die
Westküste
🗺️ What does "die Westküste" mean?
Die Westküste translates to the west coast. It refers to the coastal section of a country, island, or continent that faces west.
It's a compound noun formed from:
- West: west (the cardinal direction)
- Küste: coast (the strip of land next to the sea or a large lake)
Since the base word 'Küste' is feminine (die Küste), the compound noun 'Westküste' is also always feminine. There are no different meanings based on the article, as it consistently uses 'die'. 🚨 Confusion with other compound words is unlikely due to its clear geographical meaning.
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 Westküste"
'Westküste' is a feminine noun. The definite article is always die.
Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Westküste |
| Genitive | der | Westküste |
| Dative | der | Westküste |
| Accusative | die | Westküste |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Westküsten |
| Genitive | der | Westküsten |
| Dative | den | Westküsten |
| Accusative | die | Westküsten |
Example Sentences
- Die Westküste der USA ist berühmt. (The west coast of the USA is famous.)
- Wir fahren an die Westküste. (We are driving to the west coast.)
- Er wohnt an der Westküste. (He lives on the west coast.)
- Wir besuchten die schönen Westküsten von Schottland. (We visited the beautiful west coasts of Scotland.)
🧭 Everyday Usage
"Die Westküste" is used to specifically refer to the western coastal area of a geographical entity. This can be very specific (e.g., die Westküste Floridas - the west coast of Florida) or more general (e.g., die Westküste Afrikas - the west coast of Africa).
- Geography & Travel: Very common in contexts relating to places, travel, weather reports, or geographical descriptions. (Example: An der deutschen Westküste liegen die Nordseeinseln. - The North Sea islands are located on the German west coast.)
- Culture & Economy: Sometimes "die Westküste" (especially in the US context) is also used to describe a certain lifestyle, culture, or economic region (e.g., technology on the West Coast of the USA).
Unlike westliche Küste (western coast), which is adjectival, die Westküste is a set term.
🧠 Mnemonics for "Westküste"
Article Mnemonic: The base word is 'die Küste' (the coast). No matter which direction comes before it (Nord-, Süd-, Ost-, West-), the article stays die. Think: "The coast (die Küste) is feminine, wherever she may be!"
Meaning Mnemonic: The West is where the sun sets. Imagine standing on the Küste (coast) watching the sunset in the West over the sea – that's the Westküste (west coast).
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Westliche Küstenlinie: (western coastline) - More descriptive, less common.
- Westlicher Küstenabschnitt: (western coastal section) - Emphasizes a part of the coast.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)
- Die Ostküste: (the east coast)
- Die Nordküste: (the north coast)
- Die Südküste: (the south coast)
- Das Binnenland: (the inland, interior)
⚠️ Similar Terms: Colloquially, "Westküste" might specifically refer to the West Coast of the USA. In a German context, however, it often means the North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein.
😂 A Little Joke
Deutsch: Warum gehen Fische nie an die Westküste? ... Weil sie Angst haben, west-wärts gespült zu werden!
English: Why do fish never go to the west coast? ... Because they're afraid of being washed west-wards! (Pun on 'westwärts' - westward)
📜 Poem about the West Coast
Deutsch:
Die Westküste, wo Wellen rauschen,
Wo Wind und Wasser Kräfte tauschen.
Die Sonne sinkt im Abendrot,
Ein Anblick, der viel Frieden bot.
Von Nord nach Süd, ein langer Strand,
Die Westküste, bekannt im Land.
English:
The West Coast, where waves are crashing,
Where wind and water forces are clashing.
The sun descends in evening red,
A sight that much peace has spread.
From north to south, a long beach grand,
The West Coast, known throughout the land.
❓ Little Riddle
Deutsch:
Ich liege da, wo die Sonne versinkt,
Wo das Meer ans Land oft wild blinkt.
Gegenüber liegt der Morgen, der Osten,
Bei mir kann man am Abend gut posten.
Was bin ich?
...Die Westküste
English:
I lie where the sun goes down,
Where the sea wildly hits the town.
Opposite lies the morning, the East,
With me, you can post in the evening, at least.
What am I?
...The West Coast
💡 Other Information
Word Composition:
- West: Refers to the cardinal direction west.
- Küste: Means 'coast', the transition zone between land and sea or a large lake.
Famous West Coasts:
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Westküste?
The German word "Westküste" is always feminine. The correct article is die (die Westküste, der Westküste, die Westküsten).