die
Wassertiefe
🌊 What exactly is 'die Wassertiefe'?
Die Wassertiefe (noun, feminine) refers to the vertical distance from the water surface to the bottom of a body of water (e.g., sea, lake, river). It is a measure of how deep the water is at a specific point.
It's a compound noun formed from:
Indicating the Wassertiefe is particularly important in shipping (navigation), geography, oceanography, limnology (study of inland waters), and diving.
⚠️ There is only one article, "die", for Wassertiefe because the determining word "Tiefe" is feminine, and its gender determines the gender of the compound noun.
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 in Detail: Die Wassertiefe
The noun "Wassertiefe" is feminine. The article is always "die".
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Wassertiefe |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Wassertiefe |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Wassertiefe |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Wassertiefe |
Declension Plural
The plural of "Wassertiefe" is "die Wassertiefen".
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Wassertiefen |
| Genitive | der | Wassertiefen |
| Dative | den | Wassertiefen |
| Accusative | die | Wassertiefen |
Example Sentences ✍️
- Die Wassertiefe beträgt hier nur zwei Meter.
(The water depth here is only two meters.) - Der Kapitän prüfte die Wassertiefe auf der Seekarte.
(The captain checked the water depth on the nautical chart.) - Messungen der Wassertiefe sind für die Sicherheit der Schifffahrt unerlässlich.
(Measurements of the water depth are essential for navigational safety.) - Wir waren von den unterschiedlichen Wassertiefen des Sees überrascht.
(We were surprised by the varying water depths of the lake.)
🧭 When to use 'Wassertiefe'?
The term "Wassertiefe" is used in various contexts:
- Shipping & Navigation: To determine if a waterway is deep enough for a ship (see also Tiefgang - draft - of a ship). Nautical charts indicate Wassertiefen.
- Geography & Oceanography: To describe seabeds, lakes, and rivers. The maximum Wassertiefe is an important characteristic.
- Civil Engineering: When planning bridge piers, port facilities, or offshore structures.
- Ecology: The Wassertiefe influences light conditions and habitats for aquatic organisms.
- Recreation: Knowing the Wassertiefe is often relevant for swimming, diving, or fishing.
Risk of Confusion?
- Wassertiefe vs. Wasserstand/Pegel (Water Level): Wassertiefe measures from the surface to the bottom. Wasserstand (Pegel) measures the height of the water surface relative to a fixed reference point (e.g., gauge zero).
- Wassertiefe vs. Tiefgang (Draft): Wassertiefe is a property of the body of water. Tiefgang is a property of a vessel (how deep it sits in the water). A vessel needs a Wassertiefe greater than its Tiefgang.
🧠 Mnemonics for Wassertiefe
Article Mnemonic: The word ends in "-tiefe". Nouns ending in "-e" are very often feminine in German. And "die Tiefe" (the depth) itself is feminine. So, think: The (feminine) queen demands to know die Tiefe (depth).
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine dropping a tape measure into the Wasser (water) until it hits the bottom. The measurement shows the Tiefe (depth) of the water – the Wassertiefe.
🔄 Similar & Opposite: Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Tiefe: Often used synonymously when it's clear that water is meant (e.g., "Die Tiefe des Sees" - The depth of the lake).
- Gewässertiefe: (Depth of waters) Slightly more general, covers all types of water bodies.
Related terms (not direct synonyms):
- Tiefgang: (Draft) How deep a ship sits in the water.
- Lotung: (Sounding) The act of measuring water depth.
- Pegelstand/Wasserstand: (Water level/Gauge level) Height of the water surface relative to a fixed point.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)
- Untiefe: (Shoal, shallow place) A very shallow area in the water, dangerous for navigation.
- Flachheit: (Shallowness, flatness) General state of not being deep.
- Höhe (über Grund): (Height above ground) Reversing the perspective (rare in the context of water).
- Wasserhöhe (über Referenzpunkt): (Water height above reference point) More related to water level.
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Matrose den Kapitän: "Wie groß ist die Wassertiefe hier?"
Sagt der Kapitän: "Keine Ahnung, werfen Sie mal den Anker aus. Wenn er platscht, sind wir noch nicht da!" 😉
Translation:
The sailor asks the captain: "What's the water depth here?"
The captain says: "No idea, throw out the anchor. If it splashes, we haven't hit bottom yet!" 😉
📜 Poem about Depth
Das Wasser glitzert, klar und rein,
doch unten lauert dunkler Schein.
Wie tief mag wohl der Grund hier sein?
Die Wassertiefe, groß und klein,
misst man genau, für groß und klein,
ob Schiff fährt sicher oder fällt hinein.
Translation:
The water glitters, clear and pure,
but darkness lurks on the floor below.
How deep might the bottom be here, unsure?
The water depth, large and low,
measured precisely, for high and low,
whether ships sail safe or fall below.
❓ Riddle Time
Ich messe vom Spiegel bis zum Grund,
bin mal gering, mal metertief und bunt.
Für Schiffe wichtig, Stund um Stund.
Was bin ich wohl, tu es mir kund?
Translation:
I measure from the surface to the ground,
Sometimes shallow, sometimes meters deep and profound.
Important for ships, all year round.
What am I? Make the answer sound!
Solution: die Wassertiefe (the water depth)
💡 Other Interesting Facts
Word Composition:
"Wassertiefe" is a compound noun (Kompositum) made up of:
In German compound nouns, the last part (Grundwort) determines the gender and article. Since "Tiefe" is feminine (die), "Wassertiefe" is also feminine: die Wassertiefe.
Units of Measurement:
Wassertiefe is usually measured in meters (m). Historically, especially in international maritime contexts, fathoms (Faden - fm, 1 fathom ≈ 1.8288 m) or feet (Fuß - ft) were also used.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Wassertiefe?
The German word 'Wassertiefe' is always feminine. The correct article is die Wassertiefe. It describes the distance from the water surface to the bottom.