der  Strompreis

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʃtʁoːmˌpʁaɪ̯s/

💡 What does 'der Strompreis' mean?

Der Strompreis translates to the electricity price or the power price. It refers to the cost charged for a specific amount of electrical energy, usually one kilowatt-hour (eine Kilowattstunde, kWh). It's a significant factor for private households (private Haushalte) and businesses (Unternehmen) as it largely determines the amount on the electricity bill (die Stromrechnung).

It is a compound noun (ein Kompositum) made up of:

• der Strom (electricity, power, current)
• der Preis (price, cost)

Since the base word 'Preis' is masculine (der Preis), 'der Strompreis' is also masculine. There's only this one article for the word.

📐 Grammar & Declension of 'Strompreis'

The noun der Strompreis is masculine. Here are the declension tables (Deklinationstabellen):

Note: In the Dative Singular, the form 'dem Strompreise' is possible besides 'dem Strompreis', but it is considered somewhat archaic.

Example Sentences

1. Der Strompreis ist in den letzten Monaten stark gestiegen.
   (The electricity price has risen sharply in recent months.)
2. Die Regierung diskutiert Maßnahmen zur Senkung des Strompreises.
   (The government is discussing measures to lower the electricity price.)
3. Viele Verbraucher vergleichen die Strompreise verschiedener Anbieter.
   (Many consumers compare the electricity prices of different providers.)
4. Mit dem hohen Strompreis müssen wir sparsamer sein.
   (With the high electricity price, we have to be more economical.)

🗣️ How is 'Strompreis' used?

Der Strompreis is an everyday term, primarily used in the following contexts:

• Economy & Finance (Wirtschaft & Finanzen): Discussions about energy costs, inflation, market mechanisms.
• Politics (Politik): Debates on energy policy, subsidies (Subventionen), taxes (Steuern, e.g., EEG-Umlage, Stromsteuer).
• Households (Haushalte): Comparing electricity tariffs (Stromtarife), planning household expenses, saving energy (Energiesparen).
• Media (Medien): Reporting on price developments and their causes.

It is often mentioned in connection with terms like Stromrechnung (electricity bill), Energieversorger (energy provider), Kilowattstunde (kWh) (kilowatt-hour), erneuerbare Energien (renewable energies), and Netzentgelte (grid fees).

⚠️ Don't confuse der Strompreis with the entire die Stromrechnung (electricity bill). Der Strompreis is only one component (the price per kWh), while the bill also includes basic fees (Grundgebühren), taxes, and grid fees.

🧠 Mnemonics

Article Mnemonic: The base word is 'der Preis' (the price). Just like 'der Preis' for almost anything (car, house, bread), the price for electricity ('Strom') is masculine in German. Think: "Der Preis is right!" – applies to der Strompreis too.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine electricity (Strom) streaming through the wires, and at the end, there's a price tag (Preis) attached – that's der Strom-Preis, the electricity price.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar Terms

• Stromrechnung: The entire bill, not just the price per kWh.
• Netzentgelt: Grid fee, cost for using the power grid, part of the Strompreis or Stromrechnung.
• Gaspreis: Price for gas, another form of energy.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Elektriker immer gute Laune?
Weil er unter positiver Spannung steht und sich über den niedrigen Strompreis freut... ach nee, das war früher mal!

Translation: Why is the electrician always in a good mood?
Because he's under positive tension (pun: 'Spannung' means tension and voltage) and happy about the low electricity price... oh wait, that was in the past!

📜 Poem about 'der Strompreis'

Der Zähler dreht, das Licht es brennt,
der Strompreis hoch, man ihn kaum kennt.
Mal steigt er schnell, mal fällt er kaum,
\ein teurer, elektrischer Traum.
Man spart und knipst die Lampen aus,
ringt Sparsamkeit in jedes Haus.
Der Strompreis, ja, er treibt uns an,
\zu denken über Plan und Bann.

Translation:
The meter turns, the light burns bright,
the power price, a fearsome height.
Sometimes it climbs, sometimes it's low,
a costly electric flow.
We save and switch the lights off fast,
ring thriftiness that's meant to last.
The power price, yes, it compels,
o think of plans and saving spells.

❓ Riddle

Ich habe keinen Mund, doch sage dir, was Leistung kostet hier.
\Ich wachse oft, zum Leid der Leut', die auf Energie gebaut.
\Man misst mich meist in Cent pro kWh, mal hoch, mal tief, mal nah, mal fern - was bin ich, sag es gern?

Translation:
I have no mouth, yet I tell you what power costs you here.
I often grow, to the sorrow of people who rely on energy.
I'm usually measured in cents per kWh, sometimes high, sometimes low, sometimes near, sometimes far - what am I, please tell me now?

Solution: der Strompreis (the electricity price)

➕ Other Information

Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung)

Der Strompreis is a determinative compound (Determinativkompositum). This means the first word (Strom) specifies the second word (Preis) more closely. It's not just any price, but specifically the price for electricity.

• Determining word (Bestimmungswort): Strom
• Base word (Grundwort): Preis (determines the gender 'masculine')

Trivia

In Germany, the Strompreis consists of several components: costs for energy procurement and sales, grid fees (Netzentgelte), state taxes (Steuern), levies (Abgaben), and surcharges (Umlagen, like VAT/Mehrwertsteuer, Stromsteuer, KWKG-Umlage, Offshore-Netzumlage etc.). This composition can change and significantly influences the final cost for consumers.