der
Tunnel
🚇 What does 'der Tunnel' mean?
Der Tunnel means tunnel in English. It refers to an artificially created underground passage or tube, usually running through a mountain or under ground/water. It's primarily used for traffic (Straße - road, Schiene - rail), but can also be used for water, cables (Kabel), or pipelines (Pipelines).
It is a masculine noun (maskulines Substantiv). There are no other articles for this word with different meanings.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-el → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. there are many -el words, we don't list them all.
🧐 Grammar of 'der Tunnel' in Detail
The noun 'Tunnel' is masculine. Here is its declension (Deklination):
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Tunnel |
| Genitive | des | Tunnels |
| Dative | dem | Tunnel |
| Accusative | den | Tunnel |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Tunnel |
| Genitive | der | Tunnel |
| Dative | den | Tunneln |
| Accusative | die | Tunnel |
Example Sentences (Beispielsätze)
- Der neue Tunnel verkürzt die Fahrzeit erheblich.
(The new tunnel significantly shortens the travel time.) - Wegen Wartungsarbeiten ist der Tunnel heute Nacht gesperrt.
(Due to maintenance work, the tunnel is closed tonight.) - Die Züge fahren durch mehrere lange Tunnel auf dieser Strecke.
(The trains travel through several long tunnels on this route.) - Der Bau des Gotthard-Basistunnels war ein Meisterwerk der Ingenieurskunst.
(The construction of the Gotthard Base Tunnel was a masterpiece of engineering.)
💡 How 'der Tunnel' is Used
The term 'Tunnel' is mainly used in the context of Verkehr (traffic) and Bauwesen (construction):
- Road traffic: Autobahntunnel (motorway tunnel), Straßentunnel (road tunnel)
- Rail traffic: Eisenbahntunnel (railway tunnel), U-Bahn-Tunnel (subway/underground tunnel)
- Water engineering: Wassertunnel, Entwässerungstunnel (drainage tunnel)
- Utilities: Kabeltunnel (cable tunnel), Leitungstunnel (pipeline/conduit tunnel)
- Figuratively: Sometimes used metaphorically, e.g., "einen Tunnelblick haben" (to have tunnel vision, i.e., focus only on one thing) or "Licht am Ende des Tunnels sehen" (to see light at the end of the tunnel, i.e., hope in a difficult situation).
It's an internationally understood word, borrowed from English/French into German.
🧠 Mnemonics for 'der Tunnel'
Article Mnemonic
Think of a strong man ('der Mann') digging a huge tunnel. The 'der' helps remember the masculine article. Alternatively, many transport-related nouns like 'der Zug' (train), 'der Bus', 'der LKW' (truck) are masculine, and 'der Tunnel' fits this group.
Meaning Mnemonic
A Tunnel lets traffic *tune in* to a direct route underground. It sounds similar! Or imagine cars making a *tunnel* sound as they go through.
↔️ Opposites and Similar Words: Tunnel
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Durchfahrt: (Through-passage) Often more general, can also be above ground.
- Unterführung: (Underpass) Usually shorter and passes under a road/rail line.
- Röhre: (Tube) More technical term, emphasizing the shape.
- Stollen: (Adit, gallery) Primarily used in mining, often not a through passage.
Antonyms (Opposites)
- Brücke: (Bridge) Leads over an obstacle.
- Überführung: (Overpass) Similar to bridge, often in road/rail context.
- Viadukt: (Viaduct) A bridge structure, often crossing a valley.
⚠️ Be careful: A Galerie in road construction is often a protective structure on a slope, not a complete underpass like a Tunnel.
😄 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Maulwurf Angst vor dem Tunnel?
Weil er Licht am Ende des Tunnels sieht und denkt, es sei ein entgegenkommender Zug! 🚂
(Why is the mole afraid of the tunnel?
Because he sees light at the end of the tunnel and thinks it's an oncoming train!)
📜 Poem about the Tunnel
Durch Fels und Stein, ein dunkler Schlund,
Der Tunnel führt uns, Stund um Stund.
Mal kurz, mal lang, mal hell, mal Nacht,
Hat uns schon oft ans Ziel gebracht.
Ein Weg verborgen, tief im Grund.
(Through rock and stone, a dark abyss,
The tunnel guides us, hour by hour it is.
Sometimes short, sometimes long, light or night,
Has often brought us to our goal just right.
A path concealed, deep in the ground's kiss.)
❓ Little Riddle about the Tunnel
Ich habe einen Eingang und einen Ausgang, aber keine Türen.
Ich führe durch Berge oder unter Flüssen hindurch.
Züge und Autos nutzen mich gern.
Was bin ich?
(I have an entrance and an exit, but no doors.
I lead through mountains or under rivers.
Trains and cars like to use me.
What am I?)
Answer: Der Tunnel (The Tunnel)
✨ Other Interesting Facts
Word Origin (Wortherkunft): The word 'Tunnel' comes from the Old French 'tonnel' (cask, barrel), referring to the tube-like shape, and entered German via English ('tunnel').
Famous Tunnels (Bekannte Tunnel):
- Gotthard Base Tunnel (Switzerland) - world's longest railway tunnel.
- Channel Tunnel (Eurotunnel) - connects France and Great Britain.
- Alter Elbtunnel (Hamburg) - historic road tunnel under the river Elbe.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Tunnel?
The word 'Tunnel' is masculine: der Tunnel. It refers to an underground or through-mountain passage, typically used for transportation.