Pay attention to the context to understand the correct meaning!
🧐 Grammar of 'der Pass' in Detail
The noun "Pass" is masculine. Its declension is as follows:
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Pass | ein Pass |
| Genitive | des Passes | eines Passes |
| Dative | dem Pass / Passe | einem Pass / Passe |
| Accusative | den Pass | einen Pass |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Pässe | Pässe |
| Genitive | der Pässe | Pässe |
| Dative | den Pässen | Pässen |
| Accusative | die Pässe | Pässe |
📝 Example Sentences
- Dokument: Ohne gültigen Pass darfst du nicht ins Ausland reisen.
(Without a valid passport, you are not allowed to travel abroad.) - Gebirge: Wir fuhren über einen hohen Pass in den Alpen.
(We drove over a high pass in the Alps.) - Sport: Sein präziser Pass führte zum Tor.
(His precise pass led to the goal.) - Gangart: Das Pferd ging im schnellen Pass.
(The horse moved at a fast pace/Passgang.)
🌍 When to Use 'der Pass'? Context is Key!
- Travel & Authorities: When talking about travel, border controls, or official IDs, it usually means the Reisepass (passport). Example: "Bitte zeigen Sie Ihren Pass." (Please show your passport.)
- Geography & Hiking: In conversations about mountains, routes, or landscapes, der Pass refers to the mountain crossing. Example: "Der Pass ist im Winter gesperrt." (The pass is closed in winter.)
- Sports: In a sporting context (football/soccer, hockey, basketball, etc.), der Pass means passing the ball to a teammate. Example: "Ein guter Pass ist oft wichtiger als ein Dribbling." (A good pass is often more important than dribbling.)
- Equestrian (specific): The meaning as a gait is more specialized and less common in everyday language.
Risk of Confusion? The verb "passen" sounds similar but means 'to fit' or 'to suit'. Example: "Die Schuhe passen gut." (The shoes fit well.) vs. "Ich brauche meinen Pass." (I need my passport.)
💡 Mnemonics for 'der Pass'
- Remembering the Article (der): Think of der Reisepass (the passport) - 'R' for Reise and 'der'. Or associate it with masculine concepts: the man (der Mann) needs the passport (der Pass) to travel over the mountain pass (der Pass). Or: Who needs the pass? Der (the) traveler.
- Remembering the Meanings: Imagine you need your Pass (document) to go over a mountain Pass (geography), where you then make a football Pass (sport). (The horse gait is harder to integrate but less common anyway).
You have to pass attention (aufpassen) to which Pass is meant!
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
Similar Sounding Words:
- passen (verb): to fit, to suit; to pay attention (aufpassen)
- Passe (noun, feminine, dated): narrow road, bottleneck
😄 A Little Joke about 'der Pass'
Border guard asks: "Nationalität?" (Nationality?)
Tourist replies: "Ja, bitte!" (Yes, please!)
Guard: "Nein, ich meine, woher kommen Sie?" (No, I mean, where are you from?)
Tourist: "Achso! Aus dem Urlaub!" (Oh! From vacation!)
Guard: "Zeigen Sie mir bitte Ihren Pass!" (Show me your passport, please!)
Tourist: "Welchen? Den Spaßpass habe ich leider zuhause gelassen!" 😉 (Which one? I unfortunately left my 'fun pass' at home! - Spaß means fun)
📜 A Rhyme for 'der Pass'
Der Pass, er öffnet Tür und Tor,
Zeigt, wer du bist, tritt klar hervor.
Ob über Berge, steil und krass,
Führt dich der Weg, der schmale Pass.
Im Spiel der Ball, mit Schwung und Bass,
Fliegt zum Kollegen – welch ein Pass!
Ein Wort, drei Welten, merk dir das!
(The Pass, it opens door and gate,
Shows who you are, appears clearly.
Whether over mountains, steep and stark,
The path leads you, the narrow Pass.
In the game the ball, with verve and bass,
Flies to the colleague – what a Pass!
One word, three worlds, remember that!)
❓ Little Riddle
Ich zeige dein Gesicht und Namen,
Lass dich reisen aus dem Land heraus und nahmen.
Ich führe dich auch über Berge fort,
Und bin im Spiel ein wichtiger Sport-Akkord.
Was bin ich?
(I show your face and name,
Let you travel out of the country and [be] taken.
I also lead you forth over mountains,
And am an important sports chord in the game.
What am I?)
... Der Pass (The Pass / passport / mountain pass / sports pass)
🧩 Other Interesting Facts
Word Origin: The word "Pass" comes from the Italian "passo" or French "pas", meaning "step". This originally referred to passing through a narrow place or border.
Compound Words: There are many compound German words with "Pass":
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Pass?
The word "Pass" is always masculine: der Pass. It has multiple meanings, including passport, mountain pass, and a pass in sports.