der
Streifenwagen
🚓 What Exactly is a Streifenwagen?
A Streifenwagen is the German term for an official police patrol car. The name derives from the activity of *Streife fahren* (to go on patrol), meaning patrol drives to monitor and secure an area. These vehicles typically are:
- Noticeably designed (often in silver/blue or formerly white/green)
- Equipped with special signaling systems (*Sondersignalanlagen* - blue lights and sirens, called *Martinshorn* or *Einsatzhorn*)
- Equipped for police duty (radio, first-aid kit, etc.)
So, it's the classic police car you see on the streets.
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 Streifenwagen in Detail
The word "Streifenwagen" is a masculine noun. Therefore, the article is der.
| Case | Article | Word |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Streifenwagen |
| Genitive | des | Streifenwagens |
| Dative | dem | Streifenwagen |
| Accusative | den | Streifenwagen |
| Case | Article | Word |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Streifenwagen |
| Genitive | der | Streifenwagen |
| Dative | den | Streifenwagen |
| Accusative | die | Streifenwagen |
Example Sentences
- Der Streifenwagen näherte sich der Kreuzung mit eingeschaltetem Blaulicht.
(The patrol car approached the intersection with its blue light on.) - Der Fahrer des Streifenwagens gab über Funk eine Meldung durch.
(The driver of the patrol car radioed in a message.) - Bitte folgen Sie dem Streifenwagen zur nächsten Ausfahrt.
(Please follow the patrol car to the next exit.) - Die Kinder beobachteten den Streifenwagen fasziniert.
(The children watched the patrol car fascinated.) - Mehrere Streifenwagen waren am Einsatzort.
(Several patrol cars were at the scene.)
🗣️ How to Use "Streifenwagen"?
The term Streifenwagen is mainly used in official contexts or in news and reports about police operations. In everyday language, the simpler words *Polizeiauto* (police car) or *Polizeiwagen* (police car) are often more common.
- Official Language: In police reports, radio communications (often as *Funkstreifenwagen* or abbreviated *FuStW*), legal texts.
- Media Reports: Newspapers, news broadcasts, etc., report on deployments involving *Streifenwagen*.
- Everyday Speech: Here, you'll more frequently hear *Polizeiauto*. However, *Streifenwagen* is also perfectly understandable and used.
Compared to *Polizeiauto*, *Streifenwagen* emphasizes the vehicle's function for patrolling (*Streife fahren*).
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Remembering the Article: Many vehicles in German are masculine, especially compound nouns ending in '-wagen' (*der Lastwagen* - truck, *der Krankenwagen* - ambulance). Think: Der Polizeiwagen (police car) goes on patrol.
Remembering the Meaning: A car (*Wagen*) that drives in *Streifen* (patrol routes/stripes) OR: Think of the typical color *stripes* (*Streifen*) on the *car* (*Wagen*).
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Polizeiauto: More general and common in everyday use.
- Polizeiwagen: Also common, slightly more formal than Polizeiauto.
- Funkstreifenwagen (FuStW): Technical term, emphasizes radio equipment; often used in official police jargon ('radio patrol car').
- Polizeifahrzeug: Generic term for all police vehicles (including vans, motorcycles, etc.).
- Peterwagen: Colloquial, regional term (esp. Hamburg).
Antonyms (opposite in context):
- Zivilstreife / Zivilfahrzeug: Unmarked police car.
- Privatwagen: A private (non-duty) car.
😄 A Little Police Joke
Frage: Warum haben Polizisten im Streifenwagen immer eine Stricknadel dabei?
Antwort: Um den Verkehr umzuleiten!
(Question: Why do police officers always have a knitting needle with them in the patrol car?
Answer: To divert traffic! - The verb 'umleiten' means 'to divert' or 'reroute', but 'stricken' means 'to knit', so 'umleiten' sounds a bit like finishing knitting around something. It's a pun.)
📜 Poem about the Streifenwagen
Silberblau, mit schnellem Licht,
fährt er pflichtbewusst durch die Sicht.
Der Streifenwagen, Tag und Nacht,
hat auf Recht und Ordnung Acht.
Sirene heult, ein kurzer Schreck,
doch Sicherheit ist sein Zweck.
(Silver-blue, with rapid light,
It drives dutifully through the sight.
The patrol car, day and night,
Keeps watch on law and order right.
Siren wails, a brief fright,
But safety is its purpose bright.)
❓ Little Riddle
Ich trage Streifen, doch kein Tier mich nennt.
Ich leuchte blau, wenn's auf der Straße brennt.
Ich fahre hin, wo Hilfe nötig ist,
und sorge dafür, dass du sicher bist.
Wer bin ich?
(I wear stripes, but no animal I'm called.
I shine blue when things get heated on the road ('when it burns on the street').
I drive to where help is needed,
And make sure that you are safe indeed.)
Who am I?
Answer: Der Streifenwagen (The patrol car)
💡 Other Interesting Facts
Word Composition: The word "Streifenwagen" is a compound noun, composed of:
- Die Streife: Meaning patrol, beat, control tour.
- Der Wagen: Meaning car, vehicle.
So, literally a "patrol vehicle".
Trivia: The typical coloring of German police vehicles was changed from green-white/silver to blue-silver/white to comply with EU standards and improve visibility. The abbreviation *FuStW* (*Funkstreifenwagen* - radio patrol car) is common in official police communication.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Streifenwagen?
The correct article is definitively: der Streifenwagen. It is a masculine noun.