die
Tournee
🌍 What does 'die Tournee' mean?
The word die Tournee (noun, feminine) refers to a journey or tour, especially a performance tour by artists (like musicians, actors, comedians) or sports teams, involving performances in various locations one after another.
- 🎤 Artistic Tour: A band goes auf Tournee (on tour) to promote their new album.
- 🎭 Theater Tour: A theater ensemble performs its play auf einer Tournee (on a tour) through several cities.
- 🏛️ Political Tour: Sometimes used figuratively for a round trip by politicians for campaign purposes or information events.
It originates from the French word tournée (round, tour).
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 Deep Dive: die Tournee
The word 'Tournee' is a feminine noun. The article is die.
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Tournee | eine Tournee |
| Genitive | der Tournee | einer Tournee |
| Dative | der Tournee | einer Tournee |
| Accusative | die Tournee | eine Tournee |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Tourneen | keine Tourneen |
| Genitive | der Tourneen | keiner Tourneen |
| Dative | den Tourneen | keinen Tourneen |
| Accusative | die Tourneen | keine Tourneen |
Example Sentences 📝
- Die Band startet nächste Woche ihre große Europa-Tournee.
(The band starts their big European tour next week.) - Die letzte Tournee des Sängers war komplett ausverkauft.
(The singer's last tour was completely sold out.) - Wegen Krankheit musste die Schauspielerin ihre Tournee leider absagen.
(Due to illness, the actress unfortunately had to cancel her tour.) - Viele kleine Theatergruppen finanzieren sich durch Tourneen durch die Provinz.
(Many small theater groups finance themselves through tours through the provinces.)
💡 How 'die Tournee' is Used
'Die Tournee' is almost exclusively used in the context of planned trips involving multiple performances or events. The emphasis is on being 'on the road' and 'performing in different places'.
- Context: Primarily in arts, culture, music, theater, and sports. Less common in political or business contexts (where terms like Rundreise 'round trip' or Dienstreise 'business trip' are more likely).
- Distinction: A Reise is more general ('journey', 'trip'). A Gastspielreise is a very close synonym in the artistic field ('guest performance tour'). An Ausflug is short and usually private ('excursion'). A Konzertreise is specific to musicians ('concert tour').
- Typical Verbs: auf Tournee gehen/sein (to go/be on tour), eine Tournee machen/starten/absagen/unterbrechen (to do/start/cancel/interrupt a tour).
- Typical Adjectives: erfolgreich (successful), lang (long), anstrengend (strenuous, tiring), ausverkauft (sold out), international (international).
🧠 Mnemonics for 'Tournee'
Article Mnemonic: Imagine a famous female diva (feminine, die Diva) going on an exhausting Tournee. The ending '-ee' in German often (but not always!) indicates a feminine noun (like die Idee - the idea, die Allee - the avenue). Think: Die Diva goes on die Tournee.
Meaning Mnemonic: The word sounds very much like the English word 'tour'. A Tournee is essentially a performance tour through different cities. Picture musicians taking their instruments on a long journey (tour).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Gastspielreise: Very similar, emphasizes the guest performance aspect.
- Konzertreise: Specifically for musicians (concert tour).
- Rundreise: More general, can also be for tourism without performances (round trip).
- Gastspielserie: A series of guest performances, often in the same place or nearby area.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Heimspiel: A performance at one's own, fixed venue (home game/performance).
- Festengagement / Feste Anstellung: Permanent position at one location (e.g., in a theater).
- Sesshaftigkeit: Settledness, the opposite of being 'on the road'.
- Einzelveranstaltung: A one-off event without the travel aspect.
⚠️ Caution: Rundfahrt usually refers to a sightseeing tour by bus or boat, not involving performances.
😄 A Little Joke
Manager asks the rockstar: "Und, wie war die Tournee?"
(Manager asks the rockstar: "So, how was the tour?")
Rockstar replies: "Anstrengend! Vor allem das ständige Auspacken und Wiederfinden der Stadt auf der Landkarte!" 🎸🗺️
(Rockstar replies: "Exhausting! Especially the constant unpacking and finding the city on the map again!")
📜 Poem about the Tournee
Die Reise der Töne
Die Koffer gepackt, das Ziel ist klar,
Auf Tournee geht die Musikerschar.
Von Stadt zu Stadt, bei Nacht und Tag,
Ein jeder Auftritt – ein Wagnis, keine Frag'.
Die Bühne ruft, das Licht geht an,
Die Fans sie jubeln, Frau und Mann.
Die Instrumente klingen weit,
Für diese Momente lohnt die Reisezeit.
The Journey of Sounds (Translation)
The bags are packed, the goal is clear,
The band of musicians goes on tour here.
From town to town, by night and day,
Each performance – a venture, no question to say.
The stage is calling, the lights turn bright,
The fans are cheering, with all their might.
The instruments sound far and wide,
For these moments, the long travel time is worth the ride.
❓ Little Riddle
Ich bin eine Reise, doch kein Urlaubstrip,
Bin oft mit Applaus und Lichtern im Griff.
Künstler packen Koffer, fahren durch das Land,
Bringen ihre Show von Strand zu Strand (oder Stadt zu Stadt, Hand in Hand).
Was bin ich?
... Die Tournee
(Translation)
I am a journey, but not a holiday trip,
I often involve applause and lights in my grip.
Artists pack bags, travel across the land,
Bringing their show from coast to coast (or city to city, hand in hand).
What am I?
... The Tournee (Tour)
✨ Other Interesting Facts
- Etymology: As mentioned, 'Tournee' comes from the French word tournée, which can mean 'round', 'tour', or even 'work shift'. The meaning of a performance tour became established in German.
- Word Composition: It's a loanword, not a typical German compound word.
- Cultural Significance: Tours (Tourneen) are a vital part of many artists' careers, allowing them to reach broad audiences and generate income. They are often logistically very complex.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Tournee?
The German word Tournee is feminine. The correct article is die. Therefore, it is always die Tournee (Nominative singular), der Tournee (Genitive/Dative singular), die Tournee (Accusative singular), and die Tourneen (Nominative/Accusative plural).