die
Heimreise
🏠 What does 'die Heimreise' mean?
Die Heimreise translates to the journey home, the return journey, or the trip back home. It refers specifically to the travel undertaken to return to one's home, starting point, or permanent residence after being away.
It's a compound noun formed from Heim (home, homewards) and Reise (journey, trip). Since Reise is feminine (die Reise), the compound word die Heimreise is also feminine.
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: Declension of 'die Heimreise'
The noun 'Heimreise' is feminine. Here are the declension tables:
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Heimreise |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Heimreise |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Heimreise |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Heimreise |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Heimreisen |
| Genitive | der | Heimreisen |
| Dative | den | Heimreisen |
| Accusative | die | Heimreisen |
Example Sentences
- Nach einem langen Urlaub trat er endlich die Heimreise an. (After a long vacation, he finally started his journey home.)
- Die Heimreise war anstrengend, aber schön. (The journey home was tiring but nice.)
- Wir planen unsere Heimreise für nächsten Dienstag. (We are planning our journey home for next Tuesday.)
- Während der Heimreise dachte sie über ihre Erlebnisse nach. (During the journey home, she reflected on her experiences.)
🗺️ How to use 'Heimreise'?
'Heimreise' is used to describe the specific act or period of returning home after an absence (like a vacation, business trip, visit, etc.). It emphasizes the destination: one's own home or home town.
Typical verbs used with 'Heimreise' include:
- die Heimreise antreten (to start the journey home)
- sich auf die Heimreise machen (to set off on the journey home)
- die Heimreise planen (to plan the journey home)
- die Heimreise verschieben (to postpone the journey home)
Compared to Rückreise (return journey) or Rückfahrt (return trip/drive), Heimreise often carries a more emotional connotation, strongly implying arrival in a personal, familiar environment ('Heim' - home). Rückfahrt usually refers to a shorter distance or the technical aspect of the drive/ride.
🧠 Mnemonics for 'Heimreise'
Article Mnemonic: Remember that Reise (journey) is die Reise. A journey Heim (home) is still a type of Reise, so it keeps the feminine article: die Heimreise.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you're finally on the last leg of your Reise (journey), following a big arrow pointing "HOME" (Heim). That's your Heimreise - the home-journey.
↔️ Opposites and Similar Words
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
⚠️ Caution: While Rückreise is often a good substitute, Heimreise has a stronger connotation of 'coming home'.
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Schaffner den Passagier kurz vor dem Zielbahnhof: "Hatten Sie eine gute Heimreise?" Antwortet der Passagier: "Woher soll ich das wissen? Ich bin ja noch nicht zu Hause!" 😉
Translation: The conductor asks the passenger just before the destination station: "Did you have a good journey home?" The passenger replies: "How should I know? I'm not home yet!" 😉
📜 Poem about the Journey Home
Der Koffer packt sich fast allein,
die Ferne lässt man hinter sich.
Die Straße ruft, der Weg wird dein,
die Heimreise beginnt für dich.
Gedanken fliegen schon voraus,
zum warmen Licht, zur offnen Tür.
Vorbei der Trubel, fremder Braus,
bald bist du wieder hier bei mir.
Translation:
The suitcase almost packs itself,
distance is left behind.
The road calls, the path becomes yours,
the journey home begins for you.
Thoughts already fly ahead,
to the warm light, to the open door.
Gone the hustle, foreign roar,
soon you'll be back here with me.
❓ Riddle
Ich bin das Ende einer Tour,
der Weg zurück zur eignen Flur.
Nach Abenteuer, fern und weit,
beende ich die Reisezeit.
Was bin ich?
Solution: die Heimreise
Translation:
I am the end of a tour,
the way back to your own floor (hallway).
After adventure, far and wide,
I end the travel time.
What am I?
Solution: the journey home (die Heimreise)
🧩 Word Components and Trivia
Word Composition:
- Heim: Adverb or prefix meaning 'homewards', 'to/at home'.
- Reise: Noun, feminine, meaning 'journey', 'trip', 'travel'.
The base word is 'Reise', which determines the grammatical gender. That's why it's 'die Heimreise'.
Interesting Fact: The feeling associated with the Heimreise can vary greatly – from joy and relief to nostalgia or sadness about the end of a wonderful time.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Heimreise?
The word 'Heimreise' is a feminine noun and always takes the article die (e.g., die Heimreise, der Heimreise). It refers to the journey back home.