der /
das
Prospekt
📖 What does Prospekt mean?
The German word Prospekt can have two possible articles and meanings:
Der Prospekt (masculine)
This form is less common and rather elevated. It means:
- View, outlook, prospect: A view into the distance or into the future. Often used in literary or formal contexts. Example: Der Prospekt vom Berggipfel war atemberaubend. (The view from the mountain top was breathtaking.)
Das Prospekt (neuter)
This is the much more common meaning in modern German. It refers to:
- Brochure, leaflet, flyer: A printed item that provides information about products, services, trips, or events, often distributed for free. Example: Hast du das neue Prospekt vom Supermarkt gesehen? (Have you seen the new leaflet from the supermarket?)
🚨 Important: In everyday life, people almost always mean das Prospekt (the brochure). The meaning der Prospekt (the view) is hardly known to many native speakers anymore.
🧐 Grammar: Declension of Prospekt
The declension depends on the article (gender).
Declension for der Prospekt (masculine, meaning: view)
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Prospekt | ein Prospekt |
| Genitive | des Prospekts / Prospektes | eines Prospekts / Prospektes |
| Dative | dem Prospekt / Prospekte | einem Prospekt / Prospekte |
| Accusative | den Prospekt | einen Prospekt |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Prospekte | Prospekte |
| Genitive | der Prospekte | Prospekte |
| Dative | den Prospekten | Prospekten |
| Accusative | die Prospekte | Prospekte |
Declension for das Prospekt (neuter, meaning: brochure)
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das Prospekt | ein Prospekt |
| Genitive | des Prospekts / Prospektes | eines Prospekts / Prospektes |
| Dative | dem Prospekt / Prospekte | einem Prospekt / Prospekte |
| Accusative | das Prospekt | ein Prospekt |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Prospekte | Prospekte |
| Genitive | der Prospekte | Prospekte |
| Dative | den Prospekten | Prospekten |
| Accusative | die Prospekte | Prospekte |
Example Sentences
- Der Prospekt (view): Der weite Prospekt über das Tal beeindruckte die Wanderer. (The wide view over the valley impressed the hikers.)
- Das Prospekt (brochure): Im Briefkasten lagen schon wieder fünf neue Prospekte. (There were five new leaflets in the mailbox again.)
- Das Prospekt (brochure): Kannst du mir bitte das Prospekt für die Urlaubsreise geben? (Can you please give me the brochure for the holiday trip?)
💡 How to use Prospekt?
Der Prospekt (view) is almost exclusively used in formal or literary language. You'll find it more often in older texts or when someone wants to speak deliberately elegantly. Synonyms like Ausblick, Aussicht, or Panorama are more common.
Das Prospekt (brochure) is an everyday word. It refers to all kinds of advertising materials, from simple folded sheets (Flyer, Handzettel) to more extensive catalogues or booklets (Broschüre).
- You verteilt (distribute) Prospekte.
- You liest (read) Prospekte.
- You bekommt (receive) Prospekte (often unsolicited in the mailbox).
- At the Reisebüro (travel agency), you get Reiseprospekte (travel brochures).
- Supermarkets publish weekly Werbeprospekte (advertising leaflets).
Although Broschüre is often used synonymously, a Prospekt can also be just a single sheet, while a Broschüre usually has several stapled pages.
🧠 Mnemonics for Prospekt
Remembering the Article:
Think: DEr Blick (the view, masculine) is DEr rare Prospekt.
Think: DAS Papier (the paper, neuter) in the mailbox is DAS usual Prospekt.
Remembering the Meaning:
Think of "pro-" as "forward" and "spect" as "look" (from Latin prospicere = to look forward).
➡️ Der Prospekt: the look forward (view).
➡️ Das Prospekt: shows you what you can buy/do later (brochure).
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
For der Prospekt (view):
Synonyms:
- Aussicht (view, outlook)
- Ausblick (view, outlook)
- Panorama (panorama)
- Blick (view, glance)
- Fernsicht (distant view)
Antonyms (limited):
- Rückblick (retrospect, look back)
For das Prospekt (brochure):
Synonyms:
- Broschüre (brochure, booklet)
- Flyer (flyer - often a single sheet)
- Faltblatt (leaflet, folded sheet)
- Handzettel (handbill, flyer)
- Werbeblatt (advertising paper/leaflet)
- Informationsblatt (information sheet)
- Katalog (catalogue - usually more extensive)
Antonyms:
- There isn't a direct antonym.
⚠️ Caution: Don't confuse Prospekt with Aspekt (aspect, viewpoint) or Respekt (respect).
😂 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Briefträger schlechte Laune? 🤔
Weil er schon wieder einen Korb voller unerwünschter Prospekte austragen muss und sein eigener Briefkasten auch schon überquillt!
(Why is the mail carrier in a bad mood? 🤔
Because he has to deliver a basket full of unwanted leaflets again and his own mailbox is already overflowing!)
📜 Poem about Prospekte
Ein Prospekt, der weite Blick ins Land, (A Prospekt, der, the wide view of the land,
So selten nur noch wird er heut' genannt.
Doch das Prospekt, aus Papier gemacht,
Wird täglich uns in den Kasten gebracht.
Mit bunten Bildern, Sonderangebot,
So rarely is it mentioned now at hand.
But das Prospekt, made out of paper bright,
Is brought daily to our box, day and night.
With colourful pictures, special deals shown,
❓ Riddle
Ich komme oft ungeladen,
liege im Kasten, bunt und voller Gaben.
Ich zeige Reisen, Möbel, Essen,
wer mich liest, wird nichts vergessen.
Mal bin ich 'der', mit Blick ins Weite,
doch meistens bin ich 'das', zur Käuferseite.
Was bin ich?
(I often arrive uninvited,
lie in the box, colorful and full of gifts provided.
I show travels, furniture, food,
whoever reads me won't be misunderstood.
Sometimes I'm 'der', with a view far and wide,
but mostly I'm 'das', for the buyer's side.
What am I?)
Solution: Der/Das Prospekt
🧩 Other Information
Etymology: The word "Prospekt" comes from the Latin prospectus, meaning "view", "sight", or "looking forward". This, in turn, derives from the verb prospicere, meaning "to look forward", "to look into the distance". Both German meanings reflect this Latin root.
Compounds: Common compounds are Werbeprospekt (advertising brochure), Reiseprospekt (travel brochure), Möbelprospekt (furniture brochure), Prospekthalter (leaflet holder/stand).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Prospekt?
The word "Prospekt" can have two articles: der Prospekt (masculine, meaning: view, rare) and das Prospekt (neuter, meaning: brochure/leaflet, very common). In modern usage, das Prospekt is almost always the intended meaning.