der  Pool

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/puːl/

🏊 What Exactly is a Pool?

The German word der Pool is a loanword from English and has several meanings, but it is always masculine:

• Main Meaning: Swimming Pool: Usually an artificially created basin for swimming, often in the garden (der Gartenpool) or as part of a leisure facility (der Hotelpool). Synonyms for this are das Schwimmbecken or das Schwimmbad (although Schwimmbad often refers to the entire facility).
• Collection / Resource Pool: A group of resources or people used collectively. Examples:
  • Der Genpool: The gene pool of a population.
  • Der Datenpool: A collection of data.
  • Der Personalpool: A group of available employees.
  • Carpool / Fahrgemeinschaft: Often the English word is used directly, or die Fahrgemeinschaft. Using 'der Pool' here is less common.
• Billiards (less common): Sometimes 'Pool' is used as a short form for Poolbillard (pool billiards). The game itself is das Billard or das Poolbillard. The table is der Billardtisch. Using 'der Pool' for the game is colloquial and less common than the other meanings.

🚨 Note: Although there are different meanings, the article is always der.

🧐 Grammar of 'der Pool'

The noun 'Pool' is masculine. Here is the declension:

Example Sentences

1. Im Sommer schwimmen wir jeden Tag im Pool.
   (In summer, we swim in the pool every day.)
2. Der Pool an Experten war beeindruckend.
   (The pool of experts was impressive.)
3. Die Firma greift auf einen großen Pool von Freelancern zurück.
   (The company draws on a large pool of freelancers.)
4. Wir treffen uns später zum Pool spielen.
   (We'll meet later to play pool. - Colloquial for pool billiards)

💡 How 'der Pool' is Used

Context is Key:

• Swimming Pool: Often used for private swimming pools (Gartenpool) or smaller pools in hotels or fitness centers. For larger, public facilities, das Schwimmbad or das Freibad (open-air pool) are more common. Das Planschbecken is a very small, shallow paddling pool for children.
• Resources: In economic, technical, or scientific contexts, one speaks of a Pool of data, employees, ideas, genes, etc. Here, it emphasizes shared availability and use.
• Billiards: Using 'Pool' for billiards is rather colloquial among players. More formal terms are Poolbillard or simply Billard.

Distinctions:

• Pool vs. Schwimmbad: A Pool is usually smaller and more private than a Schwimmbad.
• Pool vs. Teich: A Pool is artificially built for swimming, whereas a Teich (pond) is often more natural, although it can also be a swimming pond (Schwimmteich).

🧠 Mnemonics for 'der Pool'

For the article 'der': Think: Dering (daring) dive into der Pool! Or: Der manager manages der resource pool. The 'er' sound might help.

For the meaning: A Pool is cool – whether it's for swimming or for sharing resources. The 'oo' sound connects the concepts.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words / Potential Confusion

• Pol (der Pol): Geographic or magnetic pole. Sounds similar but unrelated.
• Pollen (der Pollen / die Pollen): Pollen from flowers.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Skelette nie ein Bad im Pool?
Weil sie Angst haben, dass die Knochen nass werden und sie dann keinen trockenen Humor mehr haben! 😉

--- Translation ---

Why do skeletons never take a dip in the pool?
Because they're afraid their bones will get wet and they won't have a dry sense of humor anymore! 😉

📜 A Little Poem

Der Pool, so blau und klar,
lockt im Sommer, wunderbar.
Ein Sprung hinein, welch Glück,
bringt Erfrischung Stück für Stück.
Auch als Sammlung, groß und breit,
hält er Ressourcen stets bereit.
Ein Wort, bekannt, von hier bis Kiel,
der Pool erfüllt so manches Ziel.

--- Translation ---

The pool, so blue and clear,
invites in summer, wonderfully near.
A jump inside, what luck,
brings refreshment, bit by bit, unstuck.
Also as a collection, vast and wide,
it keeps resources ready inside.
A word well-known, from here to there,
der Pool fulfills goals everywhere.

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich bin ein Becken, manchmal klein,
lade dich zum Schwimmen ein.
Ich kann auch eine Sammlung sein,
von Daten, Leuten, groß und fein.
Mein Artikel, merk ihn dir,
ist männlich, glaube mir!

Was bin ich?

Lösung: der Pool

--- Translation ---

I am a basin, sometimes small,
Inviting you to swim, stand tall.
I can also be a collection,
Of data, people, with perfection.
My article, remember it now,
Is masculine, take a bow!

What am I?

Solution: der Pool

✨ Other Information

Word Origin: The word 'Pool' comes directly from English. The English word 'pool' can also mean a swimming basin as well as a collection or shared stake (like in billiards or carpooling).

Compound Words: 'Pool' is often part of compound nouns (Komposita):

• der Gartenpool (garden pool)
• der Hotelpool (hotel pool)
• der Swimmingpool (redundant, but common)
• die Poolnudel (pool noodle)
• die Poolparty (pool party)
• der Genpool (gene pool)
• der Datenpool (data pool)
• der Personalpool (personnel pool)
• das Poolbillard (pool billiards)