So I shared my posts from the past couple of days with one of our friends who took us on that outing on Saturday. And what do you know – it turns out that whole Alps conversation has been headed up the wrong mountain path.

In German, the name of the place we went is called die Schwäbische Alb. In the online German dictionary that I always use, that name is translated into English as “the Swabian Alps“.

But as it turns out … that’s not the correct translation.

You see, die Alpen is the German term for “the Alps” (i.e. the big mountain range in Swizerland, Austria, et al). It’s a plural noun; the “die” there is the plural form of the definitive article.  The singular form of that word is die Alp, with a final “p”. The die there is the singular feminine definitive article, which is grammatically different than the plural form, although they sound exactly the same when pronounced. Don’t ask. As a lapsed linguist, all I can tell you is that it’s grammatical gender, so it’s not supposed to make sense.

Anyway, the German word die Alb, with a final “b”, is a different word completely. It’s feminine and singular and,  crucially, it doesn’t mean mountain. Rather, according to our friend, it means “highland”. So, the die Schwäbische Alb means “the Swabian highland.” No mountains, no peaks, no Alps involved.

I would also like to note that in that online dictionary, the word Alb is listed as being a masculine noun, der Alb, meaning “elf”. The dictionary doesn’t mention anything about “highland” or the die Alb word.

But perhaps der Alb lives in die Alb. Come to think of it, they actually did have little elf statues dotted throughout the little openings in the walls of that cave we rode into. At the time I thought it was just a cute decoration to make sure kids didn’t get scared being inside the cave or something. But maybe it’s supposed to indicate that elves live in caves in die Schwäbische Alb.

Hey, it just occurred to me – maybe they are the ones that make that Christmas stollen we were told is made in that cave. Could be. After all, American elves make cookies in the tree they live in, right? 😉

OK, well, I’d say “But I digress”, but I’m not sure I had a main point here to digress from, actually.

In any case, to finish today I offer a few more photos to add to my reflections on the die Schwäbische Alb.