die
Fähre
🚢 What Exactly is a 'Fähre'?
The German word die Fähre (plural: die Fähren) refers to a ferry. It's a vessel used for transport across water, typically carrying people, vehicles, or goods over relatively short distances on rivers, lakes, or straits.
There is only one definite article for Fähre: die. It is always feminine. 🚨 No exceptions!
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 Deep Dive: Die Fähre
As a feminine noun, 'die Fähre' follows the standard declension pattern for feminine nouns in German. The plural is formed by adding '-n'.
Declension Table (Singular)
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die | eine | Fähre |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der | einer | Fähre |
| Dative (To whom?) | der | einer | Fähre |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die | eine | Fähre |
Declension Table (Plural)
| Case | Definite Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Fähren |
| Genitive | der | Fähren |
| Dative | den | Fähren |
| Accusative | die | Fähren |
Example Sentences:
- Die Fähre nach Dänemark fährt pünktlich ab. (The ferry to Denmark departs on time.)
- Wir müssen die Tickets für die Fähre noch kaufen. (We still have to buy the tickets for the ferry.)
- Mit der Fähre sind wir schnell auf der anderen Seite des Flusses. (With the ferry, we are quickly on the other side of the river.)
- Die Ankunft der Fähre wird für 15 Uhr erwartet. (The arrival of the ferry is expected at 3 PM.)
- Im Sommer fahren viele Fähren zu den Inseln. (In summer, many ferries go to the islands.)
⚓ How to Use 'die Fähre'?
The term 'die Fähre' is specifically used for watercraft operating on a regular schedule along a fixed route to transport people and/or vehicles across a body of water.
- Typical Contexts: Island transport, river crossings, connecting coastal areas where bridges are absent or impractical.
- Distinction: A 'Schiff' (ship) is a more general term for larger watercraft. A 'Boot' (boat) is usually smaller than a ferry or ship. A 'Fähre' specifically serves the purpose of crossing ('übersetzen').
- Fixed Connections: You often hear phrases like "die Fähre nach [Destination]", e.g., "die Fähre nach Helgoland" (the ferry to Heligoland), "die Rheinfähre" (the Rhine ferry).
- Compound Words: Compound nouns are common, such as Autofähre (car ferry), Personenfähre (passenger ferry), Fährverbindung (ferry connection), Fähranleger (ferry dock/terminal), Fährticket (ferry ticket).
💡 Memory Aids for 'die Fähre'
Article Mnemonic: Think of a sophisticated lady (feminine -> die) elegantly boarding die Fähre to get to the other shore. Ladies love ferry rides!
Meaning Mnemonic: A Fähre 'fährt' (drives/travels) you across the water. The word 'Fähre' sounds like and comes from 'fahren' (to drive, travel). It helps you get safely where you need to go.
🔄 Synonyms, Antonyms & Similar Words
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Fährschiff: Often used synonymously, emphasizes size (ship).
- Übersetzboot: More likely for smaller boats/ferries.
- Shuttle(-schiff): Emphasizes the back-and-forth service.
⚠️ Similar, but Different Words:
😂 A Little Joke
Warum nehmen Skelette die Fähre nicht gerne?
(Why don't skeletons like taking the ferry?)
Weil sie kein KÖRPERteil haben, um über Bord zu gehen!
(Because they have no BODY to go overboard with! - A pun on 'Körperteil' meaning body part) 😉
✍️ Poem about the Ferry
Die Fähre, stetig, hin und her,
trägt Menschen über Fluss und Meer.
Bringt Autos, Laster, Rad und Mann,
sicher an das andre Land.
Mit Dieselduft und Möwenschrei,
ist sie auf dem Wasser frei.
Die Fähre, ja, sie fährt geschwind,
bewegt durch Wellen und durch Wind.
(The ferry, steady, to and fro,
Carries people over river and flow.
Brings cars, trucks, bikes, and man,
Safely to the other land.
With diesel scent and seagull's cry,
It's free upon the water high.
The ferry, yes, it travels fast,
Moved by waves and windy blast.)
❓ Riddle Time
Ich habe keinen festen Grund,
doch fahr' ich manche Stund'.
Ich trage Last von Strand zu Strand,
verbinde Wasser mit dem Land.
Mein Name klingt wie 'fahren' fast,
bin oft der einzige Gast,
der übers Wasser dich kann bringen.
Wer bin ich? Lass die Antwort klingen!
(I have no fixed ground below,
Yet travel many hours, you know.
I carry loads from shore to shore,
Connecting water with land once more.
My name sounds much like 'to travel' fast,
I'm often the only guest, unsurpassed,
Who can take you across the water's gleam.
Who am I? Let the answer stream!)
Solution: Die Fähre (The Ferry)
✨ More Info
Word Origin: The word 'Fähre' derives from the Old High German verb 'ferien' or 'faran' (meaning 'to travel' or 'to go'). It originally signified the means of 'traveling' across water.
Cultural Significance: Ferries often play a crucial role in local infrastructure, sometimes providing the only link to islands or remote areas. They are part of daily life for many commuters and travelers in Germany and beyond.
Summary: is it der, die or das Fähre?
The German word for ferry is feminine: die Fähre. The plural is die Fähren.