die
Burgruine
🏰 What Exactly is a Burgruine?
The German word die Burgruine (feminine) refers to the remains of a former Burg (castle) that has been severely damaged over time due to decay, destruction (e.g., through wars), or abandonment, and is no longer habitable. It means 'castle ruin'.
It's a compound noun made up of:
- die Burg: a medieval castle or fortress.
- die Ruine: the ruins or remains of a destroyed or decayed building.
Because the base word 'die Ruine' is feminine, 'die Burgruine' is also feminine. There are no exceptions or common mistakes regarding the article here. 🚨 Remember: The gender of compound nouns in German is determined by the last part of the word!
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 Spotlight: Die Burgruine
The noun "Burgruine" is feminine. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Burgruine |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Burgruine |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Burgruine |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Burgruine |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Burgruinen |
| Genitive | der | Burgruinen |
| Dative | den | Burgruinen |
| Accusative | die | Burgruinen |
📝 Example Sentences
- Wir besuchten gestern die alte Burgruine auf dem Hügel. (Yesterday we visited the old castle ruin on the hill.)
- Der Verfall der Burgruine schreitet leider voran. (Unfortunately, the decay of the castle ruin is progressing.)
- In der Burgruine spukt es angeblich. (They say it's haunted in the castle ruin.)
- Viele Touristen fotografieren die Burgruinen am Rhein. (Many tourists photograph the castle ruins along the Rhine.)
- Die Geschichte der Burgruinen ist faszinierend. (The history of the castle ruins is fascinating.)
🧭 Everyday Usage
The term die Burgruine is primarily used in the following contexts:
- Tourism & Travel: As a designation for sights and excursion destinations. (e.g., "Die Burgruine Hohenfreyberg ist ein beliebtes Wanderziel." - The Hohenfreyberg castle ruin is a popular hiking destination.)
- History & Archaeology: When describing historical sites and finds. (e.g., "Archäologen legten Fundamente in der Burgruine frei." - Archaeologists uncovered foundations in the castle ruin.)
- Literature & Art: Often as a romantic or mystical motif. (e.g., "Gedichte über verfallene Burgruinen waren in der Romantik beliebt." - Poems about dilapidated castle ruins were popular during Romanticism.)
- Everyday Language: When talking about the remains of an old castle.
Distinction:
- Burg: Refers to a (often still intact or restored) medieval fortress/castle.
- Schloss: Is more of a representative residence of the nobility, often less focused on defense than a Burg. A Schlossruine would be the ruin of a palace/manor house.
- Festung: A more general term for a heavily fortified structure, not necessarily medieval or a Burg.
💡 Mnemonics for Burgruine
For the article (die): The base word is die Ruine. Words ending in -e are very often feminine in German. Imagine: Die (the) Queen (feminine) visits der Burgruine (the castle ruin, dative case).
For the meaning: A Burg (castle) fell into disrepair and is now just a Ruine (ruin). What's left? -> A Burgruine (castle ruin).
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
⚠️ Caution: A 'Burg' is not the same as a 'Burgruine'. A Burg is (at least partially) preserved, while a Burgruine consists only of remains.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum spukt es in der Burgruine?
Weil die alten Ritter vergessen haben, die Rechnungen für die Geisterbahn zu bezahlen! 👻
(Why is the castle ruin haunted? Because the old knights forgot to pay the bills for the ghost train!)
📜 Poem about the Ruin
Auf steilem Fels, von Wind umweht,
Wo einst die stolze Feste steht,
Liegt heut die Burgruine grau,
Ein stummer Zeuge alter Schau.
Die Mauern bröckeln, Stein auf Stein,
Nur Efeu schlingt sich kühn hinein.
Wo Ritter einst und Damen schritten,
Hat längst der Zahn der Zeit gelitten.
(On steep rock, swept by wind,
Where once the proud fortress stood,
Lies today the grey castle ruin,
A silent witness of ancient spectacle.
The walls crumble, stone by stone,
Only ivy boldly winds its way in.
Where knights and ladies once strode,
The tooth of time has long since bitten.)
❓ Little Riddle
Ich war mal stolz, mit Zinnen, Turm und Tor,
Doch Kriege, Zeit, sie nagten sehr an mir hervor.
Heut steh' ich still, zerfallen und beklagt,
Ein Ziel für Wanderer, von Sagen oft umragt.
Was bin ich?
(I once was proud, with battlements, tower, and gate,
But wars, time, they gnawed heavily upon me.
Today I stand still, decayed and lamented,
A destination for hikers, often surrounded by legends.
What am I?)
Answer: die Burgruine (the castle ruin)
ℹ️ Interesting Facts
Word Composition:
The word "Burgruine" is a compound noun (Kompositum), composed of:
- die Burg (determinant): Specifies what kind of ruin it is.
- die Ruine (base word): Determines the grammatical gender (feminine) and the core meaning (ruins/remains).
Famous Castle Ruins in Germany:
Germany has numerous castle ruins, e.g., Burgruine Hohenzollern (ancestral seat), the ruins of Heidelberger Schloss (technically a palace ruin, but often mentioned in this context), Burg Rheinfels, Burg Stahleck.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Burgruine?
The word "Burgruine" is a feminine noun. The correct article is always die: die Burgruine (singular) and die Burgruinen (plural).