die
Reisezeit
🗺️ What exactly does "die Reisezeit" mean?
The German word die Reisezeit (feminine) has two main meanings:
- The duration of a journey: It describes how long it takes to travel from one place to another. Example: Die Reisezeit von Berlin nach München beträgt mit dem Zug etwa vier Stunden. (The travel time from Berlin to Munich by train is about four hours.)
- A specific period for travelling: It refers to a specific time of year that is particularly suitable (or unsuitable) for traveling to a certain region, often depending on the climate or events. Example: Die beste Reisezeit für die Malediven ist von Dezember bis April. (The best travel season for the Maldives is from December to April.)
It's a compound word formed from die Reise (the journey, the trip) and die Zeit (the time).
Article rules for der, die, and das
Time → mostly feminine.
There are many exceptions, e.g. the entire category "Weekdays, months, seasons" (masculine/der).
🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Die Reisezeit
The word die Reisezeit is a feminine noun. Its declension is as follows:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Reisezeit |
| Genitive | der | Reisezeit |
| Dative | der | Reisezeit |
| Accusative | die | Reisezeit |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Reisezeiten |
| Genitive | der | Reisezeiten |
| Dative | den | Reisezeiten |
| Accusative | die | Reisezeiten |
Example Sentences
- Die Reisezeit zum Urlaubsort war unerwartet lang. (The travel time to the holiday destination was unexpectedly long.) - Meaning: duration
- Informiere dich über die beste Reisezeit für Thailand. (Find out about the best travel season for Thailand.) - Meaning: season
- Während der Hauptreisezeit sind die Preise oft höher. (During the peak travel season, prices are often higher.) - Meaning: season
- Wir müssen die Reisezeit bei unserer Planung berücksichtigen. (We need to consider the travel time in our planning.) - Meaning: duration
💡 How and when to use "Reisezeit"?
Die Reisezeit is frequently used in the context of holiday planning, means of transport, and geographical information.
- Context Duration: You talk about Reisezeit when referring to the time needed for a specific route (e.g., by car, train, plane). Here it is similar to *Fahrtdauer* (driving duration) or *Flugzeit* (flight duration). Example: Die reine Reisezeit ohne Pausen beträgt drei Stunden. (The pure travel time without breaks is three hours.)
- Context Season: You use Reisezeit to describe the ideal (or unfavorable) period for visiting a place. Example: Die Nebensaison gilt als günstige Reisezeit. (The off-season is considered a favourable travel period.)
- Distinction: While *Fahrzeit* specifically refers to the time spent driving, *Reisezeit* can also include waiting times or transfers. *Urlaubszeit* generally means the period when one has vacation, not necessarily the time spent travelling or the best season.
🧠 Mnemonics for Reisezeit
Remembering the Article: The base word is die Zeit (the time). Since Zeit is feminine, die Reisezeit also stays feminine. Think: The clock shows the time for the Reisezeit.
Remembering the Meaning: Imagine a long Reise (journey) and look at the clock – how much Zeit (time) does it need? That's the Reisezeit (travel time/duration). Or: Imagine a calendar, mark the best Zeit (time) for the Reise (trip) – that's the Reisezeit (travel season).
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms
- For Duration: Fahrtdauer (journey duration), Fahrtzeit (journey time), Flugdauer (flight duration), Flugzeit (flight time), Dauer der Reise (duration of the journey), benötigte Zeit (required time)
- For Season: Saison (season), Urlaubszeit (holiday time - partly), beste Zeit (best time), empfohlene Periode (recommended period)
Antonyms
- For Duration: Standzeit (downtime), Ruhezeit (rest period), Wartezeit (waiting time - sometimes part of Reisezeit, but opposite to active travel)
- For Season: Nebensaison (off-season - can still be a Reisezeit, but often opposite to the 'best' Reisezeit), Regenzeit (rainy season), Off-Season, Arbeitszeit (working time), Alltag (everyday life)
⚠️ Similar Words
- Fahrzeit: Usually refers specifically to the time spent driving/riding.
- Urlaubszeit: Refers more to the period when one has vacation, not necessarily the journey itself or the season.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum nehmen Skelette keine lange Reisezeit in Kauf?
Weil sie kein Sitzfleisch haben! 😄
(Why don't skeletons undertake long travel times? Because they don't have 'sitting flesh' / staying power!)
📜 Poem about Travel Time
Die Koffer packen, froh und heiter,
Die Reisezeit, sie führt uns weiter.
Mal kurz der Weg, mal dauert's lang,
Begleitet von Musik und Sang.
Die beste Zeit, wohin man will,
Steht im Kalender, klar und still.
Ob Sonne, Schnee, ob Wind, ob Nass,
Die Reisezeit hat ihren Spaß!
(Packing bags, happy and bright,
The travel time guides us with light.
Sometimes short, sometimes it's long,
Accompanied by music and song.
The best time, wherever you aim,
Stands in the calendar, clear and tame.
Whether sun, snow, whether wind, or wet,
The travel season is fun, you bet!)
❓ Riddle
Ich messe Stunden, manchmal Tage,
Bin wichtig bei der Urlaubsfrage.
Ich sag dir, wann du reisen sollst,
Und wie lang du unterwegs sein musst.
Was bin ich?
(I measure hours, sometimes days,
Am important for holiday ways.
I tell you when you should depart,
And how long you'll travel, right from the start.
What am I?)
Solution: die Reisezeit
🧩 Further Details
Word Formation
Die Reisezeit is a compound noun (Kompositum) composed of:
Typical Combinations
- Die beste Reisezeit (The best travel season/time)
- Die geschätzte Reisezeit (The estimated travel time)
- Die durchschnittliche Reisezeit (The average travel time)
- Die Reisezeit verkürzen/verlängern (To shorten/lengthen the travel time)
- Die Reisezeit einplanen (To factor in/plan for the travel time)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Reisezeit?
The German word 'Reisezeit' is feminine: die Reisezeit. It refers to the duration of a journey or the best season for traveling.