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die Gasse
alley
A very narrow street, often in old towns or between rows of houses.
example
In den engen Gassen von Venedig kann man sich leicht verlaufen.
In the narrow alleys of Venice, it is easy to get lost.
die Gasse
alley
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Typical adjectives
'Gasse' (alley) is very often combined with adjectives that describe its narrowness or atmosphere. Common examples are 'enge Gasse' (narrow alley), 'schmale Gasse' (narrow alley), 'verwinkelte Gasse' (winding alley), or 'dunkle Gasse' (dark alley).
EXAMPLE
Wir gingen durch eine schmale Gasse, um zum Marktplatz zu gelangen.
We walked through a narrow alley to get to the market square.
Context: old town
The word 'Gasse' (alley) is typically used for streets in historic city centers, known as 'Altstädte' (old towns). It often conveys a sense of history and tradition.
EXAMPLE
Die Altstadt ist berühmt für ihre malerischen Gassen.
The old town is famous for its picturesque alleys.
Fixed expression
The expression 'eine Gasse bilden' (to form a passage) is a fixed collocation. It means that a crowd steps aside to create a clear path in the middle.
EXAMPLE
Als der Star ankam, bildeten die Fans eine Gasse für ihn.
When the star arrived, the fans formed a passage for him.
The emergency corridor
A very important special case is the 'Rettungsgasse' (emergency corridor). On German highways, drivers are legally required to form a passage for emergency vehicles such as ambulances or police cars when there is a traffic jam.
EXAMPLE
Bei einem Stau auf der Autobahn muss sofort eine Rettungsgasse gebildet werden.
In a traffic jam on the highway, an emergency corridor must be formed immediately.
Compare with
Gasse vs Durchgang
passage / round
'der Durchgang' and 'die Gasse' can both have to do with a narrow way or path. However, 'Durchgang' mainly means a passage or opening through which you can go from one side to the other, often in or between buildings. 'Gasse' is a very narrow street, usually outside and often in an old town. There is also the fixed expression 'eine Gasse bilden' (to form a passage), used when people make space. The words can be confused when a path between houses is narrow. If it is a street, you are more likely to say 'Gasse'; if the focus is on the connection or opening, you are more likely to say 'Durchgang'.
Gasse
Am Morgen ist die kleine Gasse in der Altstadt noch fast leer.
In the morning, the small alley in the old town is still almost empty.
Durchgang
Neben der Bäckerei führt ein schmaler Durchgang in den Innenhof.
Next to the bakery, a narrow passage leads into the inner courtyard.
In real life
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