das Dreirad
tricycle
A vehicle with three wheels, especially a small pedal-powered vehicle for children.
EXAMPLE
Das kleine Mädchen fährt mit seinem Dreirad durch den Hof.
The little girl rides her tricycle around the courtyard.
das Dreirad
tricycle
das Dreirad, die Dreiräder
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Dreirad, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Dreiräder |
| genitive | des Dreirades |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Dreirad | die Dreiräder |
| accusative | das Dreirad | die Dreiräder |
| dative | dem Dreirad | den Dreirädern |
| genitive | des Dreirades des Dreirads | der Dreiräder |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Dreirad' (tricycle) consists of 'drei' (three) and 'Rad' (wheel). The number in the word tells you how many wheels it has and helps you identify the vehicle.
EXAMPLE
Auf dem Bild erkennt man die drei Räder des Dreirads besonders gut.
The tricycle's three wheels are especially easy to see in the picture.
Riding tricycles
To describe the activity, 'Dreirad fahren' (to ride a tricycle) is commonly used without an article. When specifying the tricycle as a means of transport, use 'mit dem Dreirad fahren' (to travel by tricycle), with the dative case.
EXAMPLE
Unser Sohn kann schon Dreirad fahren.
Our son can already ride a tricycle.
Mia fährt mit dem Dreirad zum Spielplatz.
Mia rides her tricycle to the playground.
Sitting and getting on
Common expressions are 'auf dem Dreirad sitzen' (to sit on the tricycle) and 'auf das Dreirad steigen' (to get on the tricycle). When describing sitting, 'auf' takes the dative case; when describing getting on, it takes the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Ben sitzt auf dem Dreirad und wartet auf seine Schwester.
Ben is sitting on the tricycle, waiting for his sister.
Voller Freude steigt Ben auf das neue Dreirad.
Ben happily gets on the new tricycle.
In real life
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