die
Temperatur
🌡️ What does "die Temperatur" mean?
Die Temperatur is a feminine noun and refers to a physical quantity that characterizes the thermal state of a body or system. It indicates how warm or cold something is.
- Physical meaning: Measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles of a substance.
- Everyday language: Used to describe the weather (Lufttemperatur - air temperature), body heat (Körpertemperatur - body temperature, Fieber - fever), or the warmth of objects (Wassertemperatur - water temperature, Backofentemperatur - oven temperature).
Temperatures are usually measured in degrees Celsius (°C), degrees Fahrenheit (°F), or Kelvin (K).
⚠️ Don't confuse die Temperatur with die Wärme (heat). Temperatur is a measure of state, while Wärme is the energy transferred due to a temperature difference.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ur/-ür → mostly feminine.
Caution: -eur nouns are usually masculine (e.g. der Ingenieur).
🧐 Grammar of "die Temperatur" in Detail
"Temperatur" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Temperatur |
| Genitive | der | Temperatur |
| Dative | der | Temperatur |
| Accusative | die | Temperatur |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Temperaturen |
| Genitive | der | Temperaturen |
| Dative | den | Temperaturen |
| Accusative | die | Temperaturen |
Example Sentences
- Die Temperatur steigt heute auf 30 Grad Celsius. (The temperature is rising to 30 degrees Celsius today.)
- Der Anstieg der Temperatur ist deutlich spürbar. (The increase in temperature is clearly noticeable.)
- Bei dieser Temperatur fühle ich mich wohl. (I feel comfortable at this temperature.)
- Miss bitte die Temperatur des Wassers. (Please measure the temperature of the water.)
- Die Temperaturen schwanken im Frühling stark. (The temperatures fluctuate a lot in spring.)
💬 How to use "Temperatur"?
"Die Temperatur" is used in many contexts:
- Weather forecast: "Die Tageshöchsttemperatur liegt bei 25°C." (The maximum daily temperature is 25°C.)
- Medicine: "Der Arzt misst die Körpertemperatur des Patienten." (The doctor measures the patient's body temperature.) High Temperatur often means Fieber (fever).
- Cooking & Baking: "Den Ofen auf 180°C vorheizen." (Preheat the oven to 180°C.) (Implies Temperatur)
- Physics & Technology: "Die Schmelztemperatur von Eisen ist 1538°C." (The melting temperature of iron is 1538°C.)
- General: Describing warmth/coldness of rooms, liquids, etc. (Zimmertemperatur - room temperature, Wassertemperatur - water temperature)
Context is key: The meaning is usually clear, but compound words specify the context (e.g., Außentemperatur - outside temperature vs. Innentemperatur - inside temperature).
💡 Mnemonics for "die Temperatur"
Tip for the article "die":
Many German nouns ending in -ur are feminine: die Natur (nature), die Kultur (culture), die Figur (figure)... and also die Temperatur! Picture a classy lady (feminine) checking the weather report (Temperatur).
Tip for the meaning:
It looks and sounds very similar to its English cognate temperature. Just remember the German pronunciation and the feminine article 'die'. Think of a thermometer measuring the Temperatur.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
Antonyms (opposites):
There isn't a direct antonym for "Temperatur" as a physical quantity. Opposites are usually expressed as:
Similar but different words:
😂 A Little Joke
Lehrer: "Fritzchen, kannst du mir drei Tierarten nennen, die in der Arktis leben?"
Fritzchen: "Ja, klar! Zwei Eisbären und ein Pinguin!"
Lehrer: "Aber Pinguine leben doch am Südpol!"
Fritzchen: "Ja, der ist ausgewandert, weil ihm die Temperatur hier besser gefällt!"
Translation:
Teacher: "Freddy, can you name three types of animals that live in the Arctic?"
Freddy: "Sure! Two polar bears and a penguin!"
Teacher: "But penguins live at the South Pole!"
Freddy: "Yeah, he emigrated because he likes the temperature here better!"
📜 Poem about Temperature
Die Temperatur, mal hoch, mal tief,
zeigt an, ob alles schlief
im Frost, ob's schwitzt in heißer Glut,
sie misst der Welt Befindlichkeit und Mut.
Translation:
The temperature, sometimes high, sometimes deep,
shows if everything slept
in frost, or sweats in burning heat,
it measures the world's state and feat.
🧩 Riddle Time
Ich habe Grade, doch kein Diplom.
Ich steige und falle, doch bin kein Phantom.
Man misst mich bei Fieber, beim Wetter, im Raum.
Mal bin ich eisig, mal heiß wie ein Traum.
Was bin ich?
(What am I?)
... Die Temperatur
Translation:
I have degrees, but no diploma.
I rise and fall, but am no phantom.
I'm measured for fever, for weather, in a room.
Sometimes I'm icy, sometimes hot like a dream.
What am I? ... The Temperature
✨ Other Information
Word Origin: The word "Temperatur" comes from the Latin word temperatura, meaning "right measure, moderation, mixture". It is related to the verb temperare ("to moderate, to mix").
Compound Nouns (Komposita): "Temperatur" is often part of compound words:
- Außentemperatur / Innentemperatur (Outside/Inside temperature)
- Körpertemperatur / Fiebertemperatur (Body/Fever temperature)
- Raumtemperatur / Zimmertemperatur (Room temperature)
- Wassertemperatur / Lufttemperatur (Water/Air temperature)
- Betriebstemperatur (Operating temperature)
- Durchschnittstemperatur (Average temperature)
- Gefühlte Temperatur (Apparent/Feels-like temperature)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Temperatur?
The word "Temperatur" is a feminine noun. The correct article is always die: die Temperatur (singular) and die Temperaturen (plural).