Dreifuß
/ˈdʁaɪ̯ˌfuːs/masculine
The English word "tripod" can be translated into German as Dreifuß, Dreibeinstativ, Dreibein or Tripod.
Meaning: a three-legged stand or mount (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dreifuß | /ˈdʁaɪ̯ˌfuːs/ | masculine |
| Dreibeinstativ | neuter | |
| Dreibein | /ˈdʁaɪ̯ˌbaɪ̯n/ | neuter |
| Tripod | masculine |
All provided forms refer to a three-legged stand or mount.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Dreifuß is a compound of drei (three) and Fuß (foot).
Which one should you use?
Dreibeinstativ is the more precise term for a camera tripod, whereas Dreifuß can sound more archaic or refer to a general three-legged support.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun Dreifuß takes the genitive ending -es in the singular, forming Dreifußes (of the tripod). The plural of Dreibein is Dreibeine.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdʁaɪ̯ˌfuːs/
Did you know?
- While Dreifuß is a direct translation of the Greek-derived 'tripod', it is rarely used in modern photography and can sound like you are discussing a person with three feet.
- The German word Dreifuß is a direct translation of the Ancient Greek word trípous, which literally means 'three feet'.
- The word Fuß in Dreifuß is also used in German to describe the base of a lamp or a mountain, moving beyond the anatomical meaning of 'foot'.
Examples in context
- Kannst du bitte das Stativ aufstellen? Ich möchte ein Gruppenfoto machen.Can you please set up the tripod? I want to take a group photo.
- Natürlich, hier ist das Stativ.Of course, here is the tripod.
- Hey, kannst du mir mal das Dreibein rüberreichen? Ich möchte ein paar coole Aufnahmen machen.Hey, can you pass me the tripod? I want to take some cool shots.
- Klar, hier hast du das Dreibein.Sure, here's the tripod for you.
- Der Dreifuß steht auf dem Boden.The tripod is standing on the floor.
- Ich brauche einen stabilen Dreifuß für die Kamera.I need a stable tripod for the camera.
- Kannst du bitte den Dreifuß aufbauen?Can you please set up the tripod?
Example conversation
Hannah and Julian are preparing for a photo shoot in the park.
- HannahJulian, hast du den Dreifuß mitgebracht?Julian, did you bring the tripod?
- JulianJa, er steht dort im Auto.Yes, it is over there in the car.
- HannahKönntest du ihn mir bitte geben?Could you please give it to me?
- JulianKlar, hier ist dein Dreifuß, Hannah.Sure, here is your tripod, Hannah.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tripod” translations and entries Dreifuß, Dreibein, Tripod, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Dreibein, Dreifuß, CC BY-SA 4.0.
