das
Quartett
🎶 What Exactly is a Quartett?
The German word Quartett (neuter gender, article: das) primarily refers to three things:
- A group of four people, especially musicians or singers (e.g., a Streichquartett - string quartet, a Vokalquartett - vocal quartet).
- A piece of music composed for four instruments or voices.
- A popular card game where the goal is to collect sets of four related cards (Quartette).
There are no other articles for this word; it is always das Quartett.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ett → immer neutral.
Many foreign words → mostly neutral.
There are many foreign words, we won't list them all.
🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Das Quartett
Das Quartett is a noun of neuter gender. Here is its declension:
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das | Quartett |
| Genitive | des | Quartetts |
| Dative | dem | Quartett |
| Accusative | das | Quartett |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Quartette |
| Genitive | der | Quartette |
| Dative | den | Quartetten |
| Accusative | die | Quartette |
📝 Example Sentences
- Das berühmte Streichquartett gab ein Konzert. (The famous string quartet gave a concert.)
- Wir spielten den ganzen Nachmittag Quartett. (We played the card game 'Quartett' all afternoon.)
- Kannst du mir bitte das Auto-Quartett geben? (Can you please give me the car-themed 'Quartett' game?)
- Die vier Freunde bildeten ein unzertrennliches Quartett. (The four friends formed an inseparable quartet.)
- Der Komponist schrieb mehrere Quartette für Bläser. (The composer wrote several quartets for wind instruments.)
💡 How 'das Quartett' is Used
The term das Quartett is versatile but mainly used in specific contexts:
- Music: Very common for ensembles (Streichquartett, Jazzquartett, Vokalquartett) and compositions.
- Games: Refers to the card game itself or a set of four matching cards within the game.
- General: Can also be used more generally for a group of four people or things, often implying some connection or shared task. Example: "Ein Quartett von Experten diskutierte das Thema." ("A quartet of experts discussed the topic.")
Compared to Vierergruppe (group of four), Quartett often sounds a bit more formal or specific, especially in a musical context.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
Article Mnemonic: Think of das Ensemble, das Spiel (the game). Many collective nouns in German are neuter, like das Team, das Orchester. So is das Quartett.
Meaning Mnemonic: Quartett sounds like 'quarter' or 'quart'. These relate to the number four. A Quartett always has four parts (musicians, cards, people).
↔️ Opposites and Similar Words
Synonyms (Similar words):
- Vierergruppe: More general term for a group of four.
- Viergespann: Often used for four collaborating people/entities, like a team of four horses.
- Ensemble (zu viert): Specifically for musical groups of four.
- Kartenspiel: When referring to the card game.
Antonyms (Opposites):
⚠️ Caution: Don't confuse Quartett with Quartier (lodging, quarter) or Quartal (quarter of a year).
😂 A Little Joke
Warum können Skelette kein Quartett spielen?
Weil sie keinen Körper haben, um zusammenzuhalten – und keine Lungen für die Blasinstrumente! 😉
(Why can't skeletons play in a quartet?)
(Because they have no body to keep it together – and no lungs for the wind instruments! 😉)
🎼 Verses about the Quartett
Vier Spieler, fein gestimmt,
Ein Klang, der Herzen gewinnt.
Geige, Bratsche, Cello leis,
Das Quartett spielt auf seine Weis'.
Ob Karten oder Melodie,
Zu viert, das ist die Harmonie.
Das Quartett, so heißt es klar,
Bringt Freude, Jahr für Jahr.
---
Four players, finely tuned,
A sound that wins hearts, moon-soon'd.
Violin, viola, cello soft and low,
The quartet plays in its special flow.
Whether cards or melody,
Being four, that's harmony.
'Das Quartett', the name is clear,
Brings joy, year after year.
❓ Little Riddle
Ich bestehe meist aus vier,
mal spiel ich Musik, mal spielst du mit mir.
Auf Karten suchst du meinesgleichen,
um Punkte und Sets zu erreichen.
Was bin ich, stets im Viererpack?
---
I usually consist of four,
Sometimes I play music, sometimes you play with me for more.
On cards, you search for my kind,
To reach points and sets you find.
What am I, always in a pack of four?
(Solution: das Quartett)
🌐 Other Information
Word Origin: The word Quartett comes from the Italian quartetto, meaning "group of four". This, in turn, derives from the Latin word quartus, meaning "the fourth".
Related Terms: Words like Terzett (three), Quintett (five), Sextett (six), etc., are formed similarly and are also often used in a musical context.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Quartett?
The correct form is always das Quartett (neuter). It refers to a group of four musicians/people, a piece of music for four voices/instruments, or a card game.