animal park
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animal park
A facility where animals are kept and shown to the public, often in spacious, natural-looking enclosures. Unlike a traditional zoo, the focus is often on larger areas and a park-like landscape.
Am Wochenende machen wir einen Ausflug in den Tierpark und schauen uns die Bären an.
At the weekend, we're taking a trip to the animal park and looking at the bears.
The word is built very logically: it consists of 'das Tier' (the animal) and 'der Park' (the park). A Tierpark is therefore literally a park for animals.
Der neue Tierpark hat besonders große Gehege für die Tiere.
The new animal park has especially large enclosures for the animals.
Pay attention to the difference between direction and location. You go 'in den Tierpark' (to/into the animal park, accusative), but you are 'im Tierpark' (in the animal park, dative).
Fahren wir am Sonntag in den Tierpark?
Shall we go to the animal park on Sunday?
Common activities related to an animal park are expressed with verbs like 'besuchen' (to visit), 'beobachten' (to observe/watch), or as part of the phrase 'einen Ausflug machen' (to take a trip).
Die Schulklasse machte einen Ausflug in den Tierpark.
The school class took a trip to the animal park.
zoo
'der Zoo' and 'der Tierpark' are both facilities where you can see animals. 'Zoo' is the more general word and can also mean a more traditional facility with many different, often exotic animals. 'Tierpark' often sounds larger, greener, and more park-like; the animals often have more space or more natural-looking enclosures. The words are sometimes used similarly in everyday language, so learners may confuse them. The important point is: both are places to visit with animals, but 'Tierpark' puts more emphasis on the open park-like setting.
Die Klasse besucht nächste Woche den Tierpark am Stadtrand.
The class is visiting the animal park on the outskirts of town next week.
Hast du den neuen Zoo schon besucht?
Have you visited the new zoo yet?