die
Trage
🚑 What exactly is a Trage?
The German word die Trage (noun, feminine) primarily refers to a device for transporting people or loads, especially sick or injured individuals. You often see it in emergency medical services.
- Krankentrage/Tragbahre (Stretcher): This is the most common meaning. A device, usually with handles, on which a person can be transported lying down.
- Traggestell (Carrying frame): More generally, it can also be a frame for carrying other loads (e.g., a backpack frame, Rückentrage).
- Beekeeping (less common): In beekeeping, die Trage can also refer to a frame for holding honeycombs (e.g., Bruttrage - brood frame).
⚠️ Don't confuse die Trage (noun) with trage (1st person singular present tense of the verb tragen, e.g., 'ich trage' - I carry/wear).
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 Trage in Detail
The noun "Trage" is feminine. The article is die.
Declension
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Trage | eine Trage |
| Genitive | der Trage | einer Trage |
| Dative | der Trage | einer Trage |
| Accusative | die Trage | eine Trage |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Tragen | keine Tragen / Tragen |
| Genitive | der Tragen | keiner Tragen / Tragen |
| Dative | den Tragen | keinen Tragen / Tragen |
| Accusative | die Tragen | keine Tragen / Tragen |
Example Sentences
- Die Sanitäter hoben den Verletzten vorsichtig auf die Trage.
(The paramedics carefully lifted the injured person onto the stretcher.) - Für den Transport ins Krankenhaus wurde eine Trage benötigt.
(A stretcher was needed for transport to the hospital.) - Auf der Trage lag eine Decke bereit.
(A blanket was ready on the stretcher.) - Im Krankenwagen sind immer mehrere Tragen verstaut.
(Several stretchers are always stored in the ambulance.)
💡 When and how to use "die Trage"?
Die Trage is mostly used in the context of rescue operations, patient transport, or first aid.
- Medical Context: The most common area of use. Synonyms often used here are die Krankentrage or die Bahre. Example: "Der Patient wurde mit der Trage zum Operationssaal gebracht." (The patient was brought to the operating room on the stretcher.)
- Transporting Loads: Less common, but possible when referring to special carrying frames. Example: "Für den Transport des schweren Geräts nutzten sie eine stabile Trage." (They used a sturdy carrying frame to transport the heavy equipment.)
- Fire Department/Disaster Relief: Stretchers are also essential here for rescuing people.
- Beekeeping: Only relevant in the specific jargon of beekeepers (e.g., Bruttrage - brood frame, Futtertrage - feeder frame).
Distinction:
- Die Bahre: Very similar, often used synonymously. Sometimes Bahre is more associated with transporting the deceased (bier), but not exclusively.
- Das Traggestell: More general, can also refer to backpacks with frames (Kraxe) or other constructions.
🧠 How to remember "die Trage"
Article Mnemonic: Imagine a helpful female paramedic (Sanitäterin - feminine noun) handing you die Trage. Feminine helper -> feminine article die.
Meaning Mnemonic: The word comes from the verb tragen (to carry). A Trage is something you use for carrying (tragen).
🔄 Related and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (Similar meaning)
- Die Krankentrage: (Medical stretcher) More specific for medical use.
- Die Tragbahre: (Stretcher/litter) Very common synonym, almost interchangeable.
- Die Bahre: (Stretcher/bier) Similar, sometimes with a slightly different connotation (see usage).
- Das Traggestell: (Carrying frame) More general, for various types of carrying devices.
Antonyms (Opposites - difficult for objects)
A direct antonym is hard to find. One might think of terms representing the opposite of transport or support:
- Die Ablagefläche: (Surface for putting things down) Where you place something instead of carrying it.
- Der Boden: (The ground/floor) Where someone lies without assistance.
Risk of Confusion
😂 A little Joke
Warum hat der Sanitäter immer einen Stift dabei, wenn er die Trage holt?
Damit er den Patienten aufnehmen kann!
(Why does the paramedic always bring a pen when he gets the stretcher?
So he can 'admit/record' (aufnehmen) the patient! - It's a pun: 'aufnehmen' means both 'to pick up/put onto something' and 'to record/admit'.)
📜 Poem about the Trage
Ist jemand schwach, verletzt, in Not,
Erscheint sie schnell, bringt Rettungsbrot.
Die Trage, sanft und doch robust,
Lindert die Last, vertreibt den Frust.
Zwei Griffe fest, ein ruhiger Lauf,
So nimmt das Schicksal seinen Lauf.
(If someone's weak, injured, in need,
It quickly comes, brings rescue's bread indeed.
The stretcher, gentle yet robust,
Eases the burden, banishes disgust.
Two handles firm, a steady pace,
Thus fate proceeds and finds its place.)
🤔 Who or what am I?
Ich habe Griffe, doch keine Hände.
Ich trage Menschen durch Gelände.
Im Krankenwagen bin ich Gast,
Erleichtere so manche Last.
Wer bin ich?
(I have handles, but no hands.
I carry people across lands.
In the ambulance, I am a guest,
Making many burdens less.
What am I?)
(Solution: die Trage / the stretcher)
🧩 Further Details
Word Formation (Wortbildung)
The word Trage is a nominalization derived from the verb tragen (to carry) by adding the suffix -e. This pattern is also found with other verbs (e.g., liegen -> die Liege (couch/lounger), fahren -> die Fähre (ferry)).
Trivia
- Modern stretchers (moderne Tragen) in emergency medical services are often highly sophisticated systems with undercarriages, height adjustments, and special restraints.
- Historically, sedan chairs (Sänften) served as luxurious forms of stretchers.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Trage?
The German word Trage is a feminine noun. The correct article is die (nominative: die Trage, genitive: der Trage, dative: der Trage, accusative: die Trage). It primarily refers to a device for transporting people, especially a medical stretcher or litter (Krankentrage or Tragbahre).