die
Ebbe
🌊 What does "die Ebbe" mean?
Die Ebbe primarily refers to the falling sea level due to the tides, i.e., the low tide between two high tides (Fluten). It's the state when the water has reached its lowest level before the high tide (die Flut) starts coming in again.
Figuratively, Ebbe can also describe a lack or a low point, especially in financial terms:
- Main meaning: The periodic receding of the water level on sea coasts.
- Figurative meaning: A shortage, particularly of money. Example: "In der Kasse herrscht Ebbe." (There's no money in the cash register / The coffers are empty.)
🚨 Attention: The word only takes the article die. There are no variants with 'der' or 'das'.
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 of "die Ebbe" in Detail
Die Ebbe is a feminine noun.
Declension Singular
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Nom) | die Ebbe | eine Ebbe |
| Genitive (Gen) | der Ebbe | einer Ebbe |
| Dative (Dat) | der Ebbe | einer Ebbe |
| Accusative (Acc) | die Ebbe | eine Ebbe |
Declension Plural
The plural "die Ebben" is rarely used; usually, people talk about "Ebbe und Flut" (ebb and flow / low and high tide) or the tides (die Gezeiten) in general. When used, it refers to multiple low tide events.
| Case | Definite Article |
|---|---|
| Nominative (Nom) | die Ebben |
| Genitive (Gen) | der Ebben |
| Dative (Dat) | den Ebben |
| Accusative (Acc) | die Ebben |
📝 Example Sentences
- Bei Ebbe kann man weit ins Watt hinauslaufen.
(At low tide, you can walk far out into the mudflats.) - Wir mussten warten, bis die Ebbe vorbei war, um mit dem Boot auszulaufen.
(We had to wait until the low tide was over to set sail with the boat.) - Nach den teuren Reparaturen herrschte Ebbe in seiner Brieftasche.
(After the expensive repairs, there was a shortage of funds / he was broke.) - Der Wechsel von Ebbe und Flut prägt das Küstenleben.
(The change of low tide and high tide shapes coastal life.)
💡 Everyday Usage
Die Ebbe is mainly used in contexts related to the sea and tides.
- Natural phenomenon: Describing the state of the sea at low water. ("Die Ebbe setzt ein." - The low tide is starting., "Während der Ebbe liegen die Schiffe im Schlick." - During low tide, the ships lie in the silt.)
- Time reference: Often used in conjunction with die Flut (high tide) to describe the tidal cycle. ("Wir richten uns nach Ebbe und Flut." - We go by the tides.)
- Tourism/Leisure: In connection with activities like mudflat hiking (Wattwandern). ("Eine Wattwanderung ist nur bei Ebbe möglich." - Mudflat hiking is only possible at low tide.)
- Figurative meaning (Finances): To express a lack of money. ("Nach dem Urlaub war Ebbe auf dem Konto." - After the holiday, the bank account was empty.) This usage is rather colloquial.
Opposite: The direct opposite of Ebbe is die Flut (high tide).
Risk of confusion: Sometimes Ebbe is confused with the general term die Gezeiten (plural), meaning 'tides'. However, Ebbe is only one part of the tidal cycle (low tide), while Gezeiten encompasses the entire cycle of low and high tide.
🧠 Mnemonics for "die Ebbe"
For the article 'die': Think of other feminine sea-related words: die See (the sea), die Küste (the coast), die Welle (the wave). Die Ebbe fits right in!
For the meaning: When it's Ebbe, the water leaves or ebbs away. Or imagine your wallet is empty – financially, it's Ebbe, and you think, "Empty bank balance, eek!"
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- For low tide: das Niedrigwasser, das Tiefwasser, der Wasserablauf
- For lack of money: der Geldmangel, die Knappheit, die Flaute (coll.), die Leere (in der Kasse - in the cash register)
⚠️ Similar Words (Caution!)
- Die Gezeiten (Plural): Means 'the tides' (the entire cycle), not just low tide (Ebbe).
- ebben (verb): Means 'to ebb' or 'to recede'. ("Das Wasser ebbt ab." - The water is receding.)
😂 A Little Joke
Warum haben Krabben bei Ebbe schlechte Laune?
Why are crabs in a bad mood at low tide?
Weil das Meer dann so tiefenentspannt ist!
Because the sea is so deeply relaxed! (Pun: 'tief' means deep/low, 'entspannt' means relaxed) 😄🦀
📜 Poem about Ebbe
Das Wasser zieht sich leis zurück,
Die Ebbe kommt, Stück für Stück.
Der Meeresgrund liegt silbern da,
Bis die Flut ruft: "Ich bin wieder nah!"
Doch auch im Beutel, leer und flach,
Sagt man zur Not: "Hier herrscht Ebbe-ach!"
--- Translation ---
The water softly retreats,
The low tide comes, bit by bit.
The seabed lies there, silvery bright,
Till the high tide calls: "I'm back in sight!"
But also in the purse, empty and flat,
One says in need: "Here reigns low tide-alas!"
❓ Riddle Time
Ich komme zweimal jeden Tag,
nehme das Wasser mit, keine Frag'.
Ich zeige den Grund, wo Fische sonst schwimmen,
und sorge dafür, dass Boote festklemmen.
Was bin ich?
--- Translation ---
I come twice every day,
take the water away, no question it's true.
I show the ground where fish usually swim,
and make sure that boats get stuck fast within.
What am I?
Solution: die Ebbe (the low tide)
✨ Other Interesting Facts
- Word Origin: The word Ebbe comes from the Middle Low German word "ebbe", meaning "outflow" or "receding". It's related to the verb ebben (to ebb).
- Tidal Forces: Ebbe und Flut (low and high tide) are mainly caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and, to a lesser extent, the Sun.
- Spring and Neap Tides: During new moon and full moon (when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned), tidal forces are strongest, leading to particularly low ebb tides (Springebbe) and particularly high high tides (Springflut). During half moon, the forces are weaker (Nipptide).
Summary: is it der, die or das Ebbe?
The German word "Ebbe" is feminine and exclusively uses the article die. It is only ever die Ebbe.