der  Port

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/pɔʁt/

⚓️💻 What exactly is a Port?

The German word der Port has two main meanings, both of which use the masculine article 'der':

1. The harbor/port (especially seaport): This refers to a place where ships can dock, load, and unload. It's often an international term used in maritime contexts.

   Example: Das Containerschiff läuft morgen früh in den Port von Hamburg ein. (The container ship will enter the port of Hamburg early tomorrow morning.)

2. The port/connector (technology): This denotes an interface on a computer or other electronic device used for data transfer or connecting peripheral devices (e.g., USB port, network port).

   Example: Mein Laptop hat drei USB-Ports. (My laptop has three USB ports.)

⚠️ Pay attention to the context to understand the correct meaning.

🧐 Grammar of "der Port" in Detail

Der Port is a masculine noun. Its declension follows the pattern of strong nouns.

Note: The plural form Porte is mainly used for the meaning "harbor", while Ports is common for both meanings, but especially for the technical connector.

Example Sentences

• Hafen: Der alte Port erzählte Geschichten von fernen Ländern. (The old port told stories of distant lands.)
• Hafen (Genitiv): Die Verwaltung des Ports / Portes ist komplex. (The administration of the port is complex.)
• Hafen (Plural): Die wichtigsten Porte Europas liegen an der Nordsee. (The most important ports in Europe are located on the North Sea.)
• Anschluss: Ist dieser Port am Computer noch frei? (Is this port on the computer still free?)
• Anschluss (Dativ): Verbinde das Kabel mit dem richtigen Port. (Connect the cable to the correct port.)
• Anschluss (Plural): Moderne Laptops haben oft nur noch wenige Ports. (Modern laptops often have only a few ports.)

🚢💡 Everyday Usage: When to say Port?

The use of der Port strongly depends on the context:

• Harbor (Port): Often used in international shipping, trade, and geographical contexts. It sometimes sounds a bit more formal or specific than the standard German word "Hafen". People might say "Port of Rotterdam" or "im Port anlegen" (to dock in the port).
• Connector (Port): This is an everyday term in IT and technology. We talk about USB-Ports, HDMI-Ports, Netzwerk-Ports (e.g., port 80 for HTTP). Here, "Port" is the common term, while "Anschluss" (connection) or "Schnittstelle" (interface) are alternatives.

Risk of confusion?

• Die Pforte: Means a small gate or entrance, not a harbor or technical port.
• Das Porto: Refers to the postage fee for mail.

In a technical context, "Port" is more precise than "Anschluss", as it refers to a specific hardware or software interface.

🧠 Mnemonics for "der Port"

For the article 'der': Think of der big, strong harbor (Port), where mighty ships dock. Or imagine plugging den (masculine accusative) connector into den computer Port – a targeted, 'masculine' action.

For the meanings: Imagine Port wine (a drink) arriving by ship in the harbor (Port) and then being digitally registered via a data cable through the computer Port.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

Similar, but different words

• Die Pforte: A small gate, an entrance (e.g., Klosterpforte - monastery gate).
• Das Porto: The postage fee.

😄 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Computer keinen Wein getrunken?
Er hatte keinen freien Port!

(Why didn't the computer drink any wine?
It didn't have a free Port!)

📜 Poem about the Port

Der Port, ein Tor zur weiten Welt,
Wo Schiff an Schiff sich eingestellt.
Motoren brummen, Daten fließen,
Durch Kabel, die den Anschluss sprießen.
Ob See-Port groß, ob USB klein,
Stets männlich muss der Artikel sein!

(The Port, a gate to the wide world,
Where ship after ship is set.
Engines hum, data flows,
Through cables that sprout the connection.
Whether sea port large, or USB small,
The article must always be masculine!)

❓ Little Riddle

Ich bin ein Tor, doch ohne Schloss,
Mal lieg ich an der See, mal am Computer bloß.
Mal kommen Schiffe, mal Daten an,
Ich bin stets männlich, sag mir, wer ich bin sodann?

(I am a gate, but without a lock,
Sometimes I lie by the sea, sometimes just on the computer.
Sometimes ships arrive, sometimes data does,
I am always masculine, tell me then, who am I?)

Solution: Der Port

💡 Other Interesting Facts

Etymology: The word "Port" comes from the Latin word portus, meaning "harbor" or "refuge". It entered the German language via English and French, especially in maritime contexts and later in technology.

Compounds: The word is part of many compound nouns:

• Harbor related: Seeport (seaport), Freiport (free port), Exporthafen (export harbor), Importhafen (import harbor)
• Technology related: USB-Port, Netzwerk-Port (network port), Parallelport (parallel port), Serialport (serial port), HDMI-Port