die
Fahrradfahrerin
🚴♀️ What does "die Fahrradfahrerin" mean?
Die Fahrradfahrerin translates to 'female cyclist' or 'woman who rides a bicycle'. It is the feminine form of der Fahrradfahrer (male cyclist).
The word is composed of:
There is only this one meaning associated with the article die. It clearly describes a woman or girl riding a bicycle.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Women → almost always feminine.
Caution: Most professions also have their feminine forms (e.g. die Polizistin). Some words can also have two forms: der/die Deutsche, der/die Kranke.
-in → mostly feminine.
All persons and professions ending in -in are feminine. Other -in nouns can be der/die/das.
🧐 Grammar: Declension of "die Fahrradfahrerin"
Die Fahrradfahrerin is a feminine noun. Its declension follows the pattern for feminine nouns ending in "-in", which add "-nen" in the plural.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Fahrradfahrerin |
| Genitive | der | Fahrradfahrerin |
| Dative | der | Fahrradfahrerin |
| Accusative | die | Fahrradfahrerin |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Fahrradfahrerinnen |
| Genitive | der | Fahrradfahrerinnen |
| Dative | den | Fahrradfahrerinnen |
| Accusative | die | Fahrradfahrerinnen |
Example Sentences
- Die Fahrradfahrerin trug einen Helm.
(The female cyclist wore a helmet.) - Ich gab der Fahrradfahrerin den Weg frei.
(I yielded the way to the female cyclist.) - Das Fahrrad der Fahrradfahrerin war neu.
(The female cyclist's bicycle was new.) - Wir sahen viele Fahrradfahrerinnen auf dem Radweg.
(We saw many female cyclists on the bike path.)
💡 How is "die Fahrradfahrerin" used?
The word die Fahrradfahrerin is used in everyday language and formal contexts to describe a female person who rides a bicycle.
- Everyday language: "Schau mal, die schnelle Fahrradfahrerin dort drüben!" (Look, that fast female cyclist over there!)
- News/Reports: "Eine Fahrradfahrerin wurde bei dem Unfall leicht verletzt." (A female cyclist was slightly injured in the accident.)
- Sports context: "Die deutsche Fahrradfahrerin gewann das Rennen." (The German female cyclist won the race.)
It is the direct female equivalent of der Fahrradfahrer. Alternatively, shorter forms like Radfahrerin or Radlerin are sometimes used.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Remembering the Article: Feminine professions or descriptions in German often end in "-in" and always take the article die. Think of: die Lehrerin (female teacher), die Ärztin (female doctor), die Fahrerin (female driver) -> therefore, it's also die Fahrradfahrin.
Remembering the Meaning: The word is clearly constructed: A Fahrrad (bicycle) + a Fahrerin (female rider) = A woman who rides a bicycle. It’s quite logical!
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (Words with similar meaning):
- die Radfahrerin: Very common alternative. ('Rad' is short for 'Fahrrad').
- die Radlerin: Shorter, often slightly more colloquial form.
- die Velofahrerin: Mainly used in Switzerland ('Velo' = bicycle).
Antonyms (Opposite concepts):
- die Fußgängerin: Female pedestrian.
- die Autofahrerin: Female car driver.
- die Motorradfahrerin: Female motorcyclist.
⚠️ Similar Words: Do not confuse with die Fahrerin (more general, can also mean female driver of a car, bus, etc.) or der Fahrradfahrer (male form).
😄 A Little Joke
Warum nimmt die Fahrradfahrerin immer einen Ersatzreifen mit in die Bäckerei?
Damit sie auf dem Rückweg keinen Platten hat, wenn sie die ganzen Teilchen transportiert! 😉
--- Translation ---
Why does the female cyclist always take a spare tire to the bakery?
So she doesn't get a flat tire on the way back when transporting all the pastries ('Teilchen' also informally means particles/pieces, hinting at tire parts)!
📜 Poem about the Fahrradfahrerin
Die Fahrradfahrerin, schnell und flink,
fährt durch die Stadt, geschwind, geschwind.
Der Wind im Haar, die Sonne lacht,
hat ihre Tour sie froh gemacht.
Ob Berg, ob Tal, ob Weg, ob Steg,
bewegt sie sich auf ihrem Weg.
--- Translation ---
The cyclist girl, so swift and keen,
Rides through the town, a vibrant scene.
Wind in her hair, the sun ablaze,
Her happy tour fills up her days.
O'er hill, through vale, on path or track,
She moves along, no turning back.
❓ Riddle
Ich habe zwei Räder, aber kein Motor.
Eine Frau tritt in die Pedale mit viel Dekor.
Ich bringe sie von A nach B, durch Wind und Wetter.
Wer ist die Dame, die mich lenkt, mal langsam, mal schneller?
Lösung: die Fahrradfahrerin
--- Translation ---
I have two wheels, but lack a motor's might.
A woman pedals me with all her light.
I take her places, through the wind and rain.
Who is the lady steering me again, sometimes slow, sometimes fast?
Solution: the female cyclist (die Fahrradfahrerin)
🧩 Word Composition and More
Word Components:
- Fahrrad: From fahren (to ride/drive) and Rad (wheel).
- Fahrerin: Derived from fahren (to ride/drive) with the feminine suffix -in.
The word is a compound noun (Kompositum) that very clearly describes the activity and the gender of the person. It is an established term in German usage.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Fahrradfahrerin?
The correct form is die Fahrradfahrerin because the noun is feminine (indicated by the "-in" suffix).