der
Bonner
🧐 What exactly is a Bonner?
The word der Bonner refers to a male person who:
- was born in the city of Bonn (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany), or
- lives in Bonn, or
- has a close connection to Bonn.
It's a so-called substantivized adjective, derived from the city name Bonn. It is used as a noun to denote inhabitants or people associated with the city.
The feminine form is die Bonnerin.
⚠️ Note: 'bonner' can also be used as an adjective (lowercase, invariable), e.g., das Bonner Münster (the Bonn Minster), die Bonner Universität (the University of Bonn). However, this entry focuses on the noun der Bonner.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Male characters → always masculine.
Caution: Most professions also have their feminine forms (e.g. die Polizistin). Some words can also have two forms: der/die Deutsche, der/die Kranke.
-ner → almost always masculine.
Compare with the category '-er'.
-er → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. almost all -euer nouns are neutral. 3. There are many -er words, we don't list them all.
✍️ Grammar Corner: Der Bonner in Detail
Der Bonner is a masculine noun that follows the N-declension (weak declension). This means it adds the ending -n in all cases except the nominative singular.
| Case | Article | Bonner |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Bonner |
| Genitive | des | Bonnern |
| Dative | dem | Bonnern |
| Accusative | den | Bonnern |
| Case | Article | Bonner |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Bonner |
| Genitive | der | Bonner |
| Dative | den | Bonnern |
| Accusative | die | Bonner |
Example Sentences
- Der Bonner erzählte von seiner Kindheit am Rhein.
(The man from Bonn talked about his childhood on the Rhine.) - Das Auto des Bonnern wurde abgeschleppt.
(The car of the man from Bonn was towed.) - Ich habe dem Bonnern den Weg zum Bahnhof gezeigt.
(I showed the man from Bonn the way to the train station.) - Kennst du den Bonnern, der nebenan wohnt?
(Do you know the man from Bonn who lives next door?) - Die Bonner sind stolz auf ihre Stadt.
(The people from Bonn are proud of their city.) - Die Geschichte der Bonner ist eng mit der Politik verbunden.
(The history of the people from Bonn is closely linked to politics.) - Wir helfen den Bonnern beim Aufräumen nach dem Fest.
(We are helping the people from Bonn clean up after the festival.) - Der Bürgermeister begrüßte die Bonner zum Neujahrsempfang.
(The mayor welcomed the people from Bonn to the New Year's reception.)
🗣️ How to Use "der Bonner"?
Der Bonner is used to talk or write about a male person from Bonn. It's a common designation, similar to der Berliner (from Berlin), der Hamburger (from Hamburg), or der Kölner (from Cologne).
- Context: Usually in connection with origin, place of residence, or local events in Bonn.
- Formality: Can be used in formal and informal contexts.
- Distinction: The adjective 'bonner' (lowercase) refers to things, not people, e.g., die bonner Innenstadt (the Bonn city center). The noun 'der Bonner' (uppercase) refers to the male person.
Example: "Als echter Bonner kennt er jede Ecke der Stadt." (As a true man from Bonn, he knows every corner of the city.)
🧠 Mnemonics for "der Bonner"
Remembering the Article: Think of the man from Bonn. BonnER is a HE, so it's DER Bonner.
Remembering the Meaning: He lives in Bonn, so he is DER Bonner. Simple as that!
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Nicht-Bonner (non-Bonner)
- Auswärtiger (outsider, someone not local)
- Tourist (in the context of residence)
⚠️ Similar, but different words:
- Bonbon: A piece of candy. Unrelated to Bonn.
- Bon: A voucher or receipt.
- Bohne: A bean (vegetable).
😂 A Little Joke
Frage: Warum nehmen Bonner immer eine Leiter mit ins Büro?
Antwort: Weil sie gehört haben, dass die Karriereleiter in Bonn besonders hoch ist! 😉
Translation:
Question: Why do people from Bonn always take a ladder to the office?
Answer: Because they heard that the career ladder in Bonn is particularly high! 😉 (An allusion to the many ministries and federal agencies in the former capital city)
📜 Poem about a Bonner
Ein Bonner, stolz und froh,
Lebt da, wo einst Regierung war, sowieso.
Am Rhein entlang, sein Herz es lacht,
Ob bei Tag, ob in der Nacht.
Er kennt den Beethoven, den alten Meister,
Und auch die Kirschblüten-Geister.
Mit N-Deklination, das muss man wissen,
Wird er korrekt durch Fälle geschmissen.
Translation:
A man from Bonn, proud and glad,
Lives where the government once had its pad.
Along the Rhine, his heart laughs bright,
Whether by day or in the night.
He knows Beethoven, the old master grand,
And the cherry blossom spirits across the land.
With N-declension, one must know this right,
He's correctly tossed through cases, day and night.
❓ Riddle Time
Ich komme aus der Stadt am Rhein,
Wo Beethoven einst spielte fein.
Mein Artikel ist 'der', ganz klar,
Und '-n' kommt oft dazu, wunderbar!
(Im Genitiv, Dativ, Akkusativ Singular)
Wer bin ich?
Translation:
I come from the city on the Rhine,
Where Beethoven once played so fine.
My article is 'der', that's clear,
And '-n' is often added, oh dear!
(In genitive, dative, accusative singular)
Who am I?
Solution: der Bonner
💡 Other Interesting Facts
- Origin: The word derives directly from the city name Bonn by adding the suffix -er, which is typical for demonyms (inhabitant names) in German (cf. Berlin -> Berliner).
- Trivia: Bonn was the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) from 1949 to 1990 and its seat of government until 1999. Many *Bonner* therefore have connections to politics or federal agencies. Bonn is also the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Bonner?
The word "Bonner" referring to a person is masculine. Therefore, the correct form is der Bonner. It designates a male inhabitant of the city of Bonn and follows the N-declension.