der
Turnus
🔄 What does "der Turnus" mean?
Der Turnus describes a regularly recurring sequence, a cycle, or a fixed order. It can refer to periods of time, events, or the sequence of people on a duty roster.
- Temporal cycle: A period after which something starts anew (e.g., ein jährlicher Turnus - an annual cycle).
- Sequence/Rotation: A fixed order in which people or things follow one another (e.g., der Turnus der Bereitschaftsdienste - the rota for on-call duties).
- Training phase (Austria): In the medical field in Austria, der Turnus refers to the practical training for doctors after their studies.
It is a masculine noun, so it's always der Turnus.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-us/-uss/-uß → mostly masculine.
Including -ismus nouns (100% masculine, e.g. der Tourismus)
🧐 Grammar of "der Turnus" in Detail
The noun "Turnus" is masculine. Here are the declension tables:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Turnus |
| Genitive | des | Turnus |
| Dative | dem | Turnus |
| Accusative | den | Turnus |
Example Sentences
- Der Reinigungsdienst kommt in einem wöchentlichen Turnus.
(The cleaning service comes on a weekly cycle/rota.) - Der Turnus der Vorstandswahlen beträgt zwei Jahre.
(The cycle for board elections is two years.) - Wer ist im nächsten Turnus mit dem Protokoll dran?
(Whose turn is it to take the minutes in the next rotation?) - Die jungen Ärzte absolvieren ihren Turnus im Krankenhaus.
(The young doctors are completing their residency/training period [Austrian meaning] in the hospital.) - Die verschiedenen Turnusse der Veranstaltung wurden im Programmheft erklärt.
(The various cycles/sessions of the event were explained in the program booklet.)
🗣️ How "der Turnus" is used
Der Turnus is often used in the context of planning, organization, and recurring processes.
- Workplace: Duty rosters, shift work, project cycles (e.g., „Im dreiwöchigen Turnus wechseln sich die Teams ab.“ - "The teams alternate on a three-week cycle.").
- Events/Maintenance: Regular events, maintenance intervals (e.g., „Die Messe findet in einem zweijährigen Turnus statt.“ - "The trade fair takes place in a biennial cycle.").
- Education/Medicine (Austria): Training cycles, medical post-graduate training (e.g., „Er befindet sich gerade im Turnus.“ - "He is currently in his residency/training period.").
Distinguishing from similar words:
- Zyklus (cycle): Very similar, often interchangeable. However, Zyklus can also be used more scientifically or technically (e.g., water cycle, economic cycle). Turnus often emphasizes the planned, organized repetition.
- Rhythmus (rhythm): Emphasizes the regularity and tempo of a repetition more than the fixed sequence or organizational aspect (e.g., heart rhythm, daily rhythm).
- Reihenfolge (sequence, order): Generally describes a sequence, but it doesn't necessarily have to be recurring or cyclical.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic: Think of a gymnast (Turner - masculine) who repeats his routine in the same turnus. Der Turner macht den Turnus.
Meaning Mnemonic: The word sounds like "turn us" or perhaps "turn is". A Turnus involves a turn, a rotation in a schedule or calendar, after which the cycle begins again. It defines whose turn it is.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms of "Turnus"
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Zyklus (cycle)
- Rhythmus (rhythm)
- Periode (period)
- Intervall (interval)
- Rotation (rotation)
- Reihenfolge (sequence, order)
- Dienstplan (rota, duty roster - context-dependent)
- Wiederkehr (recurrence)
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Unregelmäßigkeit (irregularity)
- Chaos (chaos)
- Einmaligkeit (singularity, one-off event)
- Willkür (arbitrariness)
- Durcheinander (disorder, confusion)
Caution: Don't confuse Turnus with Tournee (tour of artists) or Turnier (tournament).
😄 A little Joke
DE: Warum hat der Wecker einen festen Turnus?
Damit er nicht verschläft, wann er klingeln muss!
EN: Why does the alarm clock have a fixed cycle (Turnus)?
So it doesn't oversleep and forget when to ring!
📜 Poem about the Turnus
DE:
Der Mond zieht seine Bahn,
im festen Turnus, dann und wann.
Die Wache wechselt in der Nacht,
ein neuer Turnus ist erwacht.
So läuft die Zeit, so läuft das Jahr,
im Turnus wird uns alles klar.
EN Translation:
The moon does trace its path,
in steady cycle, now and past.
The guard is changing in the night,
a new rotation brought to light.
So time does run, so runs the year,
the cycle makes it all seem clear.
❓ Riddle Time
DE:
Ich bin kein Mensch, doch hab' 'nen Plan,
bestimm', wer wann und wo ist dran.
Ich wiederhole mich im Kreis,
mal lautlos und mal schreiend leis'.
In Dienst und Wartung halt' ich Schritt.
Was bin ich wohl? Ein Tipp: Es fängt mit T an.
EN Translation:
I am no person, yet I have a plan,
I decide who's next, where and when.
I repeat myself in a circle round,
sometimes silent, sometimes a soft sound.
In service and maintenance, I keep pace.
What am I? Hint: It starts with T.
Solution: Der Turnus
💡 More Information
Etymology: The word "Turnus" comes from the Latin word turnus, meaning 'turn', 'rotation', or 'lathe'. This reflects the cyclical nature of the term.
Austrian Specificity: As mentioned, in Austria, Turnus has a specific meaning in the medical context, referring to the basic medical training for doctors after graduation (similar to residency or foundation programme).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Turnus?
The German word Turnus is masculine, so the correct article is always der. It describes a recurring cycle, a fixed sequence, or rotation, often used in the context of schedules, duties, or time periods.