01
das Zelt
tent
A portable shelter made of fabric or plastic, held up by poles and used especially for camping.
example
Wir bauten unser Zelt direkt am Seeufer auf.
We set up our tent right on the lakeshore.
das Zelt
tent
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Typical verbs
Certain verbs are firmly associated with a tent: You can 'aufbauen' or 'aufschlagen' a tent (set up/pitch a tent), and at the end 'abbauen' it again (take it down). The activity of sleeping in a tent is called 'zelten' (to camp).
EXAMPLE
Wir haben unser Zelt neben dem Fluss aufgeschlagen.
We pitched our tent next to the river.
Prepositions: im and ins
To express movement into the tent, you use the preposition 'in' with the accusative: 'ins Zelt gehen' (to go into the tent). To describe a location or state, you use 'in' with the dative: 'im Zelt schlafen' (to sleep in the tent).
EXAMPLE
Als es anfing zu regnen, sind wir schnell ins Zelt gekrochen.
When it started to rain, we quickly crawled into the tent.
Context clue
Context and adjectives reveal whether a small camping tent or a large festival tent is meant. Words like 'Fest' (festival), 'Zirkus' (circus), 'Veranstaltung' (event), 'riesig' (huge), or 'groß' (large) point to the second meaning.
EXAMPLE
Im großen Zelt auf dem Marktplatz findet heute Abend ein Konzert statt.
A concert is taking place this evening in the large tent on the market square.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'seine Zelte abbrechen' (to pull up stakes) is a fixed unit. The possessive pronoun 'seine' is adjusted to the person: 'ich breche meine Zelte ab' (I pull up stakes), 'sie bricht ihre Zelte ab' (she pulls up stakes).
EXAMPLE
Ich glaube, es ist Zeit für mich, hier meine Zelte abzubrechen und eine neue Stelle zu suchen.
I think it's time for me to pull up stakes here and look for a new job.
Compare with
Zelt vs Pavillon
pavilion
'das Zelt' and 'der Pavillon' can both be lightweight structures that provide protection from the weather. A 'Zelt' is usually made of fabric or plastic and is set up with poles. It is used for sleeping while camping, or as a large tent for events. A 'Pavillon' is more like a small open structure or a lightweight stand, for example in a garden, in a park, or at a trade fair. The words can be confused when a pavilion is made of fabric and is only set up temporarily. For sleeping or camping, you clearly say 'Zelt'. For an open sheltered place or exhibition stand, 'Pavillon' fits better.
Zelt
Beim Camping bauen wir das Zelt zuerst auf, bevor es dunkel wird.
When camping, we set up the tent first, before it gets dark.
Pavillon
Im Garten steht ein Pavillon, unter dem wir bei Regen essen können.
There is a pavilion in the garden where we can eat when it rains.
In real life
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