der / die  Pier

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/piːɐ̯/

🚢 What does Pier mean?

The word Pier denotes a structure extending into the water, serving as a landing stage for ships or as a promenade. It originates from English.

Interestingly, "Pier" can have two articles in German:

• die Pier (feminine): This is the most common and recommended form. It generally refers to a jetty or a seaside pier.
• der Pier (masculine): This form is less common, used more regionally (especially in Northern Germany) or in technical language (e.g., for specific harbor facilities). It is sometimes considered outdated or not entirely standard, although it is listed in the Duden dictionary.

🚨 Attention: In general usage, die Pier is the safer choice.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Under the Microscope: Der or die Pier?

The noun "Pier" is a loanword from English. It can be both masculine (der) and feminine (die), with the feminine form being predominant.

Example Sentences

• Die Pier ragt weit ins Meer hinaus. (The pier extends far into the sea. - Feminine, common)
• Wir spazierten am Abend auf der Pier entlang. (We walked along the pier in the evening. - Feminine, common)
• Das große Containerschiff legte an dem Pier an. (The large container ship docked at the pier. - Masculine, less common, more technical/regional)
• Im Hafen gibt es mehrere Piers für unterschiedliche Schiffstypen. (There are several piers in the harbor for different types of ships. - Plural)

🗣️ How "Pier" is Used

The usage of "Pier" often depends on the context and region.

• General Use (die Pier): When talking about a seaside pier for strolling or a simple landing stage, "die Pier" is the usual choice. It's often interchangeable with "Seebrücke" (seaside pier) or "Landungsbrücke" (landing bridge). Example: Die Touristen fotografieren von der Pier den Sonnenuntergang. (The tourists photograph the sunset from the pier.)
• Specific/Regional Use (der Pier): In some contexts, especially in harbor areas or Northern Germany, "der Pier" might be used, often for more robust, functional jetties or moles. It can sometimes refer to an entire section of a port with multiple berths. Example: Der Tanker wird an Pier 5 entladen. (The tanker is being unloaded at Pier 5.)
• Distinction: A "Mole" is often more massive and primarily serves to protect the harbor from waves, although ships might dock there. A "Kai" (quay) is a reinforced embankment parallel to the water. A "Seebrücke" often serves touristic purposes. "Pier" is more specific than "Anlegestelle" (landing place) but broader than "Kai".

🧠 Mnemonics for "Pier"

Article Mnemonic: Think of die Brücke (the bridge) – both often end in 'e' in German and are feminine. This helps remember die Pier as the most common form.

Meaning Mnemonic: A Pier reaches into the sea (ins Meer). The similar sounds help remember the meaning 'structure extending into water'.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

Potentially Confusing Words

• Bier: Sounds similar, but means 'beer'. 😉
• Peer (English): The same spelling in English means 'equal' or 'nobleman'.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Piraten ihr Schiff nie mit auf die Pier?
Weil sie Angst haben, dass es pier-atet wird!

Why do pirates never take their ship onto the pier?
Because they're afraid it will be pi(e)r-ated! (Pun on 'pirated' and 'Pier')

📜 A Little Poem

Ob der Pier, ob die Pier,
ragt ins Wasser, stolz und schier.
Schiffe legen an im Nu,
Bringen Waren, fort im Flug.
Spaziergänger, Wind im Haar,
Blicken weit aufs Meer, so klar.

Whether der Pier, or die Pier,
Reaches into water, proud and sheer.
Ships dock in a flash,
Bringing goods, gone in a dash.
Strollers, wind in their hair,
Gaze far out to sea, so fair.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich strecke mich vom Land ins Nass,
Mal aus Holz, mal fest, mal krass.
Schiffe finden bei mir Halt,
Mal heiß die Sonne, mal ist's kalt.
Mal heiß ich 'der', mal heiß ich 'die',
Doch meistens feminin, irgendwie.

Was bin ich?

I stretch from land into the wet,
Sometimes wood, sometimes firmly set.
Ships find a place to moor by me,
Sometimes sunny, sometimes chilly.
Sometimes I'm 'der', sometimes 'die',
But mostly feminine, somehow, you see.

What am I? (Solution: Die Pier / The Pier)

💡 Other Interesting Facts

Etymology: The word "Pier" comes from Middle English "pere", which in turn derives from Old French "piere" (stone, rock) and ultimately from Latin "petra" (stone). Originally, it likely referred to stone breakwaters or moles.

Famous Piers: Famous examples include the seaside piers on the Baltic Sea (e.g., in Sellin or Heringsdorf, Germany) or the Santa Monica Pier in California.