die
Streife
👮♀️ What does 'die Streife' mean?
The German word die Streife primarily has two meanings:
- Patrol or beat: This usually refers to a patrol by security forces such as the police or security guards. Example: Die Polizei fährt nachts Streife. (The police go on patrol at night.)
- Stripe (pattern): An elongated, narrow line or band, often as part of a pattern on fabrics, wallpaper, or other surfaces. Example: Das Hemd hat blaue Streifen. (The shirt has blue stripes.) However, for this meaning, the plural "Streifen" or the word "der Streifen" (singular, masculine) is more commonly used. 'Die Streife' for a single pattern stripe is rather rare, but possible.
🚨 Attention: Although both meanings exist, the meaning "patrol" is significantly more common for die Streife (singular, feminine).
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 of 'die Streife'
Die Streife is a feminine noun.
Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Streife |
| Genitive | der | Streife |
| Dative | der | Streife |
| Accusative | die | Streife |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Streifen |
| Genitive | der | Streifen |
| Dative | den | Streifen |
| Accusative | die | Streifen |
Example Sentences
- Nominative: Die Streife beginnt um 22 Uhr. (The patrol starts at 10 p.m.)
- Genitive: Das Gebiet der Streife ist klar definiert. (The area of the patrol is clearly defined.)
- Dative: Die Anwohner begegneten der Streife freundlich. (The residents met the patrol friendly.)
- Accusative: Man sieht die Streife regelmäßig im Viertel. (One sees the patrol regularly in the neighbourhood.)
- Plural: Nachts sind mehrere Streifen unterwegs. (Several patrols are out at night.)
🚦 When to use 'die Streife'?
The usage of die Streife depends heavily on the meaning:
- As patrol: Mainly in the context of police, military, security services, or public order offices (Ordnungsamt). It describes the act of patrolling or the patrolling unit itself. Common phrases are "auf Streife sein" (to be on patrol) or "Streife fahren/gehen" (to drive/walk on patrol).
- As stripe/pattern: Less common in the singular than "der Streifen". When "die Streife" is used for a pattern, it often sounds a bit more formal or refers to a specific type of line or band. Mostly, people talk about "Streifen" (plural) or "einem Streifen" (masculine singular).
Differentiation:
- Die Patrouille: A very similar word for the first meaning, often interchangeable with "die Streife".
- Der Streifen: The masculine noun is primarily used for patterns (a single stripe) or also for a narrow strip of land or paper.
🧠 Mnemonics for 'die Streife'
Article Mnemonic: Think of die Polizei (the police - feminine); SHE (die) goes on Streife. The feminine gender of Polizei can help remember the feminine gender of Streife.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine police officers streifen (verb: to roam, wander) through the streets in a line (like a stripe); this is their Streife (noun: patrol).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- For patrol: Patrouille, Rundgang (round, patrol walk), Kontrollgang (control walk), Wache (guard, watch), Polizeistreife (police patrol)
- For stripe (rare): Linie (line), Band (band, ribbon)
Antonyms
- For patrol: Untätigkeit (inactivity), Stillstand (standstill), Abwesenheit (absence [of control])
- For stripe: Einfarbigkeit (solid color), Fläche (area, surface), Punktmuster (dotted pattern)
Similar Words:
- Der Streifzug: More like a ramble or foray without a fixed plan, often used figuratively (e.g., Streifzug durch die Geschichte - a foray through history).
- Der Streifen: Masculine, usually refers to a single stripe in a pattern or a strip of land/paper.
😂 A little joke
Frage: Was macht ein Polizist auf der Toilette?
Antwort: Eine Streife ziehen!
(Question: What does a police officer do in the toilet?
Answer: Draw a stripe! / Go on patrol! - It's a pun, 'eine Streife ziehen' can mean 'to draw a line/stripe' but colloquially also 'to go on patrol'.)
📜 Poem about the Patrol
Durch dunkle Nacht, bei Wind und Regen,
fährt die Streife auf den Wegen.
Sie schaut nach dem Rechten, still und klar,
bringt Sicherheit, Jahr für Jahr.
(Through dark night, in wind and rain,
the patrol drives along the ways.
It checks things are alright, quiet and clear,
bringing safety, year after year.)
❓ Riddle
Ich gehe umher und sorge für Ruh',
hab Uniform an, schließe Türen zu.
Manchmal bin ich auch nur bunt auf Papier,
doch meistens pass' ich auf, hier vor Ort, bei dir.
Wer bin ich?
(I walk around and ensure quiet,
wear a uniform, close doors tight.
Sometimes I'm just colorful on paper,
but mostly I watch out, right here, for you, neighbor.
Who am I?)
(Answer: die Streife - the patrol / the stripe)
🧩 Other Information
Word Formation (Wortbildung):
The noun die Streife is derived from the verb streifen. The verb 'streifen' can have several meanings:
- To roam, wander, patrol (e.g., durch die Wälder streifen - to roam through the woods)
- To touch lightly, graze (e.g., Der Ball streifte die Latte - The ball grazed the crossbar)
- To furnish with stripes (rare as a verb, more common as the adjective gestreift - striped)
The meaning "patrol" is directly derived from the meaning of roaming/patrolling.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Streife?
The correct article for Streife is die. It is a feminine noun: die Streife.