die
Homepage
🌐 What exactly is a Homepage?
The German word die Homepage comes directly from the English 'home page'. It refers to the main entry page or principal page of a website. It serves as an overview and a hub linking to the site's subpages.
In German, the noun is feminine, hence the article die. So, it's always die Homepage.
It's an Anglicism that has become firmly established in German usage. Synonyms like Startseite (start page) or Hauptseite (main page) are also used.
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 Corner: Die Homepage
The noun „Homepage“ is feminine. Here are the declension tables:
Declension (Singular)
| Case | Article | Word |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Homepage |
| Genitive | der | Homepage |
| Dative | der | Homepage |
| Accusative | die | Homepage |
Declension (Plural)
| Case | Article | Word |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Homepages |
| Genitive | der | Homepages |
| Dative | den | Homepages |
| Accusative | die | Homepages |
Example Sentences ✍️
- Die Homepage des Unternehmens wurde neu gestaltet. (The company's homepage was redesigned.)
- Man findet alle wichtigen Informationen auf der Homepage. (You can find all important information on the homepage.)
- Er arbeitet gerade an den Inhalten für die Homepage. (He is currently working on the content for the homepage.)
- Der Link führt zurück zur Homepage. (The link leads back to the homepage.)
- Viele moderne Homepages sind für Mobilgeräte optimiert. (Many modern homepages are optimized for mobile devices.)
💡 Everyday Usage
The term Homepage is commonly used in the context of the internet. It describes the first page you see when you visit a web address.
- Typical Contexts: Web design, online marketing, private and business websites.
- Comparison: Although Homepage is often used synonymously with Website (the entire internet presence), technically it only refers to the start page. Startseite is the more precise German word, but Homepage is very common.
- Connotation: Usually neutral, but can imply professionalism or modernity depending on the context.
For example, people talk about die Homepage besuchen (visiting the homepage), die Homepage aktualisieren (updating the homepage), or eine neue Homepage erstellen (creating a new homepage).
🧠 Memory Aids for Homepage
Article Mnemonic: Think of the homepage as the 'digital business card' (die Visitenkarte). Since Visitenkarte is feminine in German (die), remember die Homepage.
Meaning Mnemonic: Focus on 'Home'. The Homepage is the 'front door' or 'entry hall' (Page) of your online presence.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms?
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Startseite: The most common German synonym, often considered more precise. (Start page)
- Hauptseite: Also refers to the main, central page. (Main page)
- Einstiegsseite: Emphasizes its function as the first point of entry. (Entry page)
- Indexseite: A more technical term, often for the file loaded first (e.g., index.html). (Index page)
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)
There isn't a direct antonym. However, the following could be considered opposites in function:
- Unterseite / Detailseite: Pages linked from the homepage containing more specific information. (Subpage / Detail page)
- 404-Seite / Fehlerseite: A page displayed when the requested content is not found. (404 page / Error page)
- Landingpage: A specific page, often for marketing, which isn't necessarily the main start page. (Landing page)
😂 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Webdesigner Streit mit seiner Freundin?
Sie fand, er verbringt zu viel Zeit auf anderen Homepages!
(Why did the web designer argue with his girlfriend?
She thought he spent too much time on other homepages!)
📜 A Homepage Poem
Im Netz, da gibt's ein digitales Heim,
Die Homepage lädt dich freundlich ein.
Sie ist der Start, der erste Blick,
Navigiert dich vor und auch zurück.
Mit Klicks entdeckst du, was sie weiß,
Die erste Seite, digital und leis'.
(On the net, there's a digital home,
The Homepage kindly invites you to roam.
It's the start, the very first sight,
Navigates you forth and back with light.
With clicks you discover what it knows,
The first page, digital, where info flows.)
❓ Riddle Time
Ich bin das digitale Gesicht im Netz,
Die erste Tür, kein fauler Schwätz'.
Von mir aus klickst du dich durchs Web,
Ich bin der Start, für jeden Depp... äh, Entdecker nett!
Was bin ich?
(Lösung: die Homepage)
(I am the digital face on the net,
The first door, no idle chat, you bet.
From me, you click your way through the web,
I am the start, for every... uh, explorer, instead!
What am I?
Answer: die Homepage)
🧩 Other Tidbits
Word Composition: The word "Homepage" is a direct loanword from English, composed of:
So it literally means "home page", aptly describing its function as a central starting point.
Prevalence: Despite German alternatives like Startseite, "Homepage" is extremely common in German-speaking areas and understood by almost everyone.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Homepage?
The German word "Homepage" is feminine. The correct article is die. Therefore, it is: die Homepage, der Homepage (genitive/dative), die Homepages (plural).