der
Clip
📎 What exactly is a Clip?
The German word der Clip (plural: die Clips) is a loanword from English and has several meanings:
- A fastener: A small object, often made of metal or plastic, used to hold things together or attach something. This can be a Büroklammer (paperclip) to hold paper, or a Haarspange (hair clip) to fix hair.
- A short excerpt: A brief segment from a film, television show, piece of music, or audio recording (e.g., a Video-Clip or Audio-Clip).
🚨 Important: Although there are different meanings, the article der is always used in German.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Declining 'der Clip'
The noun der Clip is masculine. Here are the declension tables for singular and plural:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Clip |
| Genitive | des | Clips |
| Dative | dem | Clip |
| Accusative | den | Clip |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Clips |
| Genitive | der | Clips |
| Dative | den | Clips |
| Accusative | die | Clips |
📝 Example Sentences
- Meaning fastener: "Kannst du mir bitte den Clip für die Papiere geben?" (Can you please give me the clip for the papers? - Accusative Singular)
- Meaning fastener: "Sie trägt einen schönen Clip im Haar." (She wears a beautiful clip in her hair. - Accusative Singular)
- Meaning excerpt: "Ich habe einen lustigen Clip auf YouTube gesehen." (I saw a funny clip on YouTube. - Accusative Singular)
- Meaning excerpt: "Die besten Clips der Sendung wurden zusammengeschnitten." (The best clips of the show were edited together. - Nominative Plural)
💡 How to Use 'der Clip' Correctly
The use of der Clip depends on the context:
- In the office or everyday life: Here, it usually means a Büroklammer (paperclip) or another small fastening clip. Example: "Der Stapel Papier wird von einem Clip zusammengehalten." (The stack of paper is held together by a clip.)
- Fashion & Styling: In this context, it often refers to a Haarspange (hair clip). Example: "Ihr gefiel der funkelnde Clip besonders gut." (She particularly liked the sparkling clip.)
- Media & Internet: Here, Clip refers to a short Video- oder Audioausschnitt (video or audio excerpt). Example: "Der Nachrichtenbeitrag zeigte einen kurzen Clip vom Interview." (The news report showed a short clip from the interview.)
Although the word originates from English, it is firmly established in German and used frequently. It's shorter than 'Büroklammer' or 'Videoausschnitt', making it often more practical in everyday language.
🧠 Mnemonics for 'der Clip'
Mnemonic for the article 'der':
Imagine a strong man (masculine -> der) clipping papers together or cutting den film clip. Think of 'Der Director' cutting the clip.
Mnemonic for the meanings:
A Clip can grip (papers, hair) or give a blip (short video/audio). Both start fast, like a 'clip'.
↔️ Opposites and Alternatives: Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Words with similar meaning):
- For fastener: die Büroklammer (paperclip), die Spange (clasp, esp. hair clip), die Klemme (clamp, clip)
- For excerpt: der Ausschnitt (excerpt, segment), der Videoausschnitt (video clip), der Kurzfilm (short film), der Spot (commercial clip), der Trailer (preview clip)
Antonyms (Opposites):
- For short film/excerpt: der Langfilm (feature film), das Gesamtwerk (the complete work), die Vollversion (full version)
- There isn't a direct antonym for fastener, perhaps the concept of 'releasing' or 'separating'.
⚠️ Be careful: The word 'Klipp' (with pp) means 'cliff' and has nothing to do with 'Clip'.
😂 A Little Clip to Make You Smile
DE: Warum hat die Büroklammer den Job verloren?
Sie konnte einfach nicht mehr zusammenhalten! 😉
EN: Why did the paperclip lose its job?
It just couldn't hold it together anymore! 😉
✍️ A Poem About the Clip
DE:
Der Clip, ein kleines Ding,
Das Ordnung in die Blätter bring'.
Mal aus Metall, mal bunt und schick,
Hält fest mit einem kleinen Klick.
Auch im Film, da ist er Star,
Ein kurzer Moment, ganz wunderbar.
Ob Lacher, Action, Schreckensschrei,
Der Clip ist immer mit dabei.
EN:
The Clip, a little thing,
That order to the papers brings.
Sometimes metal, sometimes chic,
Holds tight with just a little click.
In films too, it plays a star,
A brief moment, wonderful by far.
Be it laughter, action, fearful cry,
The Clip is always passing by.
❓ Little Riddle
DE:
Ich halte Papiere fest im Griff,
und schmücke Haare mit 'nem Pfiff.
Im Internet bin ich kurz zu seh'n,
als Video muss ich schnell vergeh'n.
Wer bin ich, mit Artikel 'der'?
Na, sag es schnell, es ist nicht schwer!
EN:
I hold papers in a tight grip,
And adorn hair with a stylish flip.
On the internet, I'm briefly seen,
As a video, my time is lean.
Who am I, with article 'der'?
Come on, say it fast, it's not that rare!
(Solution: der Clip)
🌐 Other Interesting Facts
Etymology (Word Origin): The word 'Clip' comes directly from English ('clip'), where it refers to both the object (fastener) and the action (to cut off, to fasten). It was adopted into German as a noun with the article 'der'.
Compounds (Wortzusammensetzungen): 'Clip' is often used in compound words, e.g.:
- Videoclip (video clip)
- Musikclip (music clip)
- Haarclip (hair clip)
- Gürtelclip (belt clip)
- Papierclip (paper clip - less common, 'Büroklammer' is preferred)
Summary: is it der, die or das Clip?
The German noun 'Clip' is masculine, so the correct article is always der Clip. There are no exceptions using 'die' or 'das'.