der Reifen
tire
The flexible covering of a wheel, usually made of rubber, that makes contact with the road or ground.
EXAMPLE
Der Reifen am Fahrrad ist platt.
The tire on the bicycle is flat.
der Reifen
tire / hoop
der Reifen, die Reifen
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Meanings
der Reifen
hoop
A ring-shaped object that can be used as jewelry, as play equipment, or for a particular activity.
EXAMPLE
Im Sportunterricht rollten die Kinder bunte Reifen durch die Halle.
During PE class, the children rolled colorful hoops across the gym.
der Reifen
hoop
A ring made of metal or wood that holds an object together, especially a barrel or a tub.
EXAMPLE
Der Reifen am alten Fass war verrostet.
The hoop on the old barrel was rusty.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Reifen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Reifen |
| genitive | des Reifens |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Reifen | die Reifen |
| accusative | den Reifen | die Reifen |
| dative | dem Reifen | den Reifen |
| genitive | des Reifens | der Reifen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Context clue
The meaning of 'Reifen' (tire / hoop) can often be identified from the surrounding words: 'Auto' (car), 'Fahrrad' (bicycle), 'Luft' (air), or 'Straße' (road) point to a tire; 'springen' (to jump) or 'Zirkus' (circus) point to a hoop; 'Fass' (barrel) or 'Bottich' (tub) point to a metal or wooden hoop.
EXAMPLE
Weil der Reifen keine Luft mehr hatte, musste der Radfahrer anhalten.
Because the tire had no air left in it, the cyclist had to stop.
Die Artistin sprang im Zirkus durch einen Reifen.
The acrobat jumped through a hoop at the circus.
Der Reifen hielt die Dauben des Fasses zusammen.
The hoop held the barrel's staves together.
Typical collocations
'Reifen' (tire) is particularly common with verbs related to maintenance and repair, for example 'einen Reifen wechseln' (to change a tire), 'einen Reifen aufpumpen' (to inflate a tire), and 'einen Reifen reparieren' (to repair a tire).
EXAMPLE
Vor der langen Fahrt ließ sie die Reifen aufpumpen.
Before the long drive, she had the tires inflated.
Fixed expressions
When referring to a ring-shaped object, 'Reifen' (hoop) is often used with verbs of movement, especially in expressions such as 'durch einen Reifen springen' (to jump through a hoop) or 'einen Reifen um die Hüften kreisen lassen' (to spin a hoop around one's hips).
EXAMPLE
Meine Tochter kann den Reifen minutenlang um die Hüften kreisen lassen.
My daughter can spin the hoop around her hips for minutes at a time.
Barrel-related collocations
In this sense, 'Reifen' (hoop) often occurs with 'Fass' (barrel), 'Bottich' (tub), or 'Dauben' (staves). Typical verbs are 'anbringen' (to attach), 'zusammenhalten' (to hold together), and 'rosten' (to rust).
EXAMPLE
Der Böttcher brachte zwei neue Reifen an dem Bottich an.
The cooper attached two new hoops to the tub.
In real life
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