Bürgersteig

German

Etymology

19th century, from Bürger (“citizen”) +‎ Steig (“footpath”). Introduced as a puristic alternative to then-predominant Trottoir (therefore unusual in Switzerland, like other purisms of that era).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈbʏrɡərˌʃtaɪ̯k/, [ˈbʏʁ.ɡɐˌʃtaɪ̯k], [ˈbʏɐ̯-]
  • IPA(key): /-ˌʃtaɪ̯ç/ (northern and central Germany, now chiefly colloquial)
  • Audio(file)

Noun

Bürgersteig m (strong, genitive Bürgersteigs or Bürgersteiges, plural Bürgersteige)

  1. (especially Germany) pavement (UK), sidewalk (US) (footpath at the side of a street, road)
    Synonyms: (especially Austria) Gehsteig, (especially Switzerland) Trottoir
    Hypernyms: (any footpath) Gehweg, Fußweg, Fußgängerweg
    Auch auf dem Bürgersteig muss man immer die Augen auf halten.
    You always have to keep your eyes open, even on the sidewalk.

Declension
Declension of Bürgersteig [masculine, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Bürgersteig die Bürgersteige
genitive eines des Bürgersteigs, Bürgersteiges der Bürgersteige
dative einem dem Bürgersteig, Bürgersteige1 den Bürgersteigen
accusative einen den Bürgersteig die Bürgersteige

1Now rare, see notes.

Derived terms
  • die Bürgersteige hochklappen

Further reading
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