die
Terrassentür
🚪 What exactly is a Terrassentür?
Die Terrassentür (noun, feminine) is a door leading from an interior room of a building directly onto a Terrasse (patio or terrace), or sometimes also into a garden or onto a balcony. It often consists largely of glass to let in plenty of light and provide a good view outside.
There is only this one article, die, for this word because it's a compound noun where the base word 'Tür' (door) is feminine.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ur/-ür → mostly feminine.
Caution: -eur nouns are usually masculine (e.g. der Ingenieur).
🧐 Grammatical Profile: Die Terrassentür
The word "Terrassentür" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Terrassentür |
| Genitive | der | Terrassentür |
| Dative | der | Terrassentür |
| Accusative | die | Terrassentür |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Terrassentüren |
| Genitive | der | Terrassentüren |
| Dative | den | Terrassentüren |
| Accusative | die | Terrassentüren |
Example Sentences
- Bitte schließe die Terrassentür, es zieht. (Please close the patio door, there's a draft.)
- Durch die große Terrassentür kommt viel Sonnenlicht ins Wohnzimmer. (A lot of sunlight comes into the living room through the large patio door.)
- Wir brauchen neue Dichtungen für unsere Terrassentüren. (We need new seals for our patio doors.)
- Im Sommer steht die Terrassentür oft offen. (In summer, the patio door is often open.)
💡 Everyday Usage
The term Terrassentür is used in everyday language when referring to the specific door that serves as access to a Terrasse (patio). It's a common feature in houses and apartments with outdoor space.
- Context: Mostly used in connection with Haus (house), Wohnung (apartment), Garten (garden), Balkon (balcony), Sommer (summer), Lüften (airing), Aussicht (view).
- Distinction: A Haustür is the main entrance door of a building. An Innentür connects rooms inside a building. A Balkontür specifically leads to a balcony (but can often be used synonymously with *Terrassentür* if the balcony is large or terrace-like).
- Materials/Types: People often talk about the material (Holz - wood, Kunststoff - plastic, Aluminium - aluminum) or the type (Schiebetür - sliding door, Flügeltür - hinged door, Falttür - folding door).
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Remembering the Article: The base word is "die Tür" (the door). Most words for 'door' in German are feminine. Therefore, it's also die Terrassentür. Imagine an elegant lady (feminine = die) stepping through the door onto the Terrasse.
Remembering the Meaning: The word is transparently composed: Terrasse + n + Tür = A door that leads to the terrace. Quite straightforward!
↔️ Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms
- Balkontür (often synonymous, but more specific to balconies)
- Gartentür (can also mean a gate in a fence, but sometimes used for patio doors leading to the garden)
- Fenstertür ('window door', emphasizes the large glass area, often floor-to-ceiling)
- Schiebetür ('sliding door', refers to the opening mechanism, common for patios)
Antonyms
- Haustür (front door, main entrance)
- Wohnungstür (apartment door)
- Innentür / Zimmertür (interior door / room door)
- Fenster (window, not meant for passage)
😂 A Little Joke
Warum hat die Terrassentür beim Therapeuten angerufen?
Sie fühlte sich ständig zwischen drinnen und draußen hin- und hergerissen!
(Why did the patio door call the therapist?
It felt constantly torn between inside and outside!)
📜 A Little Poem about the Door
Die Terrassentür, so klar und rein,
Lässt Sonnenschein ins Zimmer ein.
Sie öffnet sich zur grünen Pracht,
Hat oft den Sommer mitgebracht.
Ein Schritt hinaus, die Luft so frisch,
Verbindet Haus mit Gartentisch.
(The patio door, so clear and pure,
Lets sunshine into the room endure.
It opens to the green display,
Has often brought the summer's day.
A step outside, the air so fresh,
Connects the house and garden mesh.)
❓ Riddle Time
Ich bin meist aus Glas, doch manchmal nicht,
Ich bringe ins Zimmer das Sonnenlicht.
Ich führe dich raus, ins Grüne, ins Freie,
Vom Wohnraum direkt, ohne Eile und Schreie.
Was bin ich?(Lösung: die Terrassentür)
(I'm mostly made of glass, but sometimes not,
I bring the sunlight into the spot.
I lead you outside, to green, to free air,
Directly from the living room, without a care.
What am I?
Answer: the Terrassentür / patio door)
Additional Info about die Terrassentür
Word Composition
The word "Terrassentür" is a compound noun (Kompositum), composed of:
- Die Terrasse: The patio/terrace area the door leads to.
- The linking element -n-: Connects the two parts.
- Die Tür: The base word ('door'), which determines the grammatical gender (feminine).
Typical Designs
Terrassentüren come in various designs:
- Dreh-Kipp-Tür: 'Turn-tilt door', opens like a regular door and can also be tilted inwards like many German windows.
- Schiebetür / Hebe-Schiebetür: 'Sliding door / Lift-and-slide door', space-saving as no swing area is needed.
- Parallel-Schiebe-Kipp-Tür (PSK): 'Parallel-slide-tilt door', combines sliding and tilting functions.
- Faltschiebetür: 'Folding sliding door', can be opened almost completely like an accordion.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Terrassentür?
The word „Terrassentür“ is a compound noun. Since the base word „Tür“ (door) is feminine („die Tür“), „Terrassentür“ is also feminine. Therefore, the correct article is always die. The forms are: die Terrassentür (Nominative/Accusative Singular), der Terrassentür (Genitive/Dative Singular). The plural is die Terrassentüren.