01
die Bucht
bay
A wide, curved part of a coast where the sea reaches into the land and which often serves as a natural harbor.
example
Das Schiff ankerte in einer kleinen, windgeschützten Bucht.
The ship anchored in a small, sheltered bay.
die Bucht
bay
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
The word 'Bucht' (bay) is related to the verb 'biegen' (to bend). A bay is therefore literally a 'Biegung' (bend) in the coastline, where the land makes a curve.
EXAMPLE
Die Straße macht hier eine starke Biegung nach links.
The road makes a sharp bend to the left here.
Typical collocations
'Bucht' (bay) is often combined with adjectives like 'klein' (small), 'malerisch' (picturesque), or 'windgeschützt' (sheltered from the wind). It is also frequently used for geographical names, such as 'die Bucht von San Francisco' (the Bay of San Francisco).
EXAMPLE
Wir machten ein Picknick in einer malerischen Bucht.
We had a picnic in a picturesque bay.
Correct preposition
To describe a location, you use 'in der Bucht' (in the bay, dative). To describe movement toward it, you say 'in die Bucht' (into the bay, accusative).
EXAMPLE
Mehrere Segelboote liegen in der Bucht vor Anker.
Several sailboats are anchored in the bay.
Compare with
Bucht vs Golf
gulf / golf
'der Golf' and 'die Bucht' can both refer to a part of the sea that reaches into the land. The most important difference is size and shape. A 'Golf' is usually very large and reaches far into the land. A 'Bucht' can be smaller and is often a sheltered part of the coast. Learners may confuse the words because both look similar on maps. For large sea areas, 'Golf' is usually more fitting; for smaller or ordinary coastal spots, 'Bucht' sounds more natural.
Bucht
Am Morgen schwimmt die Familie in einer ruhigen Bucht.
In the morning, the family swims in a quiet bay.
Golf
Auf der Karte sieht man, wie weit der Golf in das Land hineinreicht.
On the map, you can see how far the gulf reaches into the land.
In real life
Loading video examples...