01
die Küste
coast
The strip of land where the mainland meets a sea, an ocean, or a very large lake.
example
Wir verbringen unseren Urlaub gerne an der Ostsee-Küste.
We like spending our vacation on the Baltic Sea coast.
die Küste
coast
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Meanings
Usage tips
Correct preposition
With 'Küste' (coast), the preposition 'an' is used. To express movement, you use the accusative ('an die Küste fahren' — to go/travel to the coast). To describe a location, you use the dative ('an der Küste sein' — to be on/at the coast).
EXAMPLE
Nächstes Jahr fahren wir wieder an die Küste.
Next year we’re going to the coast again.
Typical collocations
Common activities connected with the coast are 'an der Küste spazieren gehen' (to go for a walk along the coast), 'Urlaub an der Küste machen' (to vacation on the coast), or 'an der Küste entlang fahren' (to drive along the coast).
EXAMPLE
Am Abend gehen wir gern an der Küste entlang spazieren.
In the evening, we like going for a walk along the coast.
Typical adjectives
To describe a coast more precisely, adjectives such as 'steil' (steep), 'flach' (flat), 'felsig' (rocky), or 'sandig' (sandy) are often used.
EXAMPLE
Die Westküste Irlands ist bekannt für ihre steile und felsige Küste.
The west coast of Ireland is known for its steep and rocky coast.
Compare with
Küste vs Strand
beach
'der Strand' and 'die Küste' both have to do with land by the water. 'Strand' means the specific flat area directly by the water, often with sand or pebbles. You can lie there, swim, or go for a walk. 'Küste' means a larger strip of land where land and sea meet. It can include many beaches, towns, rocks, or harbors. Learners may confuse the words because a beach is on the coast. Memory tip: 'der Strand' is a specific place by the water; 'die Küste' is the whole area by the sea.
Küste
Im Sommer fahren wir an die Küste und besuchen mehrere kleine Orte.
In the summer, we go to the coast and visit several small towns.
Strand
Am Nachmittag bauen die Kinder am Strand eine große Sandburg.
In the afternoon, the children build a large sandcastle on the beach.
In real life
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