der
Bosnier
🌍 What does "der Bosnier" mean?
The word der Bosnier refers to a male person who comes from Bosnia and Herzegovina or holds Bosnian citizenship.
- It derives directly from the country name Bosnien.
- The female form is die Bosnierin (the Bosnian woman).
- The plural for multiple people (male or mixed) is die Bosnier (the Bosnians).
⚠️ Be aware that terms for nationalities can sometimes be sensitive. Use them respectfully.
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.
-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 of "der Bosnier" in Detail
"Der Bosnier" is a noun (Substantiv) with the article der (masculine). It belongs to the group of weak nouns (schwache Nomen / n-Deklination). This means it takes an -n ending in all cases except the nominative singular.
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Bosnier |
| Genitive | des | Bosniern |
| Dative | dem | Bosniern |
| Accusative | den | Bosniern |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Bosnier |
| Genitive | der | Bosnier |
| Dative | den | Bosniern |
| Accusative | die | Bosnier |
✨ Example Sentences
- Der neue Nachbar ist Bosnier.
(The new neighbor is Bosnian.) - Ich habe gestern mit dem Bosniern gesprochen.
(I spoke with the Bosnian man yesterday.) - Kennst du den Bosniern, der dort drüben steht?
(Do you know the Bosnian man standing over there?) - Das Auto des Bosniern ist rot.
(The Bosnian man's car is red.) - Viele Bosnier leben in Deutschland.
(Many Bosnians live in Germany.) - Wir helfen den Bosniern beim Umzug.
(We are helping the Bosnians move.)
🗣️ How to use "Bosnier" correctly
"Der Bosnier" is used specifically to refer to a male person from Bosnia. For a female person, use "die Bosnierin".
Context:
- Origin/Nationality: "Er ist Bosnier und lebt seit zehn Jahren hier." (He is Bosnian and has lived here for ten years.)
- Culture/Society: "Die Kultur der Bosnier ist sehr vielfältig." (The culture of the Bosnians is very diverse. Here, 'der Bosnier' in the genitive plural refers to the people.)
- Generalization (Plural): "Die Bosnier sind bekannt für ihre Gastfreundschaft." (Bosnians are known for their hospitality. Refers to the people of Bosnia in general.)
Distinction:
- Bosnisch: Adjective (e.g., die bosnische Sprache - the Bosnian language, bosnischer Kaffee - Bosnian coffee).
- Bosnien: The name of the country (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
Sometimes, instead of „Bosnier“, the word „Bosniake“ (Bosniak) might be used, which can specifically refer to the ethnic group of Muslim Bosnians. However, „Bosnier“ is the more general term for citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, regardless of ethnicity.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
Article "der": Think of "der Mann" (the man). A Bosnier (in this form) is a man from Bosnia. The "-er" ending often signifies masculine nouns for people in German.
Meaning: Imagine travelling to Bosnia and meeting a friendly man – a Bosnier. The similarity to the country name is the best clue.
🔄 Synonyms and Related Terms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Mann aus Bosnien (Man from Bosnia)
- Bosnischer Mann (Bosnian man)
- Staatsbürger von Bosnien und Herzegowina (männlich) (Male citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina)
(Depending on context, „Bosniake“ (Bosniak) might also be used, see Usage section.)
Antonyms (opposites):
There are no direct antonyms for nationalities. One could name people of other nationalities (e.g., Deutscher - German, Österreicher - Austrian, Serbe - Serb, Kroate - Croat), but these are not true opposites.
Related Terms:
- Die Bosnierin: Female form
- Die Bosnier: Plural form
- Bosnisch: Adjective
- Bosnien (und Herzegowina): The country
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt ein Tourist einen Bosnier: „Sprechen Sie Deutsch?“
Antwortet der Bosnier stolz: „Ja, fließend – aber nur die Fragen!“
Translation:
A tourist asks a Bosnian: "Do you speak German?"
The Bosnian proudly replies: "Yes, fluently – but only the questions!"
📜 Poem about the Bosnian
Ein Mann aus Sarajevo kam,
Translation:
A man from Sarajevo came,
the Bosnian, proud his clan.
With Ćevapi, strong and glad,
❓ Little Riddle
Ich komm' aus einem Land mit Herz und alter Brücke, Lösung: der Bosnier Translation: Solution: der Bosnier (the Bosnian man)
Wer bin ich?
I come from a land with heart and an old bridge,
I am male and often carry history in my gaze.
Mostar and Sarajevo are part of my world,
Who am I?
💡 Other Information about der Bosnier
Word Formation:
The word „Bosnier“ is derived from the country name Bosnien. The suffix -ier is frequently used in German to denote inhabitants or people belonging to a country or region (e.g., Belgier - Belgian, Spanier - Spaniard, Pariser - Parisian).
Cultural Note:
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a multi-ethnic country. The term „Bosnier“ primarily denotes citizenship. The largest ethnic groups are Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats. In everyday language, „Bosnier“ is often used for all citizens of the country.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Bosnier?
The word "Bosnier" refers to a male person from Bosnia and Herzegovina and takes the article der. It follows the n-declension (e.g., dem Bosniern). The female form is die Bosnierin, and the plural is die Bosnier.