die  Berufsfeuerwehr

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/bəˈʁuːsˌfɔʏ̯ɐˌvɛʁ/

🚒 What does 'die Berufsfeuerwehr' mean?

Die Berufsfeuerwehr (noun, feminine) refers to a professional fire department or brigade, whose members perform firefighting and technical rescue services as their profession (Beruf). In contrast to the Freiwillige Feuerwehr (volunteer fire department), the firefighters here are full-time employees and constantly ready for deployment.

It's typically a municipal or state institution responsible for safety in larger cities or for special hazard situations.

🚨 Important: There is only one article for this word: die. As it's a compound noun (Beruf + Feuerwehr), it inherits the gender and article from the base noun Feuerwehr (die Feuerwehr).

🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Die Berufsfeuerwehr

The noun 'Berufsfeuerwehr' is feminine. Therefore, its definite article is die.

💡 Example Sentences

1. Die Berufsfeuerwehr rückte mit mehreren Löschfahrzeugen an.
   The professional fire department arrived with several fire engines.
2. Er arbeitet seit zehn Jahren bei der Berufsfeuerwehr in Berlin.
   He has been working for the professional fire department in Berlin for ten years.
3. Die Ausbildung bei den Berufsfeuerwehren ist sehr anspruchsvoll.
   The training at the professional fire departments is very demanding.
4. Die Zusammenarbeit zwischen Berufsfeuerwehr und Freiwilliger Feuerwehr ist wichtig.
   Cooperation between the professional fire department and the volunteer fire department is important.

🗣️ How to use 'Berufsfeuerwehr'

The term Berufsfeuerwehr is used to clarify that it's an organization with full-time, paid emergency responders.

• Context: Mostly used in relation to urban safety, emergency services, disaster control, and public administration.
• Distinction: The main contrast is with the Freiwillige Feuerwehr (volunteer fire department), whose members are volunteers. There are also Werkfeuerwehren (company/factory fire departments) and Pflichtfeuerwehren (compulsory fire departments, rare, used when volunteer numbers are insufficient).
• Typical phrases: "bei der Berufsfeuerwehr arbeiten" (to work for the professional fire department), "die Berufsfeuerwehr alarmieren" (to alert the professional fire department), "Einsatz der Berufsfeuerwehr" (deployment/operation of the professional fire department).

🧠 Mnemonics

Article Mnemonic: Think of die Wehr (defense) or die Feuerwehr (fire department) – both are feminine in German. Since 'Berufsfeuerwehr' ends in '-wehr' and contains 'Feuerwehr', it's also feminine: die Berufsfeuerwehr.

Meaning Mnemonic: Break it down: Beruf (profession/job) + s (linking 's') + Feuerwehr (fire department). It's the fire department you do as a Beruf (job).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar, but different terms:

• Werkfeuerwehr: Fire department of a company or factory site.
• Betriebsfeuerwehr: Similar to Werkfeuerwehr (company fire dept.).
• Feuerwache: The building housing a fire department (professional or volunteer).

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Chef der Berufsfeuerwehr den neuen Azubi: "Was machen Sie, wenn Sie während des Bereitschaftsdienstes plötzlich einschlafen?"
Azubi: "Ganz einfach, Chef: Ich träume von Sirenen!"

Translation:
The chief of the professional fire department asks the new trainee: "What do you do if you suddenly fall asleep during stand-by duty?"
Trainee: "Simple, chief: I dream of sirens!"

📜 Poem about the Berufsfeuerwehr

Mit Blaulicht schnell und laut,
Wenn Rauch am Himmel graut.
Die Berufsfeuerwehr, stets bereit,
Zu helfen, Tag und Nacht, bei Streit
Mit Flammen, Flut und mancher Not,
Sie schützen Leben, Hab und Gut vor Tod.
Ihr Job ist Dienst, mit Mut und Kraft,
Eine Gemeinschaft, die viel schafft.

Translation:
With blue lights fast and loud,
When smoke looms like a cloud.
The professional fire brigade, always set,
To help, day and night, when threat
Of flames, or floods, or other plight,
They save lives, goods, from death's dark night.
Their job is service, brave and strong,
A community achieving all along.

❓ A Little Riddle

Ich lösche, rette, berge, schütze gern,
Doch tu's als Job, nicht nur aus fernem Stern.
Mein Helm glänzt hell, mein Anzug rot,
In Städten steh' ich stets parat bei Not.
Nicht ehrenamtlich, nein, bezahlt werd' ich,
Wer bin ich wohl? Na, rate mich!

Translation:
I extinguish, rescue, salvage, protect with zeal,
But do it as a job, it's truly real.
My helmet shines, my suit is red,
In cities, ready when there's dread.
Not volunteer, no, I get paid, you see,
Who am I then? Please guess me!

Solution: Die Berufsfeuerwehr (The professional fire department)

✨ Other Information

Word Composition:

• Beruf: Profession, job, occupation (something learned and done for payment).
• -s-: Fugen-S, a linking sound between word parts.
• Feuerwehr: Fire department (from Feuer = fire and Wehr = defense/protection).

Trivia:

• The world's first professional fire brigade was founded in Vienna in 1686.
• In Germany, there are about 110 Berufsfeuerwehren, mostly in cities with over 100,000 inhabitants.
• The emergency number in Germany (and EU-wide) for fire and rescue services is 112.