01
die Ostsee
Baltic Sea
The inland sea in Northern Europe that is also referred to as the Baltic Sea.
example
Im Sommer fahren wir oft für ein Wochenende an die Ostsee.
In the summer, we often go to the Baltic Sea for a weekend.
die Ostsee
Baltic Sea
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
Usage tips
Word composition
The name 'Ostsee' (Baltic Sea) is composed of 'Ost' (east) and 'See' (sea/lake). From a German perspective, it describes the geographical location of the sea east of the Danish peninsula of Jutland.
EXAMPLE
Viele deutsche Urlauber zieht es im Sommer an die Küste der Ostsee.
Many German vacationers are drawn to the coast of the Baltic Sea in the summer.
Correct prepositions
The preposition 'an' is used to describe movement toward or a location at a body of water or coast. For direction, use the accusative ('an die Ostsee fahren' — to go to the Baltic Sea); for location, use the dative ('an der Ostsee sein' — to be at the Baltic Sea).
EXAMPLE
Nächstes Jahr fahren wir an die Ostsee.
Next year we are going to the Baltic Sea.
Common name
'Ostsee' (Baltic Sea) is the usual name in German usage. The term 'Baltisches Meer' (Baltic Sea) is also correct, but is more often used in formal, scientific, or international contexts.
EXAMPLE
Die internationale Schifffahrt nennt das Gewässer meist „Baltisches Meer“.
International shipping usually refers to the body of water as the Baltic Sea.
Compare with
Ostsee vs Nordsee
North Sea
'die Ostsee' and 'die Nordsee' are both seas in Northern Europe, and both are important for trips to the coast. Even so, they are two different seas. The Baltic Sea lies farther east and is also called the Baltic Sea. The North Sea lies farther west and is a marginal sea of the Atlantic. Learners can easily confuse the names because both are connected to the German coast and are formed in a very similar way. A practical tip: 'Ostsee' points more toward the Baltic region, while 'Nordsee' points more toward the Netherlands, Great Britain, and the Atlantic.
Ostsee
Am Wochenende fahren wir an die Ostsee und besuchen Freunde in Lübeck.
At the weekend, we are going to the Baltic Sea and visiting friends in Lübeck.
Nordsee
Im Urlaub habe ich die Nordsee gesehen und lange am Strand spaziert.
On vacation, I saw the North Sea and took a long walk along the beach.
In real life
Loading video examples...