der  Center

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈsɛntɐ/

🎯 What Exactly is a "Center"?

The word der Center is an Anglicism (borrowed from English) and primarily has two meanings in German:

1. Sports Player Position: Especially in basketball 🏀 and American football 🏈, 'der Center' refers to a central player position. These are often tall, strong players who play near the basket or in the middle of the offensive line, respectively.
2. Center/Midpoint: Although less common than the German words Zentrum or Mittelpunkt, "Center" (often neuter: das Center, e.g., das Einkaufscenter) is also used for the middle or a central place, especially for building complexes like shopping centers, fitness centers, or call centers.
   ⚠️ Important: When referring to a building or a place, the neuter form das Center is more commonly used, especially in compound words (Einkaufscenter, Fitnesscenter). The masculine form der Center primarily refers to the person (the player). This entry focuses on der Center (masculine).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar & Declension of 'der Center'

"Der Center" is a masculine noun. Here is its declension:

Example Sentences

• Der Center erzielte die entscheidenden Punkte im Spiel. (The center scored the decisive points in the game.)
• Sie trafen sich mit dem Center der gegnerischen Mannschaft. (They met with the opposing team's center.)
• Die Pässe auf den Center waren sehr präzise. (The passes to the center were very precise.)
• Die Leistung des Centers war heute überragend. (The center's performance was outstanding today.)

🗣️ How to Use "der Center"?

The use of der Center is almost exclusively focused on the sports context:

• Sports Reporting: You often read or hear the term in game analyses or news about basketball or American football.
• Technical Discussions Among Fans: Sports enthusiasts use the term to discuss player positions and tactics.

Although "Center" also means center/middle, for places like shopping malls, the form das Center or the German word das Zentrum is usually preferred. Using der Center for a place is uncommon.

It is clearly recognizable as a loanword from English and is pronounced accordingly ([ˈsɛntɐ]).

🧠 Mnemonics for "Center"

Article Mnemonic: Think of the (typically male) basketball player: Der big guy in the middle is der Center. ('Der' is the masculine article).

Meaning Mnemonic: The word "Center" sounds like "central". Der Center stands centrally on the court or is the center of the offense.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

For der Center (sports player):

• Synonyms: Mittelstürmer (center forward - conditional, depends on sport), Innenspieler (inside player - basketball), Pivot (rare, basketball)
• Antonyms (other positions): Flügelspieler (forward/wing), Aufbauspieler (guard), Verteidiger (defender)

For "Center" as a place (usually das Center):

• Synonyms: Zentrum (center), Mittelpunkt (midpoint, center), Kern (core), Herzstück (heart, core piece)
• Antonyms: Peripherie (periphery), Randgebiet (outskirts), Außenbereich (outer area)

⚠️ Caution: Do not confuse with der Zentner (a unit of weight).

😄 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Basketball-Center immer Kleingeld dabei?
(Why does the basketball center always carry small change?)

Damit er immer einen "Korb" geben kann!
(So he can always give a "basket"/"rejection"! - The German phrase "einen Korb geben" means both "to score a basket" and "to reject someone romantically").

✍️ Poem about the Center

Der Center, groß und stark,
(The Center, tall and strong,)
Steht im Feld, setzt seine Mark'.
(Stands on the field, makes his mark.)
Unter'm Korb, da ist sein Reich,
(Under the hoop, there lies his realm,)
Fängt den Ball, und trifft sogleich.
(Catches the ball, and scores right away.)
Ein Fels in der Verteidigung,
(A rock in the defense,)
Bringt das Team oft in Schwung.
(Often gets the team going.)

❓ Little Riddle

Ich steh' oft in der Mitte, groß und breit,
(I often stand in the middle, tall and wide,)
Im Sport bekannt zu jeder Zeit.
(Known in sports at all times.)
Im Englischen bin ich das Zentrum genannt,
(In English, I am called the center,)
Im Deutschen meist als Spieler erkannt.
(In German, mostly recognized as a player.)

Wer bin ich? / Who am I?

💡 Other Interesting Facts

The word "Center" comes directly from English, where it means "middle" or "central point." Its adoption into German was mainly driven by the influence of American sports and globalization (e.g., shopping centers).

Common compound words with "-center" (often neuter: das):

• Einkaufscenter (shopping center)
• Fitnesscenter (fitness center)
• Callcenter (call center)
• Rechencenter (data center)
• Gartencenter (garden center)