der  Tanker

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈtaŋkɐ/

🚢 What exactly is a Tanker?

The German term der Tanker mainly refers to two things:

• A large ship: Specially designed for transporting liquid or gaseous goods in bulk (e.g., oil, liquefied gas, chemicals). These ships have large tanks within their hulls. More specific terms like Öltanker (oil tanker) or Gastanker (gas tanker) are often used.
• An aircraft: An airplane specifically equipped to refuel other aircraft in flight (aerial refueling). These are also called Tankflugzeuge (tanker aircraft).

In general usage, der Tanker usually means the ship.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar under the Microscope: Der Tanker

The noun "Tanker" is masculine. Its declension is as follows:

📝 Example Sentences

1. Der riesige Tanker transportiert Öl über den Ozean.
   (The huge tanker transports oil across the ocean.)
2. Die Küstenwache inspizierte den Tanker im Hafen.
   (The coast guard inspected the tanker in the harbor.)
3. Mehrere Tanker warten auf die Einfahrt in den Kanal.
   (Several tankers are waiting to enter the canal.)
4. Militärjets werden oft von einem Tanker in der Luft betankt.
   (Military jets are often refueled in the air by a tanker.)

🌐 How is "Tanker" used?

The term "Tanker" is mostly used in the context of shipping (Schifffahrt), logistics (Logistik), and the energy industry (Energiewirtschaft) when discussing the transport of large quantities of liquids or gases.

• Shipping: "Der Öltanker erreichte gestern den Hafen von Rotterdam." (The oil tanker reached the port of Rotterdam yesterday.)
• Business News: "Die Preise für Tankertransporte sind gestiegen." (The prices for tanker transport have risen.)
• Environment: "Ein leckgeschlagener Tanker stellt eine große Gefahr für die Meeresumwelt dar." (A leaking tanker poses a great danger to the marine environment.)
• Military/Aviation: "Der strategische Bomber wurde vom Tanker aufgetankt." (The strategic bomber was refueled by the tanker.)

Compared to "Schiff" (ship), "Tanker" is more specific, denoting a particular type of transport vessel. A "Frachter" (freighter) transports solid goods, often in containers, while a "Tanker" transports liquids or gases.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Remembering the Article: Think of der Kapitän (the captain) or der Matrose (the sailor) on dem (the) big ship. Large, powerful ships are often masculine in German (like der Dampfer - the steamer, der Zerstörer - the destroyer), so it's also der Tanker. The 'r' ending often signals masculine nouns.

Remembering the Meaning: A Tanker has large Tanks to transport things. The 'r' at the end might also help you remember 'der'.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but Different Words:

• Tankstelle: Gas/petrol station.
• Tankwart: Gas station attendant.
• Tank (der): The container itself (in a car, ship, etc.).

😂 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Piraten ungern Tanker auseinander?

Weil sie Angst haben, dass die Stimmung ölig wird! 😄

(Why don't pirates like to capture tankers? Because they're afraid the mood will get oily! [A pun on 'ölig' meaning oily/awkward])

📜 A Poem about the Tanker

Ein Riese aus Stahl, der Tanker so breit,
Trägt flüssiges Gut durch die Gezeiten.
Durch Wellen und Sturm, auf See unverdrossen,
Bringt Öl oder Gas, in Tanks eingeschlossen.
Ein Motor, der dröhnt, ein mächtiger Lauf,
So nimmt die Versorgung der Welt ihren Lauf.

(A giant of steel, the tanker so wide,
Carries liquid goods through the tide.
Through waves and storm, undaunted at sea,
Brings oil or gas, enclosed in tanks, you see.
A roaring engine, a powerful run,
Thus the world's supply gets its job done.)

❓ Riddle Time

Ich trage flüssiges Gold über das Meer,
bin riesengroß und manchmal schwer.
Mein Bauch ist voll mit Öl oder Gas,
ich fahre langsam, geb niemals Vollgas (im Hafen).

Was bin ich? ... Der Tanker

(I carry liquid gold across the sea,
I'm huge and sometimes heavy, you agree.
My belly is full of oil or gas,
I drive slowly, never step on the gas (in port).

What am I?
... The Tanker)

💡 Other Interesting Facts

Word Origin: The German word "Tanker" comes directly from the English word "tanker", which in turn derives from "tank" (Behälter). It's an Anglicism that has become established in German.

Superlatives: Tankers are among the largest ships in the world. So-called supertankers can transport several hundred thousand tons of oil and be over 400 meters long.