die
Jugendfeuerwehr
🚒 What exactly is a Jugendfeuerwehr?
The Jugendfeuerwehr (often abbreviated as JF) is the youth section of a German volunteer fire department (Freiwillige Feuerwehr), professional fire department (Berufsfeuerwehr), or company fire department (Werkfeuerwehr). Its purpose is to nurture young talent for the operational units and offer young people (usually aged 10 to 18) a meaningful leisure activity. Besides firefighting training, the program includes general youth work, camps, competitions, and social projects.
The noun is feminine, so it's always die Jugendfeuerwehr.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Jugendfeuerwehr
The noun „Jugendfeuerwehr“ is feminine. Here are the declension tables:
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Jugendfeuerwehr |
| Genitive | der | Jugendfeuerwehr |
| Dative | der | Jugendfeuerwehr |
| Accusative | die | Jugendfeuerwehr |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Jugendfeuerwehren |
| Genitive | der | Jugendfeuerwehren |
| Dative | den | Jugendfeuerwehren |
| Accusative | die | Jugendfeuerwehren |
💡 Example Sentences
- Die örtliche Jugendfeuerwehr sucht neue Mitglieder.
(The local youth fire brigade is looking for new members.) - Er ist seit fünf Jahren Mitglied der Jugendfeuerwehr.
(He has been a member of the youth fire brigade for five years.) - Wir danken der Jugendfeuerwehr für ihre Unterstützung beim Fest.
(We thank the youth fire brigade for their support at the festival.) - Viele Gemeinden fördern die Jugendfeuerwehr finanziell.
(Many communities support the youth fire brigade financially.) - Bundesweit gibt es tausende Jugendfeuerwehren.
(There are thousands of youth fire brigades nationwide.)
🗣️ How is Jugendfeuerwehr used?
The term Jugendfeuerwehr is used throughout German-speaking countries to refer to the youth organizations of fire departments. It's an established part of firefighting terminology and youth work.
- Context: Mostly used in connection with Freiwillige Feuerwehr (volunteer fire department), youth work, training, leisure activities, recruitment, and voluntary engagement.
- Abbreviation: The abbreviations JF or JFW are frequently used.
- Comparison: Sometimes you might hear „Feuerwehrjugend“, which is synonymous, but „Jugendfeuerwehr“ is the more established and common term.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic: Remember that Wehr (as in Feuerwehr, meaning defense or brigade) is feminine (die Wehr). Therefore, Jugendfeuerwehr is also feminine: die Jugendfeuerwehr.
Meaning Mnemonic: Think of Jugend (youth) + Feuerwehr (fire brigade) = Young people preparing for service in the fire department while having fun.
🔄 Synonyms and Related Terms
Synonyms
- Feuerwehrjugend (less common, but understood)
- JF / JFW (Abbreviations)
- Jugendgruppe der Feuerwehr (Youth group of the fire department)
Antonyms
There are no direct antonyms. Contrasting concepts include:
- Einsatzabteilung (the active, adult firefighters)
- Alters- und Ehrenabteilung (retired firefighters)
⚠️ Similar but Different Terms
- Feuerwehrverein: (Fire department association) Often supports the fire department financially and organizationally, but is not the youth section itself.
- THW-Jugend: The youth organization of the Technisches Hilfswerk (THW), a different German disaster relief organization.
😂 A Little Firefighter Joke
Fragt der Jugendfeuerwehrwart: „Na, Jungs und Mädels, was ist der Unterschied zwischen einem Hydranten und einem Elefanten?“
Die Kinder überlegen. Der Wart grinst: „Keine Ahnung? Na, mit dem Elefanten kannst du den Hydranten nicht putzen!“
Translation:
The youth fire brigade leader asks: "Well, boys and girls, what's the difference between a fire hydrant and an elephant?"
The kids think. The leader grins: "No idea? Well, you can't clean the hydrant with the elephant!" (A simple pun, maybe funnier in German context).
✍️ A Poem about the Jugendfeuerwehr
Schläuche rollen, Knoten binden,
die Jugendfeuerwehr will's ergründen.
Mit Helm und Eifer, Hand in Hand,
schützen sie schon bald das Land.
Gemeinschaft, Spaß und ernstes Lernen,
leuchten hell wie junge Sternen.
Die Zukunft der Wehr, das ist doch klar,
ist heut' die junge Helferschar!
Translation:
Rolling hoses, tying knots,
the youth fire brigade wants to explore it.
With helmet and zeal, hand in hand,
soon they'll protect the land.
Community, fun, and serious learning,
shine bright like young stars burning.
The future of the brigade, that's clear,
is today's young helper troop right here!
❓ Little Riddle
Ich trage Uniform, doch bin noch jung,
lern' löschen, helfen mit viel Schwung.
Gemeinschaft zählt bei mir ganz groß,
wer bin ich? Rate mal drauf los!
Translation:
I wear a uniform, but I'm still young,
I learn to extinguish, help with much verve.
Community counts greatly for me,
who am I? Take a guess!
Solution: Die Jugendfeuerwehr (The Youth Fire Brigade)
🧩 Other Interesting Details
Word Composition
The word „Jugendfeuerwehr“ is a compound noun, made up of:
Trivia
- In Germany, there are over 18,000 Jugendfeuerwehren with around 270,000 members (as of approx. 2023).
- Besides firefighting training, activities also include environmental protection projects, first aid, sports, and games.
- The minimum entry age is usually 10 years, the maximum age is 17 or 18, after which transfer to the active operational unit (Einsatzabteilung) is often possible.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Jugendfeuerwehr?
The German word "Jugendfeuerwehr" is feminine. The correct article is die. So, you say die Jugendfeuerwehr (the youth fire brigade). The genitive form is der Jugendfeuerwehr, and the plural is die Jugendfeuerwehren.