die  Strecke

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʃtʁɛkə/

🗺️ What does 'die Strecke' mean?

The word die Strecke is a feminine noun in German and has several related meanings:

• Distance or Path: The physical distance between two points. Example: Die Strecke von Berlin nach München beträgt etwa 585 Kilometer. (The distance from Berlin to Munich is about 585 kilometers.)
• Route or Track: A defined path, often for vehicles or competitions. Example: Die Rennstrecke war sehr anspruchsvoll. (The racetrack was very demanding.) Die Bahnstrecke wird modernisiert. (The railway line is being modernized.)
• Section or Segment: A part of a longer path, line, or process. Example: Auf diesem Streckenabschnitt gibt es eine Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzung. (There is a speed limit on this section of the route.)
• Mathematics (Geometry): The shortest line segment connecting two points. Example: Eine Strecke ist durch ihre beiden Endpunkte definiert. (A line segment is defined by its two endpoints.)

Although used in various contexts, all meanings relate to some form of extension or connection between points.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Strecke

Die Strecke is a feminine noun. Its plural is die Strecken.

Declension Singular (Einzahl)

Declension Plural (Mehrzahl)

Example Sentences

• Die gesamte Strecke war schneebedeckt.
  (The entire route was snow-covered.)
• Die Länge der Strecke ist beeindruckend.
  (The length of the route is impressive.)
• Wir folgen der Strecke auf der Karte.
  (We are following the route on the map.)
• Er lief die Strecke in Rekordzeit.
  (He ran the distance/route in record time.)
• Viele Strecken führen durch den Wald.
  (Many routes lead through the forest.)
• Die Planung der Strecken dauerte lange.
  (The planning of the routes took a long time.)
• Auf allen Strecken gab es Stau.
  (There were traffic jams on all routes.)
• Die Polizei sperrte mehrere Strecken ab.
  (The police closed off several routes.)

When to use 'die Strecke'? 🛣️

Die Strecke is used in various contexts:

• Travel and Transport: Here, it often refers to a route (Autobahnstrecke - motorway section, Zugstrecke - train route, Flugstrecke - flight route) or the distance (eine lange Strecke fahren - to drive a long distance).
• Sports: Especially in running, cycling, or motorsports, people talk about the Rennstrecke (racetrack) or the Laufstrecke (running course).
• Mathematics/Geometry: As a technical term for the line segment between two points.
• Construction/Infrastructure: Refers to sections of lines, roads, or rails (Leitungsstrecke - pipeline section, Streckenabschnitt - route section).
• Figurative Sense: Sometimes used to describe a period or phase, e.g., „über weite Strecken des Spiels dominieren“ (to dominate over long stretches of the game).

There is little risk of confusion, as the context usually makes the meaning clear. Similar words like Weg (more general 'way'), Route (planned way), or Distanz (pure distance) have slightly different nuances.

🧠 Memory Aids for 'die Strecke'

Article Mnemonic (die): Imagine a long, feminine snake (die Schlange is feminine) stretching (strecken) along a route (die Strecke). Or think of 'the' track, 'the' route - often thought of as a defined, singular entity, which might help link to 'die'. (Though this link is weak, remembering it's feminine is key!).

Meaning Mnemonic: The word comes from the verb "strecken" (to stretch). A Strecke is something that "stretches" between two points, whether it's a distance, a path, or a line.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for 'die Strecke'

⚠️ Note: Although Distanz is often used synonymously, Strecke emphasizes the path or line itself more, while Distanz highlights the measurement of length.

😄 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Mathematiker nie den kürzesten Weg?
Weil sie immer Umwege über verschiedene Strecken und Kurven berechnen müssen!

Translation:
Why do mathematicians never take the shortest path?
Because they always have to calculate detours involving various line segments (Strecken) and curves!

📜 Poem about 'die Strecke'

Die Strecke, lang und weit,
Verbindet Raum und Zeit.
Mal grade, mal gewunden,
Hat sie zwei Punkte verbunden.

Ob Schiene, Straße, Pfad,
Sie führt von Stadt zu Stadt.
Im Sport, da zählt die Zeit,
Auf der Strecke, zum Sieg bereit.

Translation:
The route/distance, long and wide,
Connects space and time.
Sometimes straight, sometimes winding,
It has connected two points.

Whether rail, road, path,
It leads from town to town.
In sports, time counts,
On the track/course, ready for victory.

🧩 Riddle

Ich habe einen Anfang und ein Ende,
Aber keine Hände.
Ich kann lang sein oder kurz,
Über Berg und durch den Furz (des Waldes tief).
Auf mir fahren Züge, Autos flitzen schnell,
Was bin ich wohl, sag es mir auf der Stell'?

Translation:
I have a beginning and an end,
But no hands to lend.
I can be long or short, you see,
Over mountains and through the deep forest's decree.
Trains travel on me, cars race fast,
What am I, tell me, will the answer last?

Solution: die Strecke (the route, distance, track, line segment)

💡 Additional Info

Compound Words (Wortzusammensetzungen): The word Strecke is part of many compound nouns that specify the type of route or section:

• Bahnstrecke: Railway line
• Rennstrecke: Racetrack
• Wegstrecke: Section of a path/way
• Kurzstrecke / Langstrecke: Short-haul / Long-haul (often for flights or trains)
• Teststrecke: Test track (for vehicles)
• Streckennetz: Route network (e.g., public transport)

Etymology: Strecke derives from the verb strecken, meaning "to stretch" or "to extend". This reflects the meaning as an extension or connection.