Tor
/toːr/neuter
The German word for gate is Tor.
Tor refers to a door-like structure located outside. In the context of sports like football (soccer), Tor is also the word used for the 'goal'.
Meaning: door-like structure outside (noun)
Which one should you use?
While Tor refers to a large gate or an entrance to a large area (like a city gate or a stadium gate), Tür is used for standard doors in houses or rooms.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Tor is Tore. The genitive singular form is des Tores.
How do you pronounce it?
/toːr/
Did you know?
- The version of Tor meaning 'fool' comes from an old root meaning 'hazy' or 'foggy', implying a clouded mind.
- Some German cities still have Tore in their street names, marking where the ancient city walls once stood.
- The phrase das Tor zur Hölle refers to 'the gate to hell' and is used in German literature and folklore to describe an abyss.
Examples in context
- Wo ist das Tor?Where is the gate?This sentence is useful for asking for the location of the Tor.Tatoeba #1397546 by Manfredo, translation #687650 by lukaszpp
- Tom ging ans Tor.Tom walked to the gate.This sentence is useful for describing someone walking to the Tor.Tatoeba #2668073 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2546330 by CK
- Welches Tor ist das?Which gate is that?This sentence is useful for identifying a specific Tor.Tatoeba #2188902 by Tamy, translation #42670 by orcrist
- Ich gehe durch das TorI am walking through the gate
- Die Pforte ist geschlossenThe gate is closed
- Die Gartentür ist kaputtThe garden gate is broken
- Das Tor zur Stadt ist beeindruckend!The gate to the city is impressive!
- Ich habe den Schlüssel für das Eingangstor verloren.I have lost the key to the entrance gate.
- Kannst du bitte das Gartentor schließen?Can you please close the garden gate?
- Der Turm hat eine massive Pforte.The tower has a massive gate.
- 142 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Lukas are meeting at the entrance of a park.
- HannahIch stehe gerade am Tor.I am standing at the gate right now.
- LukasWelches Tor meinst du, Hannah?Which gate do you mean, Hannah?
- HannahDas große Tor im Norden.The big gate in the north.
- LukasAlles klar, ich komme zum Tor.All right, I'm coming to the gate.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gate” translations and entries Tor, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Tor, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
