der
Automat
🤖 What does "der Automat" mean?
The German noun der Automat (plural: die Automaten) generally refers to a machine that automatically provides certain services or dispenses goods after money, a card, or another activation method is used.
- Vending machine (Verkaufsautomat): Dispenses goods (e.g., Getränkeautomat - beverage machine, Snackautomat - snack machine).
- Service machine (Dienstleistungsautomat): Provides a service (e.g., Geldautomat/Bankomat - ATM, Fahrkartenautomat - ticket machine, Parkscheinautomat - parking ticket machine).
- Technical automaton: In a broader sense, also a device that controls or executes automatic processes (less common in everyday language).
There is only one article for the word "Automat", which is der. It's a masculine noun.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Devices → mostly masculine.
Caution: das Gerät
📐 Grammar of "der Automat" in Detail
The noun "Automat" is masculine. Here are the declension tables:
Singular Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | der | Automat |
| Genitive (Possessive) | des | Automaten |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | dem | Automaten |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | den | Automaten |
Plural Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Automaten |
| Genitive | der | Automaten |
| Dative | den | Automaten |
| Accusative | die | Automaten |
Example Sentences for Grammar
- Nominativ: Der Automat ist außer Betrieb. (The machine is out of order.)
- Genitiv: Die Reparatur des Automaten dauert lange. (The repair of the machine takes a long time.)
- Dativ: Ich habe mein Geld dem Automaten anvertraut. (I entrusted my money to the machine.)
- Akkusativ: Siehst du den Automaten dort drüben? (Do you see the machine over there?)
- Plural: Die Automaten am Bahnhof sind oft kaputt. (The machines at the train station are often broken.)
💡 How to use "der Automat"?
"Automat" is a very common word in German. It's often found in compound nouns (Komposita) that specify the purpose of the machine:
- Geldautomat: ATM (for withdrawing cash).
- Fahrkartenautomat: Ticket machine (for public transport tickets).
- Snackautomat / Getränkeautomat: Snack / beverage vending machine.
- Briefmarkenautomat: Stamp vending machine.
- Parkscheinautomat: Parking ticket machine.
- Kaffeeautomat: Coffee machine.
In a technical context, "Automat" can also be used more abstractly, e.g., for finite automata in computer science, but this is rare in everyday use.
⚠️ Colloquially, people often just use the specific type, e.g., "Ich geh' kurz zum Bankomat" (I'm quickly going to the ATM) instead of "Ich gehe kurz zum Geldautomaten". (Note: Bankomat is common in Austria/Switzerland).
🧠 Mnemonics for "der Automat"
-
For the article 'der':
Imagine a strong male robot (der Roboter) acting as an Automat. Or think of how a male cashier (der Kassierer) might be replaced by an Automat - both are masculine.
-
For the meaning:
The word sounds like "automatic". An Automat does things automatically, without direct human intervention (after activation).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms of "Automat"
Synonyms (Similar words)
- Maschine: Machine (more general term).
- Gerät: Device, apparatus (often smaller or more specific than Maschine).
- Vorrichtung: Device, contraption (more technical term for a mechanism).
- Depending on context: Bankomat (ATM in Austria/Switzerland), Verkaufsautomat (vending machine), Ticketautomat (ticket machine), etc.
Similar but different words
- Roboter: Robot (often mobile and more complex, capable of various tasks. An Automat usually has a fixed function).
- Autonom: Autonomous (means making decisions independently, which can go beyond the function of a simple Automat).
😄 A little joke
Kunde zum Bäcker: „Ist das ein Brot-Automat?“
Bäcker: „Ja, Sie können ein Brot auswählen, Geld einwerfen und es kommt raus.“
Kunde: „Und kann der Automat auch smalltalken?“
Bäcker: „Nein, dafür bin ich ja noch da!“
Translation:
Customer to the baker: "Is that a bread vending machine?"
Baker: "Yes, you can select a bread, insert money, and it comes out."
Customer: "And can the machine make small talk too?"
Baker: "No, that's what I'm still here for!"
📜 Poem about the Automat
Aus Metall, steht fest und breit,
Der Automat, für dich bereit.
Wirfst Münzen ein, drückst einen Knopf,
Schon fällt die Ware in den Topf.
Ob Ticket, Snack, ob Kaffee heiß,
erfüllt er seinen Zweck, ganz leis'.
Ein Diener, kalt und unbelebt,
der uns im Alltag oft umschwebt.
Translation:
Made of metal, stands firm and wide,
The Automat, ready for you inside.
Insert coins, press a button near,
The goods already drop down here.
Be it ticket, snack, or coffee hot,
It serves its purpose, quiet as thought.
A servant, cold and without life,
That often surrounds us in daily strife.
🧩 Riddle
Ich habe Schlitze, aber keinen Mund.
Ich gebe dir Dinge, rund oder bunt.
Manchmal will ich Geld, manchmal 'ne Karte sehen,
um dir dann Waren oder Dienste zu geben.
Wer bin ich?
Translation:
I have slots, but no mouth.
I give you things, round or colourful.
Sometimes I want money, sometimes I want to see a card,
To then give you goods or services.
Who am I?
Solution: der Automat (the machine/vending machine/ATM)
🧐 Other Information
Word Origin (Etymology)
The word "Automat" comes from the Greek word αὐτόματος (automatos), meaning "self-moving" or "of one's own accord". It entered German via Latin (automatus).
Typical Compound Words
As mentioned earlier, "Automat" is often part of compound nouns (Komposita):
Summary: is it der, die or das Automat?
The word "Automat" is always masculine, so the correct article is always der. It refers to a machine that automatically dispenses goods or provides services (e.g., der Geldautomat - ATM, der Verkaufsautomat - vending machine).