die
Laufbahn
🛤️ What does 'die Laufbahn' mean?
The word die Laufbahn has several meanings, depending on the context:
1. Career Path / Professional Career
Here, 'die Laufbahn' describes the path someone takes in their professional life, the sequence of positions and experiences. 🧑💼
Example: Sie hat eine beeindruckende akademische Laufbahn eingeschlagen. (She embarked on an impressive academic career path.)
2. Racetrack / Sports Track
In a sporting context, 'die Laufbahn' refers to a specially designed track for running competitions, usually in a stadium. 🏃♀️
Example: Die Läufer betraten die Laufbahn für das Finale. (The runners entered the track for the final.)
3. Orbit / Path
In physics or astronomy, 'die Laufbahn' can describe the path along which a celestial body or particle moves (orbit). 🪐
Example: Die Laufbahn des Elektrons um den Atomkern. (The path/orbit of the electron around the atomic nucleus.)
⚠️ Always pay attention to the context to understand the correct meaning.
📜 Grammar of 'die Laufbahn' in Detail
Die Laufbahn is a feminine noun. The article is "die".
Declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Laufbahn |
| Genitive | der | Laufbahn |
| Dative | der | Laufbahn |
| Accusative | die | Laufbahn |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Laufbahnen |
| Genitive | der | Laufbahnen |
| Dative | den | Laufbahnen |
| Accusative | die | Laufbahnen |
Example Sentences:
- (Career) Seine Laufbahn beim Militär war kurz, aber erfolgreich.
(His military career path was short but successful.) - (Sports) Die neue Tartan-Laufbahn im Stadion ist sehr schnell.
(The new tartan track in the stadium is very fast.) - (Physics) Man kann die Laufbahn von Planeten berechnen.
(One can calculate the orbit/path of planets.) - (Career - Plural) Es gibt viele verschiedene Laufbahnen im öffentlichen Dienst.
(There are many different career paths in public service.)
💡 How to use 'die Laufbahn'?
'Die Laufbahn' is a versatile word. Here are some typical contexts:
- In professional life: When talking about Karriereplanung (career planning), professional development, or a CV (Lebenslauf), 'die Laufbahn' is a common term. Often found in set phrases like "eine Laufbahn einschlagen" (to embark on a career path) or "am Ende seiner Laufbahn stehen" (to be at the end of one's career).
- In sports: Mainly for athletics tracks (Tartanbahn, Aschenbahn). One might speak of the "innere Laufbahn" (inner lane) or "äußere Laufbahn" (outer lane).
- In science & technology: Describes the trajectory of objects, from planets in space to particles in experiments. Often synonymous with "Bahn" or "Umlaufbahn" (orbit).
Comparison:
- Karriere vs. Laufbahn: 'Karriere' often emphasizes advancement and success, while 'Laufbahn' can more neutrally describe the entire professional journey.
- Bahn vs. Laufbahn (Sports/Physics): 'Bahn' is more general. 'Laufbahn' is more specific for running tracks in sports or can also be used in physics when emphasizing the aspect of movement along a path.
🧠 Mnemonics for 'die Laufbahn'
- Article Mnemonic: Think of 'DIE Autobahn' (the highway) or 'DIE Eisenbahn' (the railway). Many 'Bahn' words are feminine. So remember: A career or a track is a type of 'Bahn', hence 'die Laufbahn'.
- Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you laufen (run/walk) 🏃♀️ along a Bahn (path/track) 🛤️ – either figuratively through your professional life (career) or literally on a sports track, or like a planet on its orbit. 'Running on a path' connects all meanings.
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Words):
Antonyms (Opposites):
- For career path: die Sackgasse (dead end, professionally), der Stillstand (standstill), der Abbruch (discontinuation)
- For racetrack/orbit: (Context-dependent, often no direct opposite) der Stillstand (standstill), die Ruheposition (rest position)
Similar but Misleading Words:
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Welche Laufbahn streben Sie denn hier bei uns an?"
Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: "Am liebsten die mittlere - da ist die Aussicht auf die Kantine am besten!" 😉
(Translation: The boss asks the new employee: "Which career path (Laufbahn) are you aiming for here with us?"
The employee answers: "Preferably the middle one (track/lane) - it has the best view of the cafeteria!")
✍️ Poem about Laufbahn
Ob im Job, Jahr für Jahr,
ob im Stadion, schnell und klar,
ob im All, ein Stern so fern,
die Laufbahn zeigt den Weg, den Kern.
Manche grad, manche krumm,
manche laut, manche stumm,
doch jede Bahn, ob groß, ob klein,
lädt uns zum Laufen ein.
(Translation:)
Whether in a job, year by year,
whether in the stadium, fast and clear,
whether in space, a star so far,
the Laufbahn shows the way, the core star.
Some are straight, some are bent,
some are loud, some silent-sent,
but every path, big or small,
invites us to run, stand tall.
❓ Little Riddle
Ich kann dein Weg im Leben sein,
oder im Sport, rund und fein.
Auch Planeten folgen mir im Raum,
erfüllen ihren kosmischen Traum.
Was bin ich?
(Translation:)
I can be your path in life, you see,
Or in sports, round and neatly.
Planets follow me through space's vast dream,
Fulfilling their cosmic scheme.
What am I?
(Answer: die Laufbahn)
ℹ️ More about Laufbahn
Word Composition:
The word is composed of:
- laufen: to run, to walk, to function.
- die Bahn: a path, track, lane, orbit.
So, literally, it describes a "Bahn zum Laufen" (path for running) or figuratively, a "Weg, den man durchläuft" (path one runs through) like a career.
Trivia:
In the German civil service (Beamtentum), there are clearly defined Laufbahnen (e.g., einfacher Dienst, mittlerer Dienst, gehobener Dienst, höherer Dienst - basic, medium, upper, higher service levels) that stipulate requirements and promotion opportunities.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Laufbahn?
The noun 'Laufbahn' is feminine, so the correct article is die Laufbahn. It means career path, racetrack, or orbit depending on the context.