die Piste
ski slope
A prepared downhill route for skiing in the mountains.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Neuschnee war die Piste in einem perfekten Zustand.
After the fresh snow, the slope was in perfect condition.
die Piste
slope / runway / track
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Meanings
die Piste
runway
The takeoff and landing runway at an airport.
EXAMPLE
Das Flugzeug wartete auf die Freigabe, um auf die Piste zu rollen.
The airplane waited for clearance to taxi onto the runway.
die Piste
racetrack
A track for vehicles, especially in motorsports.
EXAMPLE
Der Rennfahrer verlor in der Kurve die Kontrolle und kam von der Piste ab.
The racing driver lost control in the bend and went off the racetrack.
auf die Piste gehen
to go out partying
A colloquial expression meaning to go out to party, dance, or have drinks.
EXAMPLE
Am Freitagabend wollen wir mal wieder richtig auf die Piste gehen.
On Friday evening, we want to really go out partying again.
die Piste
dirt track
An unpaved, often sandy or stony road, especially in desert or jungle areas.
EXAMPLE
Mit dem Geländewagen fuhren sie über eine holprige Piste durch die Savanne.
They drove the off-road vehicle along a bumpy dirt track through the savanna.
die Piste
dance floor
Colloquial for the dance floor in a disco or club.
EXAMPLE
Als der DJ ihren Lieblingssong spielte, stürmten alle auf die Piste.
When the DJ played their favorite song, everyone rushed onto the dance floor.
Usage tips
Context clue
Since 'Piste' has many meanings, context is crucial. Pay attention to signal words: 'Ski' (skis) and 'Schnee' (snow) indicate a ski slope, 'Flugzeug' (airplane) and 'landen' (to land) indicate a runway, and 'Rennwagen' (race car) and 'Kurve' (bend/curve) indicate a racetrack.
EXAMPLE
Vorsicht, die Piste ist heute sehr eisig!
Careful, the slope is very icy today!
Correct preposition
The preposition often reveals the exact meaning. 'Auf der Piste' (on the slope/runway/track) describes a place (skiing, runway), 'auf die Piste gehen' (to go out partying) describes an activity (partying, dancing), and 'von der Piste abkommen' (to go off the track/slope) describes an accident.
EXAMPLE
Wir waren den ganzen Tag auf der Piste.
We were on the slopes all day.
Typical collocations
In skiing, the difficulty of a slope is often indicated with colors: 'blaue Piste' (blue slope, easy), 'rote Piste' (red slope, intermediate), and 'schwarze Piste' (black slope, difficult). People also speak of a 'präparierte' (groomed) or 'vereiste' (icy) slope.
EXAMPLE
Als Anfänger solltest du nur auf den blauen Pisten fahren.
As a beginner, you should only ski on the blue slopes.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'auf die Piste gehen' means colloquially to go out partying. It has nothing to do with skiing or racetracks.
EXAMPLE
Nach der bestandenen Prüfung sind wir ordentlich auf die Piste gegangen.
After passing the exam, we really went out partying.
Context clue
This meaning describes an unpaved road. You can recognize it from words like 'Geländewagen' (off-road vehicle), 'holprig' (bumpy), 'Staub' (dust), or from places like 'Wüste' (desert), 'Savanne' (savanna), or 'Dschungel' (jungle).
EXAMPLE
Die Tour führte über eine staubige Piste durch die Wüste.
The tour led along a dusty dirt track through the desert.
Register and style
When 'Piste' means the dance floor, it is colloquial. Typical sentences are 'die Piste stürmen' (to storm the dance floor) or 'die Piste füllen' (to fill the dance floor), when many people are dancing.
EXAMPLE
Als der DJ den Hit spielte, war die Piste sofort voll.
When the DJ played the hit, the dance floor was immediately packed.
Compare with
Piste vs Strecke
route / distance
When talking about skiing, Strecke describes the course or distance covered. Piste is the prepared downhill run. Use „Strecke“ when emphasizing the length or route; use „Piste“ when referring to the prepared run.
Piste
Die Piste vom Gipfel bis zum Tal ist frisch präpariert.
The ski run from the summit to the valley has just been groomed.
Strecke
Unsere Strecke vom Gipfel bis zum Tal ist sechs Kilometer lang.
Our route from the summit to the valley is six kilometers long.
In real life
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