die
Ruhepause
🧘♀️ What exactly is a Ruhepause?
The German noun Ruhepause (feminine, article: die) refers to a break or rest period during an activity, intended for recovery, relaxation, or rest. It's a time when one is not working or exerting oneself, in order to regain energy.
The word is a compound noun made up of:
There is only one article, die, for Ruhepause because it is a feminine noun (derived from die Pause). There's no risk of confusion with other articles here. 😌
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Die Ruhepause
The noun „Ruhepause“ is feminine. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Ruhepause |
| Genitive | der | Ruhepause |
| Dative | der | Ruhepause |
| Accusative | die | Ruhepause |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Ruhepausen |
| Genitive | der | Ruhepausen |
| Dative | den | Ruhepausen |
| Accusative | die | Ruhepausen |
Example Sentences
- Nach zwei Stunden Arbeit brauche ich dringend eine Ruhepause.
(After two hours of work, I urgently need a break/rest.) - Die gesetzlich vorgeschriebenen Ruhepausen müssen eingehalten werden.
(The legally required rest breaks must be observed.) - Gönn dir während der langen Fahrt ausreichend Ruhepausen.
(Allow yourself sufficient rest breaks during the long drive.) - In der Hektik des Alltags sind kleine Ruhepausen Gold wert.
(In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, small breaks are worth their weight in gold.)
🗣️ When and How to Use Ruhepause?
The term Ruhepause is used in various contexts, always referring to a phase of rest or inactivity:
- Workplace: Legally mandated or voluntary interruptions of working time (e.g., Mittagspause - lunch break, Kaffeepause - coffee break).
- School/University: Breaks between lessons or lectures.
- Sports/Training: Recovery phases between exercises or training sessions.
- Travel: Interruptions on long journeys for the driver and passengers to rest.
- Everyday life: General moments of relaxation and switching off from stress.
Compared to „Pause“, „Ruhepause“ emphasizes the aspect of recovery and rest more strongly. A „Pause“ can simply be a short interruption, while a „Ruhepause“ implies that one should actively recover.
🧠 Mnemonics for Ruhepause
Article Mnemonic: Think of die Pause (the break). Nouns ending in '-e' are often feminine, and concepts like 'break' or 'rest' (die Auszeit, die Erholung) are often feminine in German. Hence: die Ruhepause.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you need Ruhe (rest/calm) and take a Pause (break) for it. Together, they make the time for recovery: the Ruhepause.
🔁 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Pause: General term for interruption.
- Erholungspause: Emphasizes the purpose of recovery even more.
- Rast: Often used in the context of travel or hiking.
- Auszeit: Often a longer break, also from daily life.
- Verschnaufpause: Short break to catch one's breath/recover.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)
- Arbeit: Work, activity.
- Anstrengung: Effort, exertion.
- Stress: Stress, tension.
- Betriebsamkeit: Bustle, activity.
- Durcharbeiten: Working without a break.
⚠️ Similar Sounding Words
There are no common confusions with similar-sounding words that have a completely different meaning.
😄 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Chef: „Warum machen Sie denn schon wieder eine Pause?“ Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: „Damit ich nicht während der Arbeit einschlafe!“
English: The boss asks: "Why are you taking another break already?" The employee replies: "So I don't fall asleep during work!"
📜 Poem about the Break
German:
Die Arbeit ruft, der Kopf ist schwer,
Ein Stündchen rast, dann noch viel mehr.
Doch halt, ein Signal, so klar und rein,
es muss jetzt eine Ruhepause sein.
Ein Kaffee heiß, ein Blick ins Weite,
die Seele baumelt, breitet sich aus, die zweite
Hälfte des Tags kann kommen dann,
mit neuer Kraft fängt man frisch an.
English Translation:
Work calls, the head is heavy,
An hour races by, then many more already.
But stop, a signal, so clear and pure,
it must now be a rest break, for sure.
A coffee hot, a gaze afar,
the soul dangles, stretches out, the second star
(Meaning: second half) of the day can then arrive,
with new strength, one starts freshly alive.
🧩 Who or What Am I?
German:
Ich unterbreche Müh' und Plag',
verkürze manchen langen Tag.
Ich schenke Kraft und biete Stille,
erfülle oft des Körpers Wille.
Wer bin ich?
English:
I interrupt toil and drudgery,
shorten many a long day's journey.
I give strength and offer quiet,
often fulfilling the body's fiat.
Who am I?
Solution: die Ruhepause (the rest break)
💡 Other Interesting Facts
Word Composition: As mentioned, „Ruhepause“ is a compound noun (Kompositum). It consists of the noun „Ruhe“ (rest/calm) and the noun „Pause“ (break).
Cultural Significance: In Germany, breaks (Ruhepausen), especially the lunch break (Mittagspause), have a firm place in the daily work and school routine and are partly regulated by law (Arbeitszeitgesetz - Working Hours Act).
Related Terms: Mittagspause (lunch break), Kaffeepause (coffee break), Zigarettenpause (cigarette break), Bildschirmpause (screen break).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Ruhepause?
The word "Ruhepause" is feminine, so the correct article is always die Ruhepause. The plural form is die Ruhepausen.