Reisende

Reisende is a German noun meaning travelers or passengers. It designates people who travel, whether for leisure, work, pilgrimage, or other reasons. In ordinary usage it most often occurs in the plural form die Reisenden. The singular forms are der Reisende (masculine) and die Reisende (feminine). As a substantive, Reisende is typically written with a capital R, and it can function as a generic term for people who travel rather than as a specific individual.

Etymology and forms: Reisende derives from reisen, the verb “to travel,” with the agent-noun suffix -ende, producing a present-participle noun that denotes the doers of the action. This construction is common in German for forming nouns that refer to people performing a particular action. Historically, forms based on reisen have appeared in various dialects and periods, contributing to the modern usage of Reisende as a collective designation for travelers.

Usage and contexts: The term is used in travel writing, journalism, and sociological discourse to refer to groups or individuals who travel. It is neutral with respect to motive, status, or origin, and can appear in contexts ranging from everyday conversation to official language, such as border controls or tourism studies. While Reisende emphasizes the activity of traveling, it does not prescribe any particular mode of travel or intention.

See also: Reise, Reisender, Tourismus.