der
Polizeiposten
👮 What exactly is a Polizeiposten?
A Polizeiposten is a smaller police station or police post. You often find them in smaller communities (kleinere Gemeinden), city districts (Stadtteile), or rural areas (ländliche Gebiete). In contrast to a larger Polizeirevier (police precinct) or Polizeiwache (police station), a Polizeiposten sometimes has more limited opening hours (eingeschränktere Öffnungszeiten) or fewer personnel (weniger Personal).
It serves as a local point of contact (lokale Anlaufstelle) for citizens regarding minor concerns (kleinere Anliegen), reporting incidents (Anzeigenaufnahme), or for general police information (allgemeine polizeiliche Auskünfte). The article is always der.
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.
🧐 Grammar: Der Polizeiposten in Detail
The word "Polizeiposten" is a masculine noun. The article is der.
Declension
Here is how it declines (changes form based on case):
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | der | Polizeiposten |
| Genitive (Possessive) | des | Polizeipostens |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | dem | Polizeiposten |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | den | Polizeiposten |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Polizeiposten |
| Genitive | der | Polizeiposten |
| Dative | den | Polizeiposten |
| Accusative | die | Polizeiposten |
Example Sentences
- Der nächste Polizeiposten ist fünf Kilometer entfernt.
(The nearest police post is five kilometers away.) - Ich muss meinen gestohlenen Geldbeutel beim Polizeiposten melden.
(I have to report my stolen wallet at the police post.) - Die Öffnungszeiten des Polizeipostens sind begrenzt.
(The opening hours of the police post are limited.) - Auf dem Land gibt es oft nur kleine Polizeiposten.
(In the countryside, there are often only small police posts.)
🗣️ When to Use Polizeiposten?
The term Polizeiposten is used to refer to a smaller, often locally focused police station. It's typically found in the following contexts:
- Rural areas (Ländliche Gebiete): In villages or small towns where a large police station isn't necessary.
- City districts (Stadtteile): As a decentralized point of contact in larger cities.
- Specific tasks (Spezifische Aufgaben): Sometimes posts are responsible for particular duties (e.g., a Wasserschutzpolizei-Posten for water police).
Compared to Polizeiwache or Polizeirevier, Polizeiposten often implies a smaller size and potentially limited authority or opening hours. It's the primary point of contact for citizens for non-urgent matters.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
Article Mnemonic: Think of a single male police officer (der is masculine) standing guard at his designated Posten (post). One man, one post = der Polizeiposten.
Meaning Mnemonic: A Posten in German can mean a post or position. A Polizeiposten is literally the 'police post' or station – usually a smaller one.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Polizeiwache: Often used interchangeably, but can also be larger.
- Polizeirevier: Usually refers to a larger, more comprehensive precinct.
- Polizeidienststelle: A more general, neutral term for any police facility.
Antonyms (opposite concepts):
- Polizeipräsidium / Polizeihauptquartier: The central, largest police headquarters.
- (Conceptual) Verbrecherzentrale / Unterschlupf: Criminal headquarters / hideout.
Similar but different terms:
- Posten (general): Can also mean a job position, a guard post (military), or an item/entry (accounting).
😂 A Little Joke
DE: Warum gehen Polizisten immer zu zweit auf Streife? Einer kann lesen und der andere schreiben – falls sie den Weg zum Polizeiposten aufschreiben müssen!
EN: Why do police officers always patrol in pairs? One can read and the other can write – in case they need to write down the way to the police post!
✍️ A Poem About the Post
DE:
Im Dorf, am kleinen Platz,
steht er, ein sich'rer Schatz.
Der Polizeiposten, wohlbekannt,
reicht Bürgern hier die helfend Hand.
Ob Fundbüro, ob kleiner Streit,
er steht für Recht und Sicherheit.
EN:
In the village, on the small square,
it stands, a treasure providing care.
The police post, known near and far,
lends citizens a helping star.
For lost property or minor strife,
it stands for law and order in life.
❓ Riddle Time
DE:
Ich trage Uniform, doch bin ein Haus.
Man bringt mir Sorgen, manchmal Applaus.
Ich bin nicht riesig, eher klein,
doch schau' ich nach dem Rechten, fein.
In Stadt und Land hab ich Bestand,
bin Teil der Ordnung hier im Land.
Wer oder was bin ich?
EN:
I wear a uniform, but I'm a building.
People bring me worries, sometimes yielding
Applause. I'm not huge, rather small,
But I look after what's right for all.
In city and country, I have my place,
Part of the order in this space.
What am I?
(Solution: Der Polizeiposten / The police post)
ℹ️ More Interesting Facts
Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung):
The word "Polizeiposten" is a compound noun (Kompositum), made up of:
- Polizei: The police force, responsible for maintaining public safety and order.
- Posten: Here meaning a station, post, or position.
Cultural Context:
The existence and density of Polizeiposten often reflect the administrative structure and security concept of a country or region. In Germany, they are part of the federal police structure, with responsibilities typically falling under state (Länder) jurisdiction.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Polizeiposten?
The noun "Polizeiposten" is masculine. The correct article is always der. It refers to a smaller police station or post.