der  Volleyball

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈfɔlˌbɔl/

🏐 What Exactly is 'der Volleyball'?

The term der Volleyball primarily refers to the team sport of volleyball itself. *In this sport, two teams try to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court over a high net.*

Less commonly, 'der Volleyball' can also refer to the ball used for this sport. *However, it's more common to simply say* 'der Ball' (*the ball*) *or more specifically* 'der Volleyballball' (*the volleyball ball*).

Examples:

• Sport: Er spielt gerne Volleyball. (He likes playing volleyball.)
• Ball (less common): Gib mir mal den Volleyball rüber. (Pass me the volleyball.) (More common: Gib mir mal den Ball.)

Article rules for der, die, and das

📖 Grammar & Declension of Volleyball

The word 'Volleyball' is masculine. *The definite article is* der.

*Since it usually refers to the sport, it is mainly used in the singular.* A plural form exists ('die Volleybälle'), *but it typically refers to the balls, not the sport itself.*

Declension (Singular - the sport)

🚨 Note: *The genitive case can be formed with or without an 's'; both are common.*

Example Sentences

• Nominativ: Der Volleyball ist eine olympische Disziplin. (Volleyball is an Olympic discipline.)
• Genitiv: Die Regeln des Volleyballs sind international festgelegt. (The rules of volleyball are set internationally.)
• Dativ: Er widmet seine Freizeit dem Volleyball. (He dedicates his free time to volleyball.)
• Akkusativ: Sie spielen jeden Sommer Volleyball am Strand. (They play volleyball on the beach every summer.)

💬 Using 'Volleyball' in Context

'Der Volleyball' *is primarily used in the context of* Sport und Freizeit (sports and leisure). *It describes both professional competitive sports and casual games played for fun, e.g., in the park or on the beach* (`Beachvolleyball`).

• Typical Collocations: `Volleyball spielen` (to play volleyball), `Volleyball trainieren` (to train volleyball), `Volleyballmannschaft` (volleyball team), `Volleyballturnier` (volleyball tournament), `Volleyballnetz` (volleyball net), `Volleyballfeld` (volleyball court).
• Distinction: *While* 'Volleyball' *refers to the sport,* 'Pritschen' (*setting*), 'Baggern' (*digging/bumping*), *and* 'Schmettern' (*spiking*) *are specific techniques within the game.* `Beachvolleyball` *is a variant played on sand.*
• Context: *People talk about volleyball in sports clubs* (`Sportvereine`), *at school* (`Schule`, *in physical education*), *during international competitions* (*Olympics, World Championships*), *or simply as a leisure activity.*

🧠 Mnemonics for 'der Volleyball'

For the article 'der': *Many ball sports in German are masculine:* der Fußball (*soccer*), der Basketball, der Handball, *and also* der Volleyball. *Think of* der Mann (*the man*) *who plays the ball.*

For the meaning: *The word comes from English:* 'Volley' *means hitting something (like a ball) back immediately, before it touches the ground.* *So, you play the* 'Ball' *in a* 'Volley' – Volleyball.

↔️ Synonyms and Related Terms

Could be Confused With

• Faustball: *A related sport, but the ball is hit with the fist or arm.*

😂 A Little Net Fun

Warum spielen Skelette kein Volleyball?

Weil sie keinen Körper zum Baggern haben! 😉🦴

Translation: Why don't skeletons play volleyball? Because they don't have a body (Körper) to dig/bump (baggern)! (It's a pun, as 'baggern' also means 'to flirt' or 'hit on someone' in German, but here refers to the volleyball technique 'digging' or 'bumping').

✍️ Poem: Game at the Net

Hoch fliegt der Ball, geschwind und leicht,
übers Netz, das in der Mitte gleicht.
Pritschen, Baggern, mit Gefühl und Kraft,
Volleyball, mit Leidenschaft geschafft.
Ein Team, ein Ziel, der Punkt im Sinn,
so schön kann dieses Spiel beginn'.

Translation:
High flies the ball, swift and light,
over the net, which stands alike in the middle.
Setting, digging, with feeling and might,
Volleyball, achieved with passion.
One team, one goal, the point in mind,
so beautifully can this game begin.

❓ Riddle Me This: What Am I?

Ich habe ein Netz, doch fange keine Fische.
Ich habe Spieler, doch kein Kartenspiel.
Man schlägt einen Ball, doch braucht keinen Schläger.
Am Strand oder in der Halle bringt mein Spiel viel Spaß.

Was bin ich?

Translation:
I have a net, but catch no fish.
I have players, but no card game.
A ball is hit, but no racket is needed.
On the beach or indoors, my game brings much fun.

What am I?

Solution: Der Volleyball (the sport)

🧐 Trivia & Origins

• Word Composition: *The word* 'Volleyball' *is an Anglicism, composed of English* volley (*hitting a ball back directly before it touches the ground*) *and* ball.
• Invention: *The sport was invented in 1895 by William G. Morgan in the USA, originally named 'Mintonette'.*
• Olympic Status: *Indoor volleyball has been an Olympic discipline since 1964, beach volleyball since 1996.*
• Basic Rule: *Each team is allowed a maximum of three touches to return the ball over the net.*