das
Regime
📖 What does "das Regime" mean?
Das Regime (noun, neuter) primarily refers to a specific form of rule or system of government. It is often used to describe an authoritarian, undemocratic, or dictatorial rule and frequently carries a negative connotation.
However, it can also be used more neutrally for:
- A specific system or order (e.g., a Diät-Regime - diet regime, a Trainings-Regime - training regime). In this sense, it is similar to the words *"Schema"* (scheme) or *"Plan"* (plan).
🚨 The political meaning is the most common, however, and often carries a critical undertone.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Many foreign words → mostly neutral.
There are many foreign words, we won't list them all.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Das Regime
"Regime" is a noun of the neuter gender. The article is "das". It is declined as follows:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das | Regime |
| Genitive | des | Regimes |
| Dative | dem | Regime |
| Accusative | das | Regime |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Regime / Regimes |
| Genitive | der | Regime / Regimes |
| Dative | den | Regimen / Regimes |
| Accusative | die | Regime / Regimes |
Note: The plural "Regimes" is more common, especially in a political context. "Regime" as a plural form is rarer.
📝 Example Sentences
- Das autoritäre Regime unterdrückte die Meinungsfreiheit.
(The authoritarian regime suppressed freedom of speech.) - Viele Menschen flohen vor dem brutalen Regime.
(Many people fled from the brutal regime.) - Sie folgt einem strengen Diät-Regime, um Gewicht zu verlieren.
(She follows a strict diet regime to lose weight.) - Der Sturz des alten Regimes führte zu politischer Instabilität.
(The fall of the old regime led to political instability.) - Die verschiedenen Regimes (oder: Regimes) in der Region unterschieden sich stark voneinander.
(The various regimes in the region differed greatly from one another.)
🗣️ How is "das Regime" used?
The usage of "das Regime" is highly context-dependent:
- Politics: Here, the word almost always has a negative meaning. It refers to undemocratic, often repressive systems of rule. People speak of the "Franco-Regime", "Nazi-Regime", or a "Militärregime" (military regime). It is significantly more negative than the neutral word "Regierung" (government). ⚠️ Avoid calling a democratically elected government a "Regime" unless you intentionally want to criticize it strongly and imply authoritarian tendencies.
- General (System/Plan): In contexts like diet, training, or scientific procedures, "Regime" is used more neutrally for a set plan or method (e.g., "Trainingsregime", "Medikamentenregime" - medication regimen). However, this usage is less common than the political one.
Difference from "Regierung": While "die Regierung" refers to the current group of people governing (e.g., the Merkel cabinet), "das Regime" refers more to the entire system of rule, often over a longer period and with implicit criticism of its nature.
🧠 Mnemonics for "das Regime"
For the article (das): Think of "das System". A *Regime* is a kind of political *System*, and *System* is also neuter (*das*). Das System = Das Regime.
For the meaning (often negative): Imagine a strict *regime* where everything is rigidly *reg*ulated. The sound *"reg"* in *Regime* connects to *regulation* or *regimented*, hinting at the often strict, unfree nature.
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
- Herrschaftssystem: (System of rule) Describes the way power is exercised.
- (In a negative sense) Diktatur, Gewaltherrschaft, Autokratie: (Dictatorship, tyranny, autocracy) Used for oppressive systems.
- System, Ordnung, Plan: (System, order, plan) For the non-political meaning (e.g., diet regime).
- Regierung (sometimes, but be careful!): (Government) Can be synonymous, but *Regime* is often judgmental and refers to the system, not just the current leadership.
Antonyms:
- Demokratie: (Democracy) Rule by the people, often contrasted with authoritarian regimes.
- Anarchie: (Anarchy) Absence of rule, the opposite of a structured system.
- Freiheit, Rechtsstaatlichkeit: (Freedom, rule of law) Principles often suffering under regimes.
⚠️ Similar words:
😄 A little joke
Fragt der eine Diktator den anderen: "Wie schaffst du es nur, dass dein Volk dich so liebt?" Sagt der andere: "Ganz einfach, ich habe ein sehr überzeugendes Klatsch-Regime eingeführt!"
(One dictator asks the other: "How do you manage to make your people love you so much?" The other replies: "Simple, I introduced a very persuasive clapping regime!")
📜 Poem about the Regime
Ein strenges Wort, das Regime,
Klingt oft nach Zwang, nach altem Mief.
Es meint die Herrschaft, fest und klar,
Doch selten ist es wunderbar.
Es ordnet an, es kontrolliert,
Hat Regeln straff durch dekliniert.
Ob Diätplan, ob Staat, ob Zucht,
Es fordert Disziplin und Flucht.
(A stern word, das Regime,
Often sounds like force, like old mustiness.
It means the rule, firm and clear,
But rarely is it wonderful here.
It commands, it controls,
Has conjugated rules strictly.
Whether diet plan, state, or discipline,
It demands obedience and fleeing.)
🧩 Little Riddle
Ich bin ein System, oft streng und kalt,
Manchmal im Staat, manchmal im Diät-Wald.
Mein Artikel ist sächlich, mein Ruf oft schlecht,
Wer bin ich, sag's ehrlich und recht?
(I am a system, often strict and cold,
Sometimes in the state, sometimes in the diet fold.
My article is neuter, my reputation often bad,
Who am I? Tell me the truth, don't be sad.)
Solution: das Regime
💡 More about the word
- Word Origin: The German word "Regime" comes from the French régime, which in turn derives from the Latin regimen ("guidance, direction, rule"), derived from regere ("to steer, guide, rule").
- International Use: The word is used in many languages in a similar form and meaning (e.g., English regime, Spanish régimen, Italian regime).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Regime?
The correct form is das Regime (neuter). It mostly refers to a system of government (often negatively) or, more generally, a fixed order/plan.