der
Rundgang
🚶 What Exactly is a Rundgang?
The German term der Rundgang generally describes the act of walking or driving along a defined route, often in a circle or through a specific area, in order to view, inspect, or present something.
It has several main meanings:
- Sightseeing Tour: A guided or individual walk through a museum (Museum), building (Gebäude), city (Stadt), or exhibition (Ausstellung) to look at sights. Example: ein Rundgang durch das Schloss Neuschwanstein (a tour through Neuschwanstein Castle).
- Inspection Round / Patrol: A regular route that someone (e.g., a guard - Wachmann, doctor - Arzt, nurse - Pfleger) covers for checking or supervision. Example: Der nächtliche Rundgang des Sicherheitspersonals (The security staff's nightly round).
- Walk / Stroll: Sometimes used more generally for a walk that ends back at the starting point.
🚨 Important: The word always takes the masculine article der. It's always der Rundgang.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ang → almost always masculine.
🧐 Grammar: Der Rundgang in Detail
The noun "Rundgang" is masculine. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Rundgang |
| Genitive | des | Rundgang(e)s |
| Dative | dem | Rundgang |
| Accusative | den | Rundgang |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Rundgänge |
| Genitive | der | Rundgänge |
| Dative | den | Rundgängen |
| Accusative | die | Rundgänge |
Example Sentences
- Der Rundgang durch die Altstadt beginnt um 14 Uhr.
(The tour through the old town starts at 2 PM.) - Während seines Rundgangs überprüfte der Arzt die Patientenakten.
(During his rounds, the doctor checked the patient files.) - Wir machten einen ausgedehnten Rundgang durch den Park.
(We took an extensive walk/tour through the park.) - Die nächtlichen Rundgänge des Wachmanns sorgen für Sicherheit.
(The guard's nightly rounds ensure security.)
💡 How to Use "Rundgang"?
"Der Rundgang" is used in various contexts, mostly involving movement along a route:
- Tourism & Culture: Very common for guided tours and visits (Museumsrundgang - museum tour, Stadtrundgang - city tour).
- Work & Inspection: Refers to inspection or patrol routes (ärztlicher Rundgang - doctor's round, Sicherheitsrundgang - security round, Betriebsrundgang - company tour/inspection).
- Everyday Life: Sometimes used for a longer walk that returns to the starting point.
Typical collocations include:
- einen Rundgang machen/unternehmen (to go on/undertake a tour/round)
- ein geführter Rundgang (a guided tour)
- der tägliche/nächtliche Rundgang (the daily/nightly round)
Compared to Spaziergang (walk, stroll), "Rundgang" is often more purposeful or structured (sightseeing, inspection). Tour or Führung (guided tour) are often synonymous, though "Führung" specifically implies a guide.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
Article Mnemonic: Think of "der Gang" (the corridor/walkway). A corridor is often perceived as a defined, strong path – associate this 'strength' with masculine, hence der Rundgang (a 'round walk').
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine going round (rund) on a specific walk or path (Gang) – either to look at things (museum tour) or to check on things (guard's patrol). That's a Rundgang!
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms of Rundgang
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Tour: Often interchangeable, internationally understood.
- Runde (f.): (Round) Similar, often used for inspection contexts (Arztrunde - doctor's round).
- Besichtigung (f.): (Visit, viewing) Emphasizes the act of looking at something.
- Führung (f.): (Guided tour) Implies a guide explaining things.
- Spaziergang (m.): (Walk, stroll) More general, less purposeful.
- Patrouille (f.): (Patrol) Specifically for security/military rounds.
- Inspektion(sgang) (f./m.): (Inspection (walk)) Emphasizes checking and control.
Antonyms (Opposite Concepts)
- Stillstand (m.): (Standstill) No movement.
- Aufenthalt (m.): (Stay) Remaining in one place.
- Pause (f.): (Break) Interruption of movement or activity.
- Verharren (n.): (Remaining, lingering) Staying put.
⚠️ Be careful: Words like Durchgang (passage) or Umgang (social interaction; handling) sound similar but have completely different meanings.
😄 A Little Joke
Museumsführer: "Noch Fragen zum Rundgang?"
Besucher: "Ja, warum gehen wir eigentlich im Kreis und nicht geradeaus durch die Wand? Wäre doch schneller!"
Translation:
Museum guide: "Any more questions about the tour?"
Visitor: "Yes, why are we actually walking in a circle and not straight through the wall? That would be faster!"
📜 A Poem About the Rundgang
Der Wärter macht den Rundgang leis,
Durch Gänge, kalt wie Eis.
Im Museum, Bild an Bild,
Ein Rundgang, der Geschichte stillt.
Translation:
The guard makes his round quietly,
Through corridors, cold as ice.
In the museum, picture by picture,
A tour that satisfies history.
🧩 Little Riddle
Ich führe dich im Kreis, mal schnell, mal sacht,
Mal bei Tag, mal in der Nacht.
Im Schloss, im Park, im Krankenhaus – ich bin bekannt,
Zeig dir vieles, im ganzen Land.
Mal zur Kontrolle, mal zum Schauen,
Auf mich kannst du oft bauen.
Was bin ich?
Translation:
I lead you in a circle, sometimes fast, sometimes gently,
Sometimes by day, sometimes by night.
In the castle, the park, the hospital – I am well-known,
Show you many things, throughout the land.
Sometimes for checking, sometimes for looking,
You can often rely on me.
What am I?
Solution: der Rundgang
✨ Other Interesting Info
Word Composition:
The word "Rundgang" is a compound noun, composed of:
- rund: (round) Adjective/adverb describing a circular or complete movement.
- der Gang: (walk, course, corridor) Noun denoting locomotion on foot or a route.
Together, they create the meaning of a movement that leads 'around' or along a fixed route.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Rundgang?
The word "Rundgang" is masculine, so the correct article is always der Rundgang. It refers to a tour, a sightseeing walk, an inspection round, or a patrol, usually on foot.