die  Expedition

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɛkspɛdiˈtsi̯oːn/

🗺️ What does "die Expedition" mean?

The German word die Expedition (feminine) has several meanings:

• An expedition or exploration journey: This is the most common meaning. It describes an often lengthy, organized journey with a specific scientific, geographical, or military goal, frequently to remote or unknown areas. Example: eine Expedition in die Arktis (an expedition to the Arctic).
• The participants of such a journey: Sometimes the word also refers to the group of people taking part in the journey. Example: Die gesamte Expedition war erschöpft (The entire expedition was exhausted).
• (Administration/Logistics) Dispatch or shipping: In an older or bureaucratic context, "Expedition" can also mean the department or process of dispatching and shipping goods or mail. Example: Die Waren liegen noch in der Expedition (The goods are still in dispatch/shipping). This meaning is less common today.

🚨 Attention: The meaning heavily depends on the context.

✍️ Grammar of "die Expedition" in Detail

Die Expedition is a feminine noun. Here are the declension tables:

Singular

Plural

Example Sentences 📝

1. Die Expedition zum Mount Everest war erfolgreich. (The expedition to Mount Everest was successful.)
2. Die Ergebnisse der Expedition werden bald veröffentlicht. (The results of the expedition will be published soon.)
3. Wir wünschen der Expedition viel Glück. (We wish the expedition [group] good luck.)
4. Der Sturm überraschte die Expedition in der Nacht. (The storm surprised the expedition [group] during the night.)
5. Mehrere Expeditionen wurden gleichzeitig gestartet. (Several expeditions were started simultaneously.)
6. Die Leitung der Expeditionen lag bei erfahrenen Forschern. (The leadership of the expeditions lay with experienced researchers.)
7. Man stellte den Expeditionen moderne Ausrüstung zur Verfügung. (Modern equipment was made available to the expeditions.)
8. Das Museum dokumentiert zahlreiche historische Expeditionen. (The museum documents numerous historical expeditions.)

🧭 When to use "die Expedition"?

Die Expedition is typically used in the following contexts:

• Science & Research: Describes journeys for data collection, exploring unknown areas or species (e.g., archäologische Expedition (archaeological expedition), biologische Expedition (biological expedition)).
• Geography & Discovery: Refers to journeys for mapping, exploration, or first ascents (e.g., Polarexpedition (polar expedition), Himalaya-Expedition (Himalayan expedition)).
• History: Often in connection with historical voyages of discovery or military campaigns (e.g., die Expeditionen von Kolumbus (the expeditions of Columbus), eine militärische Strafexpedition (a military punitive expedition)).
• Adventure & Tourism: Sometimes used for challenging, organized adventure trips (e.g., eine Dschungel-Expedition für Touristen (a jungle expedition for tourists)).
• Administration (less common): Formerly for the department or process of shipping/dispatch in companies or authorities.

Distinction from other words:

• Reise (journey, trip): General term for moving from one place to another. An `Expedition` is a specific type of `Reise`.
• Fahrt (drive, ride, voyage): Often refers to shorter distances or sea voyages.
• Erkundung (exploration, reconnaissance): Can be part of an `Expedition`, but describes the act of exploring itself.
• Feldzug (campaign): Has a purely military connotation.

💡 Mnemonics for "Expedition"

Article Mnemonic (die):

Think of the ending "-tion" which is almost always feminine (die) in German. Like die Nation, die Situation, die Kommunikation... and DIE Expedition.

Meaning Mnemonic:

An Expedition requires expertise and pedaling (walking/moving) with dedication. It's a special mission, often requiring preparation.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but different words:

• Experiment (das): An experiment. A scientific test to check a hypothesis. Unrelated to travel.
• Exposition (die): An exposition or exhibition; also exposure (e.g., to radiation).

😂 A little Joke

Warum nehmen Ameisen nie an einer Expedition zum Nordpol teil?

Weil sie Angst haben, zu Ameis-Eis zu werden! 😉🐜🧊

(Why do ants never take part in an expedition to the North Pole? Because they are afraid of becoming ant-ice! [A pun on Ameise = ant and Eis = ice])

📜 Poem about an Expedition

Die Expedition zieht hinaus,
Verlässt das wohlbekannte Haus.
Durch Dschungel dicht und Wüstensand,
Erforscht ein unbekanntes Land.

Mit Mut und Wissen, Plan und Ziel,
Erträgt die Gruppe Müh' und viel.
Ob Berg, ob Tal, ob tiefes Meer,
Die Neugier treibt sie immer mehr.

(Translation):

The expedition marches out,
Leaving the familiar house about.
Through jungle thick and desert sand,
Explores an unknown land.

With courage, knowledge, plan, and goal,
The group endures much toil and toll.
Be it mountain, valley, ocean deep,
Curiosity drives them from their sleep.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin eine Reise, oft lang und schwer,
Führe Forscher durch Land und Meer.
Ein klares Ziel hab ich im Sinn,
Manchmal ist auch ein Soldat mittendrin.
Man plant mich gut, mit Karte und Kompass,
Was bin ich wohl, sag mir doch das?

(I am a journey, often long and hard,
I lead researchers through land and sea, far.
A clear goal I have in mind,
Sometimes a soldier is also the participating kind.
One plans me well, with map and compass true,
What am I, tell me, do you have a clue?)

Lösung/Solution: die Expedition

🌐 More about "die Expedition"

Word Origin (Etymology)

The word "Expedition" comes from the Latin word expeditio, meaning „campaign“, „undertaking“, or „preparation“. It derives from the verb expedire, meaning „to set free“, „to disentangle“, „to make ready“, or „to further/promote“.

Compound Words

"Expedition" is often part of compound nouns (Komposita) that specify the goal or area:

• Polarexpedition (Polar expedition)
• Tiefseeexpedition (Deep sea expedition)
• Wüstenexpedition (Desert expedition)
• Strafexpedition (Punitive expedition - military)
• Expeditionsleiter(in) (Expedition leader)
• Expeditionsfahrzeug (Expedition vehicle)