die  Infanterie

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɪnfanˈteːʁi/

💂‍♀️ What does 'die Infanterie' mean?

Die Infanterie refers to the infantry, meaning the soldiers who fight on foot within an army. It is one of the main branches of the army (Heer) and historically often the largest in number.

It is a collective noun (Sammelbegriff), referring to the branch of service as a whole.

• Meaning 1: The branch of the army consisting of foot soldiers.
• Meaning 2: The entirety of soldiers belonging to this branch.

The word is always feminine: die Infanterie.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📜 Grammar Corner: Declining die Infanterie

The noun 'Infanterie' is feminine. It is mostly used in the singular because it's a collective noun. A plural form ('die Infanterien') formally exists but is very rare, typically referring to different infantry units or types from various armies or eras.

Declension (Singular)

Examples

1. Die Infanterie rückte langsam vor. (The infantry advanced slowly.)
2. Die Ausrüstung der Infanterie war modern. (The infantry's equipment was modern.)
3. Der General gab der Infanterie neue Befehle. (The general gave the infantry new orders.)
4. Man setzte die Infanterie an vorderster Front ein. (The infantry was deployed at the very front.)

💬 Using 'die Infanterie' in Context

The term 'die Infanterie' is primarily used in military and historical contexts.

• Military: To denote the branch of service and its soldiers. Example: "Die Ausbildung der Infanterie ist hart." (The training of the infantry is tough.)
• Historical: When describing battles, wars, or the organization of armies in the past. Example: "Im Ersten Weltkrieg spielte die Infanterie eine zentrale Rolle." (In World War I, the infantry played a central role.)

As a collective noun, 'die Infanterie' represents the group as a whole. To talk about individual soldiers, you use words like der Infanterist (male infantry soldier) or die Infanteristin (female infantry soldier), plural: die Infanteristen.

⚠️ There is little risk of confusion as the word is very specific.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'die Infanterie'

Article Mnemonic: Think of die Armee (the army), die Truppe (the troop) – many military organizations are feminine in German, including die Infanterie (words ending in '-erie' are often feminine).

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine the infantry has to trek through mud and rain – they get inferior treatment compared to cavalry, but they are essential. Connect 'inferior' (sounding vaguely similar) to the foot soldiers, die Infanterie.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

😄 A Little Joke

Warum nimmt die Infanterie immer eine Leiter mit in die Schlacht?

Damit sie auf den Feind herabschauen kann! 😉

Translation:

Why does the infantry always take a ladder into battle?

So they can look down on the enemy! 😉

✍️ Poem: March of the Infantry

Stiefel im Staub, Schritt für Schritt,
Die Infanterie hält tapfer mit.
Durch Feld und Wald, bei Nacht und Tag,
Trägt sie die Last, stellt sich der Plag'.

Kein Pferd, kein Panzer, nur der Mann,
Der kämpfend zieht auf seiner Bahn.
Die Infanterie, das Heer zu Fuß,
Bringt Mut und Kraft als letzten Gruß.

Translation:

Boots in the dust, step by step,
The infantry bravely keeps pace.
Through field and forest, by night and day,
It bears the burden, faces the fray.

No horse, no tank, just the man,
Who fighting moves along his plan.
The infantry, the army on foot,
Brings courage and strength as a final salute.

❓ Who or what am I?

Ich trage keine Krone, doch bin die Königin des Gefechts.
Ich reite nicht zu Pferde, mein Reich ist das Feld, ganz rechts und links.
Mein Name klingt französisch, doch kämpf' ich oft für deutsches Recht.
Man zählt auf meine Schritte, vom Anbeginn des Kriegs.

Wer bin ich?

Translation:

I wear no crown, yet I am the queen of the battle.
I do not ride on horseback, my realm is the field, right and left.
My name sounds French, yet I often fight for German right.
My steps are counted upon, from the beginning of the war.

Who am I?

Answer: Die Infanterie (The Infantry)

💡 Additional Info

Word Origin: The word 'Infanterie' comes from Italian (infanteria) and entered German via French (infanterie). It derives from 'infante', which originally meant 'child', 'boy', but also 'young nobleman' or 'foot soldier'. The connection to 'foot soldier' became dominant.

Trivia: Die Infanterie is often considered the oldest branch of service in the world and still forms the backbone of the land forces in many armies today.