die
Anlegestelle
⚓ What Exactly is an Anlegestelle?
Die Anlegestelle refers to a specific place on a body of water (Fluss, See, Meer - river, lake, sea) that is built or designated for ships, boats, or ferries to dock (anlegen). It's a spot to embark or disembark passengers or load/unload cargo.
It usually refers to a structure like a jetty, quay, or landing stage.
The word is feminine, so the article is always die Anlegestelle.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar Compass: Navigating 'die Anlegestelle'
The noun „Anlegestelle“ is feminine. Here are the declension tables:
Singular Declension
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (who/what?) | die Anlegestelle | eine Anlegestelle |
| Accusative (whom/what?) | die Anlegestelle | eine Anlegestelle |
| Dative (to/for whom?) | der Anlegestelle | einer Anlegestelle |
| Genitive (whose?) | der Anlegestelle | einer Anlegestelle |
Plural Declension
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Anlegestellen | Anlegestellen |
| Accusative | die Anlegestellen | Anlegestellen |
| Dative | den Anlegestellen | Anlegestellen |
| Genitive | der Anlegestellen | Anlegestellen |
🚢 Examples in Action
- Das Schiff erreichte pünktlich die Anlegestelle.
(The ship reached the landing stage on time.) - Wir warteten an der Anlegestelle auf die Fähre.
(We waited at the landing stage for the ferry.) - Am See gibt es mehrere kleine Anlegestellen für Ruderboote.
(There are several small jetties for rowing boats at the lake.) - Der Kapitän steuerte das Boot vorsichtig zu einer Anlegestelle.
(The captain carefully steered the boat to a landing stage.)
🗣️ Using 'die Anlegestelle' in Context
The term Anlegestelle is used in the context of shipping and water transport. It's reasonably formal but also common in everyday language when referring to specific stops for watercraft.
- Typical Contexts: Harbor facilities (Hafenanlagen), ferry terminals (Fährterminals), boat rentals (Bootsverleihe), excursion boats (Ausflugsschifffahrt).
- Difference from similar words:
- Kai: Usually a fortified quay wall in a harbor, often larger and for bigger ships.
- Steg/Bootssteg: Often a lighter structure made of wood or metal extending into the water, frequently for smaller boats (jetty).
- Pier/Landungsbrücke: A structure often extending far into the water, allowing docking even at low tide (pier/landing bridge).
- Anlegestelle is a more general term that can encompass these more specific structures.
You often find the word on timetables for ferries or tour boats.
🧠 Memory Hooks for Anlegestelle
Article Mnemonic: Words ending in -stelle (place, spot) are almost always feminine in German (like die Baustelle - construction site, die Haltestelle - bus stop). So it's die Anlegestelle.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a ship needing to anlegen (dock/moor) at a specific Stelle (place/spot). This makes it the Anlege-Stelle - the docking spot.
↔️ Words at the Dock: Synonyms & More
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
Antonyms (Opposites):
A direct antonym is difficult. Possible contextual opposites:
- Offene See / Offenes Gewässer (open sea / open water)
- Hafenbecken (harbor basin - the water area, not the docking spot)
Potential for Confusion:
- Anlage: Can mean investment, facility, park, or attachment. Does not mean landing stage.
😂 A Joke by the Jetty
German: Warum legen Schiffe immer an der gleichen Stelle an?
Weil es die Anlege-Stelle ist! 😄
English: Why do ships always dock at the same place?
Because it's the docking place! (Pun on Anlegestelle meaning 'docking place') 😄
🎶 Rhyme Ahoy!
German:
Am Ufer fest, aus Holz und Stein,
lädt Schiffe ein, ob groß, ob klein.
Die Wellen schlagen sanft heran,
an der Anlegestelle legt man sicher an.
Ein Kommen und Gehen, Tag für Tag,
was man vom Wasser aus sehen mag.
English Translation:
Firm on the shore, of wood and stone,
Invites the ships, big or small, known.
The waves gently lap near,
At the landing stage, one docks without fear.
A coming and going, day by day,
What one can see from the waterway.
🤔 What am I? A Riddle about the Anlegestelle
German:
Ich liege am Wasser, doch schwimme ich nicht.
Schiffe kommen zu mir, bei Tag und bei Licht.
Man steigt ein und aus, fährt nah oder weit.
Ich biete den Booten stets Halt und Geleit.
Was bin ich?
English Translation:
I lie by the water, but I do not swim.
Ships come to me, in daylight clear and dim.
People get on and off, travel near or far.
I always offer boats hold and guidance, like a star.
What am I?
Solution: Die Anlegestelle (The landing stage / jetty / pier)
✨ Other Interesting Facts
Word Composition:
The word "Anlegestelle" is a compound noun (ein Kompositum), made up of:
- anlegen: The verb here means 'to dock' or 'to moor' a ship.
- Stelle: The noun means 'place' or 'spot'.
So, literally: A place for docking (ships).
Cultural Significance:
Anlegestellen are often important hubs for local transport and tourism, especially on islands or along lakes and rivers in German-speaking countries.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Anlegestelle?
The word "Anlegestelle" is feminine. Therefore, the correct article is always die Anlegestelle (in the nominative singular).