das  Los

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/loːs/

🎯 What does "das Los" mean?

The noun das Los has several meanings in German:

• Fate, destiny (Schicksal, Bestimmung): It describes a person's circumstances or fate, often something unavoidable or random. Example: Er beklagte sein schweres Los (He lamented his hard fate).
• Lottery ticket, raffle ticket (Lotterielos, Tombolalos): A piece of paper or number entitling participation in a lottery, raffle, or draw, representing a chance to win. Example: Ich habe drei Lose für die Tombola gekauft (I bought three tickets for the raffle).
• Lot, share (Anteil, Zuteilung) (less common): Can also mean an assigned share or part, often in the context of distribution.
• Production batch (Industrie): A specific quantity of a product manufactured under the same conditions (e.g., in pharmaceuticals or food production). Often identified by a Losnummer (batch number).

⚠️ Do not confuse it with the adjective/adverb los (e.g., Was ist hier los? - What's going on here?, Der Knopf ist los - The button is loose) or the command Los! (e.g., Los, komm mit! - Come on, come with me!).

🧐 Grammar & Declension of "das Los"

Das Los is a neuter noun. It follows the strong declension pattern.

Example Sentences

• Das Los des Flüchtlings war ungewiss. (The refugee's fate was uncertain. - Fate, Nominative Singular)
• Der Wert des Loses bestimmte sein weiteres Leben. (The value of his lot/fate determined the rest of his life. - Fate, Genitive Singular)
• Er fügte sich seinem Los(e). (He resigned himself to his fate. - Fate, Dative Singular)
• Sie akzeptierte ihr hartes Los. (She accepted her hard lot/fate. - Fate, Accusative Singular)
• Die Lose für die Hauptgewinne waren schnell verkauft. (The tickets for the main prizes were sold quickly. - Lottery tickets, Nominative Plural)
• Der Gewinn der Lose wurde gespendet. (The winnings from the tickets were donated. - Lottery tickets, Genitive Plural)
• Mit diesen Losen kannst du teilnehmen. (You can participate with these tickets. - Lottery tickets, Dative Plural)
• Er zog die Lose aus der Trommel. (He drew the tickets from the drum. - Lottery tickets, Accusative Plural)

💡 How to use "das Los"?

The usage of das Los strongly depends on its meaning:

• Fate (Schicksal): Often used in more formal or literary contexts to describe life circumstances or destiny. Common collocations include ein schweres Los (a hard lot/fate), sein Los beklagen (to bemoan one's fate), das Los ziehen (literally 'to draw the lot', meaning to be unlucky or get an unwelcome task).
• Lottery ticket (Lotterielos): Used in everyday language for tickets in games of chance, raffles, or draws. The focus here is on the physical or digital representation of the chance to win. One can Lose kaufen (buy tickets), verkaufen (sell tickets), ziehen (draw tickets).
• Production batch (Produktionscharge): Mainly used in industrial and technical settings, often abbreviated as "Los-Nr." or "Chargennummer" (batch number).

Compared to Schicksal (fate), Los sometimes sounds a bit more passive or random. A Lotterielos is more specific than, for example, Chance (chance) or Ticket (which is also used for admission tickets, etc.).

🧠 Mnemonics for "das Los"

• Article Mnemonic: Think of fate as something neutral, neither good nor bad until it unfolds: 'das' is the neutral article. Or picture a small, neutral paper ticket: das Lotterie-Los.
• Meaning Mnemonic: Life is like a lottery; you draw a certain Los (fate). If you're lucky, your Los (lottery ticket) wins you the großes Los (jackpot / fortunate destiny).

Imagine standing before a large lottery drum. Inside are slips of paper describing your fate. You draw 'das eine' (that one), your personal Los.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for "das Los"

Similar but different words

• los (adjective/adverb): loose, unattached; something is happening (Was ist los?); command (Los geht's! - Let's go!)
• lösen (verb): to solve (a problem), to loosen, to buy a ticket (Fahrkarte lösen - buy a travel ticket)
• losen (verb): to draw lots, decide by lot

😄 A little Joke

Fragt der Lottogewinner seine Frau: "Schatz, was wünschst du dir? Wir haben das große Los gezogen!"
Sie: "Die Scheidung!"
Er: "So viel wollte ich nun auch nicht ausgeben..."

Translation: The lottery winner asks his wife: "Honey, what do you wish for? We've hit the jackpot (literally: drawn the big lot)!"
She: "A divorce!"
He: "Well, I didn't want to spend quite THAT much..."

📜 Poem about "das Los"

Man kauft ein kleines Zettelstück,
hofft auf das allergrößte Glück.
Ist's Niete oder der Gewinn?
Das Los entscheidet über Sinn.

Doch auch das Leben teilt es aus,
bringt Freude oder Schmerz ins Haus.
Man trägt es schwer, man trägt es leicht,
bis eine neue Zeit erreicht.

Translation:
One buys a little piece of paper,
hoping for the greatest luck's caper.
Is it a blank or the prize?
The lot/ticket decides what will arise.

But life also deals it out,
brings joy or pain about.
One bears it heavy, bears it light,
until a new time comes to sight.

❓ Riddle

Ich kann dein Schicksal sein, schwer oder leicht zu tragen.
Ich kann ein Zettel sein, der lässt dich hoffen, klagen.
Man zieht mich aus der Trommel, beim Spiel um Geld und Glück.
Was bin ich wohl, bedenk' es, Stück für Stück?

Translation:
I can be your fate, heavy or light to bear.
I can be a slip of paper that makes you hope or despair.
I'm drawn from the drum, in games of chance and money.
What am I, think about it, piece by piece, honey?

Solution: das Los

✨ More Information

Word Compounds (Wortzusammensetzungen)

Das Los is part of several compound words:

• Losbude: A stall (often at fairs) where lottery tickets are sold.
• Losentscheid: A decision made by drawing lots.
• Verlosung: A raffle or draw where prizes are awarded by drawing lots.
• Freilos: A free ticket/lot; in sports: a bye (automatic qualification for the next round without competing).
• Großes Los: The jackpot or a particularly fortunate fate.

Etymology

The word "Los" comes from the Old High German "(h)lōz", which originally meant "share, inheritance, oracle verdict" and is related to the throwing or drawing of objects for decision-making or allocation.