das  Konto

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈkɔnto/

💰 What Exactly is a Konto?

The German word das Konto (plural: die Konten or Kontos) generally refers to a record of income and expenses or claims and liabilities. It is most commonly used in finance:

• Bank account: This is the most well-known meaning. It's used for handling payment transactions (e.g., das Girokonto - current/checking account) or for saving (e.g., das Sparkonto - savings account).
• User account/Account: In the digital world, it refers to an access area for a user on an online service, software, or website (e.g., das E-Mail-Konto, das Social-Media-Konto).
• Accounting account: In bookkeeping, an account (Konto) is a tool for systematically recording business transactions.

🚨 The only article for "Konto" is das.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar of 'das Konto' in Detail

"Konto" is a noun of neuter gender (sächlich). Here are the declension tables:

Note: The plural "Kontos" is used more colloquially or specifically for digital user accounts, while "Konten" is the standard plural, especially in finance.

Example Sentences

1. Ich muss Geld auf mein Konto einzahlen.
   I need to deposit money into my account.
2. Der Stand meines Kontos ist niedrig.
   The balance of my account is low.
3. Bitte überweisen Sie das Geld auf dieses Konto.
   Please transfer the money to this account.
4. Ich habe mehrere E-Mail-Konten.
   I have several email accounts.
5. Die Bank sperrte alle seine Konten.
   The bank blocked all his accounts.

🏦 When to Use 'das Konto'?

"Das Konto" is a central term in daily life, especially concerning money or digital services.

• In banking: People talk about ein Konto eröffnen (opening an account), ein Konto schließen/auflösen (closing an account), Geld vom Konto abheben (withdrawing money from the account), Geld aufs Konto einzahlen (depositing money into the account), den Kontostand prüfen (checking the account balance), einen Kontoauszug holen (getting an account statement).
• Online: You erstellt ein Konto (create an account), loggt sich in sein Konto ein (log into one's account), löscht sein Konto (delete one's account), ändert das Passwort für sein Konto (change the password for one's account).
• Comparison: While "Konto" is very general, words like Girokonto, Sparkonto, Tagesgeldkonto (call money account), or Depotkonto (custody account) specify the type of bank account. An Account (from English) is often used synonymously for digital accounts.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'das Konto'

Article Mnemonic: Think of "the cash" or "the gold" (neuter concepts in some sense, though Geld is 'das'). Money goes into das Konto. The 'o' ending is common for neuter nouns (like das Auto, das Radio).

Meaning Mnemonic: A Konto lets you count your money. It sounds similar to "count". Or imagine a safe CONTAINER (neuter 'das'?) for your funds.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

⚠️ Be careful with der Konter (counter-attack, counter-punch) – sounds similar but has a completely different meaning and article!

😄 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Bankräuber den Kassierer: "Ist das mein Konto?"
Sagt der Kassierer: "Nein, das ist ein Überfall!"
Darauf der Bankräuber: "Puh, Glück gehabt! Ich dachte schon, mein Konto wäre schon wieder leer."

English: The bank robber asks the teller: "Is that my account?"
The teller replies: "No, this is a robbery!"
The bank robber says: "Phew, lucky me! I thought my account was empty again."

📜 A Poem About the Konto

German:
Das Konto, still und digital,
Verwahrt die Zahlen, groß und schmal.
Mal Ebbe drin, mal reiche Flut,
Ein Spiegel dessen, was man tut.
Ob online, Bank, ob Sparvertrag,
Es zählt den Euro, Tag für Tag.

English:
The account, quiet and digital,
Keeps the numbers, big and small.
Sometimes ebb tide, sometimes rich flood,
A mirror of what one has stood.
Whether online, bank, or savings plan,
It counts the Euros, man for man (day by day).

❓ Little Riddle

German:
Ich habe Zahlen, aber kann nicht rechnen.
Ich habe einen Stand, aber keine Füße.
Man kann mich eröffnen, aber ich bin keine Tür.
Ich werde oft geprüft, doch leg keine Prüfung ab.

Was bin ich?

English:
I have numbers, but cannot calculate.
I have a balance (Stand), but no feet.
You can open me, but I am not a door.
I am often checked, but take no exams.

What am I?

Solution: das Konto (the account)

🧩 Other Information

• Etymology: The word "Konto" comes from the Italian word conto, meaning “bill” or “calculation.” This, in turn, derives from the Latin computus (account, calculation).
• Compound Words: There are many compound words with "Konto", e.g.: Kontonummer (account number), Kontostand (account balance), Kontoauszug (account statement), Kontoführung (account management), Girokonto (current/checking account), Sparkonto (savings account), Sperrkonto (blocked account), Onlinekonto (online account), Kundenkonto (customer account).