die
Region
🗺️ What does "die Region" mean?
Die Region (noun, feminine) refers to a specific geographical area distinguished by common features (e.g., culture, landscape, administration) from other areas. It can describe a larger or smaller area.
- Geographical/Administrative: A defined part of a country or continent (e.g., die Weinregion Mosel - the Mosel wine region, die Alpenregion - the Alpine region).
- Figurative: Can also denote an area or sphere (e.g., in höheren Regionen der Atmosphäre - in higher regions of the atmosphere, rarely socially: in den oberen Regionen der Gesellschaft - in the upper regions of society).
🚨 Attention: The word is always feminine – die Region.
📐 Grammar of "die Region" in Detail
"Region" is a feminine noun. Here are the declension tables:
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die Region | eine Region (a region) |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der Region | einer Region (of a region) |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der Region | einer Region (to/for a region) |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die Region | eine Region (a region) |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Regionen | Regionen (regions) |
| Genitive | der Regionen | Regionen (of regions) |
| Dative | den Regionen | Regionen (to/for regions) |
| Accusative | die Regionen | Regionen (regions) |
Example Sentences
- Die Region ist bekannt für ihre malerischen Dörfer. (The region is known for its picturesque villages.)
- Wir haben eine Reise durch verschiedene Regionen Italiens geplant. (We planned a trip through different regions of Italy.)
- Die Wirtschaftskraft dieser Region ist beachtlich. (The economic power of this region is considerable.)
- In den nördlichen Regionen des Landes schneit es oft im Winter. (In the northern regions of the country, it often snows in winter.)
🧭 How to use "die Region"?
"Die Region" is frequently used when talking about geography, administration, tourism, or the economy.
- Context: Often used in connection with specific characteristics (Weinregion - wine region, Industrieregion - industrial region, Ferienregion - holiday region) or geographical locations (Bergregion - mountain region, Küstenregion - coastal region).
- Compared to "Gebiet": "Gebiet" is often more general and can be used more abstractly (e.g., Fachgebiet - area of expertise). "Region" usually has a stronger connection to geographical or administrative boundaries and shared characteristics.
- Compared to "Gegend": "Gegend" is more colloquial and often less precisely defined than "Region". It tends to describe the immediate surroundings.
- Compared to "Bereich": "Bereich" is very general and can refer to almost anything (Aufgabenbereich - area of responsibility, Preisbereich - price range). Geographically, it's less specific than "Region".
Typical phrases: "in der Region" (in the region), "aus der Region" (from the region), "eine Region erkunden" (to explore a region).
💡 Mnemonics for "die Region"
Article Mnemonic: Many German nouns ending in "-ion" are feminine (die Nation, die Station, die Diskussion) – and so is die Region. Imagine a majestic Queen (feminine!) ruling over her Region.
Meaning Mnemonic: Think of a vast geographical region that requires lots of Roads for Exploration and Good Infrastructure to Navigate.
🔄 Synonyms & Similar Words
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Gebiet (das): Often interchangeable, but sometimes more general (area, territory).
- Gegend (die): More colloquial, often smaller and less defined (area, vicinity).
- Bereich (der): Much more general (area, sphere, range), rarely purely geographical.
- Bezirk (der): Often an administrative district, can be part of a Region.
- Landstrich (der): More poetic, emphasizes the landscape (stretch of land).
- Zone (die): Often with a specific function (Sperrzone - restricted zone, Klimazone - climate zone).
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
Direct antonyms are difficult. Conceptual opposites could be:
- Gesamtland / Nation (das/die): The whole country/nation versus a part (Region).
- Punkt / Ort (der): A specific point/place versus an area (Region).
⚠️ Similar Words (Potential Confusion!):
- Religion (die): Sounds similar, but means a belief system.
😄 A Little Joke
Warum nehmen Geografen immer einen Stift mit in unbekannte Regionen?
Damit sie etwas auf die Karte setzen können! 😉
Translation:
Why do geographers always take a pen with them into unknown regions?
So they can put something on the map! 😄 (It's a pun: "etwas auf die Karte setzen" can mean "to put something on the map" literally, or figuratively "to put something on the menu/agenda".)
📜 Poem about the Region
Die Region, ein Stückchen Land,
Mit eig'ner Art, mit Herz und Hand.
Mal Berge hoch, mal Täler weit,
Geprägt von Mensch und Jahreszeit.
Ob Wein hier wächst, ob Kornfeld rauscht,
Man gern den fremden Klängen lauscht.
Die Region, sie lädt uns ein,
Ein Teil von ihr zu sein.
Translation:
The region, a piece of land,
With its own style, with heart and hand.
Sometimes mountains high, sometimes valleys wide,
Shaped by people and the season's tide.
Whether wine grows here, or cornfields sway,
One gladly listens to foreign sounds at play.
The region, it invites us all,
To be a part of it, stand tall.
❓ Riddle
Ich bin ein Teil, doch nicht allein,
Kann groß und klein und hügelig sein.
Hab oft Kultur und eignen Brauch,
Verwaltungsgrenzen hab ich auch.
Man reist durch mich, nah und fern.
Was bin ich wohl? Na klar: die R _ _ _ _ _!
Translation:
I am a part, but not alone,
Can be large and small and hilly-prone.
I often have culture and my own customs, too,
Administrative borders, I have a few.
People travel through me, near and far.
What am I? Of course: the R _ _ _ _ _!
(Solution: Region)
🧩 Additional Information
- Etymology: The word "Region" comes from the Latin word regio (genitive: regionis), which originally meant "direction", "line", "boundary" and later "area", "district" or "province". It is related to regere ("to direct", "to rule").
- Compound Words: "Region" forms many compound nouns (Komposita) designating specific types of regions: Weinregion (wine region), Ferienregion (holiday region), Industrieregion (industrial region), Krisenregion (crisis region), Grenzregion (border region), Metropolregion (metropolitan region), Verwaltungsregion (administrative region), Sprachregion (language region).
- Regionalismus (Regionalism): Refers to the emphasis on the interests or culture of a particular region.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Region?
The German word for region or area is die Region (feminine). The plural is die Regionen.