das
Mal
📖 What does "das Mal" mean?
The German word das Mal (neuter gender) has several core meanings:
- Mark, sign, spot: It can refer to a visible mark on a surface, especially on the skin. Examples include das Muttermal (mole) or das Brandmal (brand mark). More generally, it can be a distinguishing sign or feature (das Merkmal - characteristic, feature). Historically, it also denoted a boundary marker.
- Time, occasion, instance, repetition: This meaning refers to a specific point in time or an event that can be repeated. It expresses an instance or occurrence. Examples: das erste Mal (the first time), dieses Mal (this time), ein anderes Mal (another time), manchmal (sometimes), jedes Mal (every time). In mathematics, "mal" (lowercase) is used for multiplication, derived from this sense of repetition (e.g., drei mal vier - three times four). However, the noun das Mal itself is less commonly used directly in this mathematical context, except in the sense of 'repetition' or 'try' (e.g., beim dritten Mal - on the third time/attempt).
🚨 Attention: The noun das Mal (capitalized) should not be confused with the adverb/particle mal (lowercase), which is a short form of einmal and often used to soften a request or indicate a single action (e.g., Komm mal her! - Come here!).
Article rules for der, die, and das
-al → mostly neutral.
Exceptions: -aal nouns are always masculine.
🧐 Grammar of "das Mal" in Detail
das Mal is a noun of neuter gender. It follows the strong declension pattern.
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das | Mal |
| Accusative | das | Mal |
| Dative | dem | Mal / Male |
| Genitive | des | Mal(e)s |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Male |
| Accusative | die | Male |
| Dative | den | Malen |
| Genitive | der | Male |
📝 Example Sentences
- Meaning 'Mark': Das auffällige Mal auf seiner Stirn war eine Narbe. (The noticeable mark on his forehead was a scar.)
- Meaning 'Mark' (in compound): Sie hat ein kleines Muttermal am Arm. (She has a small mole on her arm.)
- Meaning 'Time/Occasion': Ich habe ihn zum ersten Mal getroffen. (I met him for the first time.)
- Meaning 'Repetition': Er versuchte es viele Male, bevor es klappte. (He tried it many times before it worked.)
- Meaning 'Repetition': Das nächste Mal musst du besser aufpassen. (Next time you have to be more careful.)
💡 How to use "das Mal"?
- As 'Mark' or 'Spot': This meaning is less common today for the standalone word but frequently appears in compound words (Komposita) like Muttermal (mole), Brandmal (brand mark), Wundmal (stigma/wound mark), Denkmal (monument), Merkmal (characteristic). In these cases, the meaning is clearly defined by the context of the compound word.
- As 'Time', 'Occasion', or 'Repetition': This is the most common usage of das Mal. It is often used with numerals (einmal, zweimal, dreimal - often lowercase as adverbs, but also das erste Mal, das zweite Mal - the first time, the second time), demonstrative pronouns (dieses Mal - this time, jenes Mal - that time), adjectives (jedes Mal - every time, manches Mal - sometimes, nächstes Mal - next time, voriges Mal - last time), or in fixed phrases (zum ersten Mal - for the first time, mit einem Mal - suddenly).
- Distinction from 'mal' (adverb): The adverb mal (lowercase) is colloquial and often serves to soften a statement or act as a filler word. Example: Kannst du mir mal helfen? (Can you help me?) vs. Das war das erste Mal, dass ich Hilfe brauchte. (That was the first time I needed help.)
- Distinction from 'die Mahlzeit': Although similar in sound, die Mahlzeit (feminine) means 'meal' and is unrelated to das Mal.
🧠 Mnemonics for "das Mal"
- Article Aid: Think of das Merkmal (the characteristic) or das Denkmal (the monument). Both are concrete things or signs, and both are neuter (sächlich), just like das Mal itself. Or think of das eine Mal (the one time) – the concept of 'one' time is neutral here.
- Meaning Aid: Imagine making a mark (ein 'Mal') on a calendar for each time (jedes 'Mal') something specific happens. The checkmark is das Mal (the mark), and the occasion is also das Mal (the time/instance). Each mark represents another Mal (time).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Words)
- For 'Mark/Spot': das Zeichen (sign), der Fleck (spot, stain), das Kennzeichen (mark, indicator), das Merkmal (feature, characteristic), das Stigma (stigma), (specifically: das Muttermal - mole, der Leberfleck - liver spot, die Narbe - scar)
- For 'Time/Occasion/Repetition': der Zeitpunkt (point in time), die Gelegenheit (opportunity, occasion), der Anlass (occasion, reason), der Fall (case, instance), die Instanz (instance), die Wiederholung (repetition), (mathematically: Multiplikation - multiplication)
⚠️ Similar but Misleading Words
- die Mahlzeit: Means 'meal'. Feminine.
- mahlen: Verb, means 'to grind' (e.g., coffee).
- malen: Verb, means 'to paint'.
😂 A Little Joke
DE: Warum nimmt der Mathematiker ein Lineal mit ins Bett?
Damit er messen kann, wie lange er schläft – und das jedes Mal!
EN: Why does the mathematician take a ruler to bed?
So he can measure how long he sleeps – every time!
✒️ Poem about das Mal
DE:
Das Mal, ein Punkt, ein Augenblick,
Ein Zeichen auf der Haut, ein Stück.
Das erste Mal, so neu und rein,
Das nächste Mal wird anders sein.
Es zählt die Wiederkehr im Lauf,
Ein jedes Mal geht's auf und auf.
Ein Merkmal, das uns prägt und hält,
Das Mal, das zählt in dieser Welt.
EN:
Das Mal, a dot, a moment's glance,
A sign on skin, a piece, a chance.
The first time, so fresh and pure,
The next time different, that's for sure.
It counts the recurrence in the flow,
Each single time makes things grow.
A feature shaping us to hold,
Das Mal, that counts in this world old.
🤔 Little Riddle
DE:
Ich bin ein Zeichen, manchmal klein,
Kann auf der Haut, im Kalender sein.
Ich zähle, wie oft etwas geschah,
Bin stets sächlich, das ist doch klar!
Was bin ich? Lösung: das Mal
EN:
I am a mark, sometimes quite small,
On skin or calendar, standing tall.
I count how often things took place,
Always neuter, with steady pace!
What am I?
Solution: das Mal
💡 Other Interesting Facts
Etymology: The word Mal comes from the Old High German and Middle High German word māl, which meant 'sign', 'spot', as well as 'point in time'. It's related to words like mahlen (in the sense of 'notch', 'mark') and the English mole (skin mark) and meal (originally also 'point in time').
Compound Words (Komposita): das Mal is extremely productive in forming compound nouns. Some examples:
- Referring to 'Mark': Muttermal (mole), Brandmal (brand mark), Wundmal (stigma, wound mark), Kainsmal (Mark of Cain), Denkmal (monument), Merkmal (characteristic), Schandmal (mark of shame).
- Referring to 'Time/Repetition': manchmal (sometimes), einmal (once), zweimal (twice), vielmals (many times), diesmal (this time), jedesmal (every time) (often lowercase as adverbs), allzumal (altogether, especially).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Mal?
The word Mal is neuter: das Mal. It means either a mark/spot (often in compound words like Muttermal - mole) or a time/occasion/repetition (as in das erste Mal - the first time, dieses Mal - this time). It should not be confused with the adverb mal (lowercase) or the noun die Mahlzeit (meal).