das
Genie
🧠 What does "das Genie" mean?
Das Genie (noun, neuter) refers to a person with exceptionally high intellectual ability, creative power, or talent, especially in a specific field like science, art, or music.
- Meaning 1: A person with outstanding talent. Example: Albert Einstein gilt als das Genie der Physik des 20. Jahrhunderts. (Albert Einstein is considered the genius of 20th-century physics.)
- Meaning 2 (less common): The exceptional talent or creative power itself. Example: Sein künstlerisches Genie zeigte sich schon früh. (His artistic genius manifested itself early on.)
🚨 Attention: The word is always used with the article "das" when referring to a person or the abstract talent. It is a neuter noun.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Many foreign words → mostly neutral.
There are many foreign words, we won't list them all.
Ge- → mostly neutral.
Nouns beginning with Ge- are usually neutral, unless other rules apply. We do not list all Ge nouns.
🧐 Grammar & Declension of "das Genie"
"Das Genie" is a noun of the neuter gender (Neutrum). It declines as follows:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das | Genie |
| Genitive | des | Genies |
| Dative | dem | Genie |
| Accusative | das | Genie |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Genies |
| Genitive | der | Genies |
| Dative | den | Genies |
| Accusative | die | Genies |
💡 Example Sentences
- Der Lehrer erkannte schnell das Genie in dem jungen Schüler.
(The teacher quickly recognized the genius in the young student.) - Die Werke des Genies wurden weltweit bewundert.
(The works of the genius were admired worldwide.) - Man muss nicht allen Genies zustimmen.
(One doesn't have to agree with all geniuses.) - Die Konferenz brachte viele junge Genies zusammen.
(The conference brought many young geniuses together.)
✍️ How to use "das Genie"?
"Das Genie" is used to describe a person with extraordinary abilities. It carries a strong positive connotation and expresses admiration.
- Typical Contexts: Wissenschaft (science), Kunst (art), Musik (music), Erfindungen (inventions), Schach (chess), Mathematik (mathematics).
- Style: Generally formal or elevated language, but can also be used colloquially, sometimes ironically (e.g., "Na, du Genie!" - Well, you genius! - after a stupid mistake).
- Distinction: Unlike "Talent" (talent/gift) or "Experte" (expert), "Genie" implies a rare, almost superhuman gift and originality.
- Related terms: "genial" (adjective: brilliant, ingenious), "Genialität" (noun: genius, brilliance - the quality).
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
Mnemonic for the Article (das):
Think of das Kind (the child). A genius is often like an extraordinary child in their field – a Wunderkind (wonder child). Child is neuter, so remember das Genie.
Mnemonic for the Meaning (Genius):
"Das Genie" sounds a bit like the English "genie", a magical being capable of amazing feats. A human genius also performs amazing intellectual or creative feats!
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms for Genie
Synonyms (similar meaning):
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Der Dummkopf: A fool, idiot.
- Der Versager / Die Versagerin: A failure.
- Die Niete: (lit. a blank in a lottery) Colloquial for someone incapable, a dud.
- Der Stümper / Die Stümperin: A bungler, someone who does poor work.
- Der Durchschnittsmensch: An average person.
⚠️ Similar Words:
- Der Genius: (Masculine) Often refers to the guiding spirit (e.g., Genius Loci - spirit of place) or the embodiment of a creative force, less commonly directly to the person. "Das Genie" is the standard term for the person.
😂 A Joke About It
Deutsch: Fragt ein Schüler den anderen: "Was ist der Unterschied zwischen einem Genie und einem sehr guten Schüler?" Sagt der andere: "Der sehr gute Schüler weiß alles, was im Lehrbuch steht. Das Genie hat das Lehrbuch geschrieben!" 😄
English: One student asks another: "What's the difference between a genius and a very good student?" The other replies: "The very good student knows everything in the textbook. The genius wrote the textbook!" 😄
📜 Poem about the Genius
Deutsch:
Das Genie, ein selt'nes Licht,
Das dunkle Pfade uns erhellt,
Mit Geist, der alte Grenzen bricht,
Und neu erschafft die ganze Welt.
Es denkt, wo and're nur noch seh'n,
Verbindet Punkte, fern und nah.
Das Genie lässt Neues entsteh'n,
Ist einfach wunderbar!
English Translation:
The genius, a rare light,
That illuminates dark paths for us,
With a mind that breaks old bounds,
And recreates the entire world.
It thinks where others only see,
Connects dots, far and near.
The genius lets new things arise,
Is simply wonderful!
🧩 Little Riddle
Deutsch:
Ich bin kein Geist, doch voller Geist,
Meine Ideen sind oft weit gereist.
Man nennt mich selten, doch mit Ehr',
Mein Artikel ist sächlich, bitte sehr!
Wer oder was bin ich?
English Translation:
I am no ghost, yet full of spirit/mind,
My ideas have often traveled far.
I'm mentioned rarely, but with honour bright,
My article is neuter, as is right!
What or who am I?
Solution: das Genie (the genius)
✨ Other Information
- Etymology: The German word "Genie" comes from the French génie, which in turn derives from the Latin genius. In Latin, genius originally meant a personal guardian spirit, later also innate nature or talent.
- Genius Loci: The Latin expression Genius Loci (often masculine in German: der Genius) refers to the "spirit of the place," meaning the special atmosphere or character of a location. This is a different meaning from "das Genie" referring to a person.
- Universalgenie: (Universal genius) A person who possesses outstanding abilities in many different fields (e.g., Leonardo da Vinci).
Summary: is it der, die or das Genie?
The correct form is always das Genie (neuter) when referring to a person of exceptional talent or the talent itself.