die
Stadtführung
🗺️ What Exactly is a Stadtführung?
The German noun die Stadtführung (feminine noun) refers to an organized tour (walk or drive) through a city, usually led by a Stadtführer (male city guide) or a Stadtführerin (female city guide). The goal is to familiarize participants with the sights (Sehenswürdigkeiten), history (Geschichte), and special features (Besonderheiten) of the city.
It's an activity often enjoyed by tourists (Touristen), but locals (Einheimische) might also participate to get to know their city better.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ung → always feminine.
There are many -ung words, we won't list them all. There are only a few exceptions.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Stadtführung
The word Stadtführung is a feminine noun. The definite article is always die.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Stadtführung |
| Genitive | der | Stadtführung |
| Dative | der | Stadtführung |
| Accusative | die | Stadtführung |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Stadtführungen |
| Genitive | der | Stadtführungen |
| Dative | den | Stadtführungen |
| Accusative | die | Stadtführungen |
Example Sentences
- Wir haben gestern eine interessante Stadtführung durch Berlin gemacht.
(Yesterday we did an interesting city tour through Berlin.) - Die Stadtführung beginnt um 10 Uhr am Marktplatz.
(The city tour starts at 10 AM at the market square.) - Die Kosten für die Stadtführung sind im Reisepreis enthalten.
(The costs for the city tour are included in the travel price.) - Es werden verschiedene thematische Stadtführungen angeboten.
(Various themed city tours are offered.)
🚶♀️ When to Use 'die Stadtführung'?
The term Stadtführung is used when talking about a guided tour through an urban environment. Typical contexts include:
- Tourism: When planning trips or during a city break. "Lass uns eine Stadtführung buchen, um mehr über Rom zu erfahren." (Let's book a city tour to learn more about Rome.)
- Education: As part of school trips or further education about local history. "Die Schulklasse nahm an einer historischen Stadtführung teil." (The school class participated in a historical city tour.)
- Leisure: As an activity for locals or visitors, often with specific themes (e.g., kulinarische Stadtführung - culinary city tour, Gruselführung - ghost tour, Architekturführung - architecture tour). "Am Wochenende mache ich eine kulinarische Stadtführung durch mein Viertel." (This weekend I'm doing a culinary city tour through my neighborhood.)
Related terms are Stadtrundgang (often emphasizes walking) or Stadtrundfahrt (often implies a bus or boat tour), with Stadtführung being the most general term.
🧠 Mnemonics for Stadtführung
Article Mnemonic: Most German nouns ending in -ung are feminine (die), like die Führung (the leadership/guidance), die Rechnung (the bill), die Wohnung (the apartment). So, die Stadtführung fits this pattern perfectly. Think: "The guide (often a woman, 'die Frau') gives 'die' Führung."
Meaning Mnemonic: Break it down: Stadt sounds like 'start' (you start exploring the city) and Führung sounds like 'fearing' you'll get lost, so you take a guided tour! Or, more accurately, Führung means guidance/leadership. So, it's *city guidance* -> a city tour.
↔️ Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms
- Stadttour: (City tour) Very similar, often interchangeable.
- Stadtrundgang: (City walk) Emphasizes walking.
- Stadtbesichtigung: (City sightseeing) More general, can be done without a guide.
- Stadtrundfahrt: (City tour by vehicle) Emphasizes travel by bus, boat, etc.
- Führung: (Tour/Guidance) Shorter term used when context is clear ("Die Führung beginnt jetzt." - The tour starts now.).
Antonyms (in a broader sense)
- Selbstständige Erkundung: (Independent exploration) Discovering the city without a guided tour.
- Stadtbummel: (Stroll through the city) Casual wandering without a fixed schedule or guide.
- Self-guided tour: Using a map or app instead of a human guide.
⚠️ Note: A Stadtführung usually implies a person leading and explaining, unlike a simple Stadtplan (city map) or an app providing information.
😂 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Tourist den Stadtführer: "Entschuldigen Sie, ist diese alte Ruine wirklich sehenswert?" Antwortet der Stadtführer: "Auf jeden Fall! Ich habe meine Frau hier kennengelernt!"
English: A tourist asks the city guide: "Excuse me, is this old ruin really worth seeing?" The guide replies: "Definitely! I met my wife here!"
📜 Poem about a Stadtführung
German:
Durch Gassen alt, bei Sonnenschein,
führt uns die Stimme, klar und rein.
Geschichte atmet jeder Stein,
die Stadtführung lädt uns ein.
Vom Turm der Blick, so weit und schön,
wir lauschen, bleiben staunend steh'n.
Geheimnisse, die sonst verweh'n,
werden bei der Tour entsteh'n.
English Translation:
Through alleys old, in sunshine bright,
A voice guides us, clear and right.
History breathes in every stone,
The city tour makes wonders known.
From the tower's view, so vast and grand,
We listen, marvel, understand.
Secrets that would otherwise fade,
Are on this guided tour displayed.
❓ Riddle Time
German:
Ich zeige dir die Stadt, ganz ohne Eile,
erzähl' von früher, manche Meile.
Ein Führer ist dabei, erklärt dir viel,
bringt dich zu manch verborg'nem Ziel.
Was bin ich?
... Die Stadtführung
English Translation:
I show you the city, without any hurry,
Tell tales of the past, mile after mile, don't worry.
A guide is present, explains a lot to you,
Takes you to hidden spots, old and new.
What am I?
... A city tour (die Stadtführung)
💡 Other Interesting Info
Word Composition:
The word Stadtführung is a compound noun (Kompositum), formed from:
Since the base word determining the gender is Führung, which is feminine (die Führung), the compound noun Stadtführung is also feminine (die Stadtführung).
Thematic Variety: City tours (Stadtführungen) come in countless themes, such as architecture, history, art, culinary delights, literature, night watchman tours, ghost stories, and much more. They can be conducted on foot, by bike, bus, Segway, or even boat.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Stadtführung?
The noun "Stadtführung" is always feminine. The correct article is die Stadtführung. The plural form is die Stadtführungen.