die
Tankstelle
⛽ What exactly is a Tankstelle?
A Tankstelle (feminine, article: die) is a place where motor vehicles like cars, motorcycles, or trucks can be refuelled with fuel (Benzin - petrol/gasoline, Diesel, Autogas - LPG, Erdgas - CNG, Wasserstoff - hydrogen). Often, Tankstellen also offer other services, such as a small shop (often called a Tankstellenshop) with food, drinks, newspapers, and car accessories, a car wash (Waschanlage), or a workshop (Werkstatt) for minor repairs.
Good news! There is only one article, die, for Tankstelle, which makes it simple! 🥳
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 under the Microscope: Die Tankstelle
The word 'Tankstelle' is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Tankstelle |
| Genitive | der | Tankstelle |
| Dative | der | Tankstelle |
| Accusative | die | Tankstelle |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Tankstellen |
| Genitive | der | Tankstellen |
| Dative | den | Tankstellen |
| Accusative | die | Tankstellen |
Example Sentences
- Ich muss noch zur Tankstelle fahren, mein Tank ist fast leer.
I still need to drive to the gas station, my tank is almost empty. - An dieser Tankstelle gibt es auch eine Waschanlage.
This gas station also has a car wash. - Die Preise an den Tankstellen sind heute wieder gestiegen.
The prices at the gas stations have risen again today. - Wir trafen uns an der Tankstelle an der Autobahn.
We met at the gas station on the highway.
🗣️ How to use "Tankstelle"?
The word Tankstelle is very commonly used in everyday language. It refers to the physical place where you get fuel.
- Context: Mostly used in relation to driving, travelling, or the need to get fuel.
- Colloquial German: Often shortened to "Tanke" (e.g., "Ich fahr kurz zur Tanke." - I'm quickly driving to the gas station.). This is very informal.
- Distinction: A Raststätte on the motorway (highway service area) often includes a Tankstelle, but is more comprehensive (restaurant, restrooms, parking). A Zapfsäule is just the fuel pump itself, not the entire location.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
For the article 'die': Remember that a Tankstelle is a type of Stelle (place, spot), and 'die Stelle' is feminine. So, the Tankstelle is die place for tanking up.
For the meaning: The word is composed of tanken (to fill up a tank) and Stelle (place/spot). So, a Tankstelle is literally a "place for filling up". Quite logical!
↔️ Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Tanke (colloquial, short)
- Zapfstelle (less common, more technical - filling point)
- Tankhof (less common, often for larger facilities)
- Servicestation (often includes more than just fuel)
Antonyms (opposite/contrast):
- There isn't a direct antonym in the literal sense.
- As a contrast in the context of 'vehicle energy source': Elektroladestation (electric charging station)
Similar but different words:
- Raststätte: Larger service area on highways, often with a restaurant and a gas station.
- Werkstatt: Workshop for vehicle repairs, can be part of a gas station but isn't the same thing.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum nehmen Skelette nie Benzin an der Tankstelle?
Weil sie keinen Körper haben, um es zu verbrennen!
Why do skeletons never get petrol at the gas station?
Because they have no body to burn it!
📜 A Poem about the Tankstelle
Die Nadel sinkt, der Motor stottert leicht,
ein Schild erscheint, das Hoffnung verspricht, erreicht.
Die Tankstelle, hell erleuchtet in der Nacht,
hat Sprit und Kaffee für die Weiterfahrt gebracht.
Rüssel rein, der Tank wird voll,
\weiter geht's, das findest du toll!
The needle drops, the engine sputters slightly,
a sign appears, promising hope, reached brightly.
The gas station, brightly lit in the night,
has brought fuel and coffee for the onward flight.
Nozzle in, the tank gets full,
on we go, that's really cool!
❓ Riddle Time
Ich habe Zapfsäulen, aber keine Waffen.
Ich verkaufe Saft für Autos, damit sie es schaffen.
Manchmal gibt's bei mir auch Kaffee und 'nen Snack.
Was bin ich für ein Fleck?
I have pumps, but no weapons.
I sell juice for cars, so they can make it happen.
Sometimes I also offer coffee and a snack.
What kind of spot am I, on the right track?
Solution: Die Tankstelle (The gas station)
💡 Other Interesting Facts
Word Composition:
The word "Tankstelle" is a compound noun, composed of:
- tanken: The verb for filling a tank (originally with water, later with fuel).
- Stelle: The noun for a place or spot.
So: A place (Stelle) where one fills up (tankt).
Trivia: The first gas stations in Germany often sold petrol merely as a sideline in pharmacies (Apotheken) or drugstores (Drogerien) in small cans. The first dedicated petrol station in Germany opened in Hamburg in 1922.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Tankstelle?
The correct article for the word Tankstelle is always die. It is a feminine noun, and there are no other articles or meanings associated with this word.