01
der Bach
stream
A small flowing body of water, smaller than a river.
example
Hinter unserem Garten fließt ein kleiner Bach.
A small stream flows behind our garden.
der Bach
stream
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Fixed expression
The idiom 'den Bach runtergehen' (to go down the drain) is a fixed unit. The subject is the thing that fails or is ruined. Only the verb 'gehen' (to go) is conjugated.
EXAMPLE
Ohne gute Planung wird unser Projekt den Bach runtergehen.
Without good planning, our project will go down the drain.
Typical prepositions
With this word, two-way prepositions are important. 'Am Bach' (by the stream, dative) describes a position, while 'in den Bach' (into the stream, accusative) describes movement.
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder spielen am Bach.
The children are playing by the stream.
Cultural note
'Bach' is also the last name of the world-famous composer Johann Sebastian Bach. Although the words sound the same, the composer and the body of water have nothing to do with each other.
EXAMPLE
Ich höre gerne Musik von Bach, während ich am Bach spazieren gehe.
I like listening to music by Bach while walking along the stream.
Compare with
Bach vs Strom
electricity / river
'der Strom' and 'der Bach' can both refer to flowing water in nature. The most important difference is size: a 'Bach' is small, often narrow, and flows through a village, a forest, or a meadow. A 'Strom' is a very large river that usually flows into the sea. Learners may confuse the words because both are bodies of water. In practice: for a small body of water, you say 'Bach'; for a very large river, 'Strom'.
Bach
Beim Spaziergang hören wir den kleinen Bach neben dem Weg.
On our walk, we hear the small stream beside the path.
Strom
Der breite Strom fließt langsam durch die Stadt.
The wide river flows slowly through the city.
In real life
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