das
Geburtsdatum
📅 What exactly is a Geburtsdatum?
The German word das Geburtsdatum refers to the calendar date (day, month, year) on which a person was born. It's an important piece of personal information often required in official documents.
- It is a Kompositum (compound word) made up of die Geburt (birth) and das Datum (date).
- Since the base word Datum is neuter (das), Geburtsdatum is also neuter: das Geburtsdatum.
- ⚠️ Don't confuse it with der Geburtstag, which refers to the anniversary of the birth and is celebrated annually. The Geburtsdatum is a fixed point in time.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Ge- → mostly neutral.
Nouns beginning with Ge- are usually neutral, unless other rules apply. We do not list all Ge nouns.
-um → mostly neutral.
Caution: Nouns with '-aum' are always masculine.
🧐 Grammar: Declension of 'das Geburtsdatum'
The word "Geburtsdatum" is a noun of neuter gender. The article is "das".
Singular Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das | Geburtsdatum |
| Genitive | des | Geburtsdatums |
| Dative | dem | Geburtsdatum |
| Accusative | das | Geburtsdatum |
Plural Declension
The plural of Datum is Daten. Therefore, the plural of Geburtsdatum is Geburtsdaten.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Geburtsdaten |
| Genitive | der | Geburtsdaten |
| Dative | den | Geburtsdaten |
| Accusative | die | Geburtsdaten |
📝 Example Sentences
- Bitte geben Sie Ihr Geburtsdatum an.
(Please state your date of birth.) - Das Geburtsdatum meines Sohnes ist der 15. Mai 2010.
(My son's date of birth is May 15, 2010.) - Wir benötigen die Geburtsdaten aller Teilnehmer für die Anmeldung.
(We need the dates of birth of all participants for registration.) - Auf dem Ausweis steht das korrekte Geburtsdatum.
(The correct date of birth is on the ID card.)
💡 How to use Geburtsdatum?
The word Geburtsdatum is primarily used in formal and official contexts when the exact date of birth is relevant:
- Forms and documents: In applications, contracts, ID cards, certificates, etc.
- Administration: Authorities, health insurance companies, insurance providers need the Geburtsdatum for identification.
- Medical field: Doctors and hospitals record the Geburtsdatum of patients.
- Personal data: In CVs or when providing personal information.
In everyday life, people usually talk about Geburtstag (birthday) when referring to the celebration or asking when someone's birthday is. If asking about age, the question is often "Wann hast du Geburtstag?" (When is your birthday?) or "Wie alt bist du?" (How old are you?), rarely directly asking for the Geburtsdatum unless needed for a specific purpose.
Comparison:
- Geburtsdatum: The specific day, month, and year of birth (e.g., 01.04.1995).
- Geburtstag: The anniversary of the birth, which is celebrated (e.g., every year on April 1st).
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
For the article (das): Remember the base word: das Datum (the date). The date determines the article, so it's das Geburtsdatum.
For the meaning: Imagine filling out an important form (a Datum field) where you have to enter the day of your Geburt (birth) – that's the Geburtsdatum.
🔄 Synonyms, Antonyms & Similar Words
Synonyms (rarely directly interchangeable):
- Geburtstag (only in the sense of the day, often imprecise)
- Geburtstermin (refers to the expected date of birth, not the actual one)
Antonyms:
- Sterbedatum / Todesdatum (date of death)
Similar but different terms:
- Geburtsjahr: Year of birth only (e.g., 1995).
- Geburtstag: Birthday, the anniversary (e.g., April 1st).
- Geburtsort: Place of birth.
- Geburtszeit: Exact time of birth.
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Beamte: "Ihr Geburtsdatum, bitte?"
Antwortet der Mann: "15. Oktober."
Beamter: "Welches Jahr?"
Mann: "Na, jedes Jahr!"
--- Translation ---
The official asks: "Your date of birth, please?"
The man replies: "October 15th."
Official: "Which year?"
Man: "Well, every year!"
📜 A Little Poem
Ein Datum, ganz speziell und klar,
zeigt an, wann man geboren war.
Nicht der Tag, den man jährlich feiert froh,
das Geburtsdatum, ja, das ist so.
Im Pass, im Amt, da steht es drin,
Tag, Monat, Jahr – macht alles Sinn.
--- Translation ---
A date, quite special and clear,
shows when one was born, my dear.
Not the day celebrated with cheer,
the Geburtsdatum, yes, that is here.
In passport, office, it resides within,
Day, month, year – makes perfect sense therein.
❓ Riddle Time
Ich habe Tag, Monat und Jahr,
bin für jeden Menschen wahr.
Ich ändere mich nie, bleibe immer gleich,
steh' im Ausweis, ob arm oder reich.
Ich bin nicht der Tag, an dem du Kerzen bläst,
sondern wann dein Leben einst begann, ganz fest.
Was bin ich?
--- Translation & Clues ---
I have day, month, and year,
I am true for every person here.
I never change, I always stay the same,
I'm on the ID card, whatever your fame.
I'm not the day you blow out candles bright,
but when your life began, with all its light.
What am I?
(Solution: das Geburtsdatum / the date of birth)
🧩 Other Information
Word Composition:
The word "Geburtsdatum" is a determinative compound. It consists of:
- die Geburt: The event of being born.
- das Datum: A specification of day, month, and year in the calendar.
The determinant (Geburt) specifies the base word (Datum). So, it literally means the date of the birth.
Data Protection:
The Geburtsdatum is considered personal data and is subject to strict data protection regulations in Germany and the EU (GDPR). While often necessary to provide, it should be shared thoughtfully.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Geburtsdatum?
The correct article for Geburtsdatum is das. It is a neuter noun, derived from das Datum (the date). It signifies the exact calendar date of birth (day, month, year) and is frequently used in official contexts. The plural form is die Geburtsdaten.