der
Discounter
🛒 What exactly is a Discounter?
A Discounter (der, masculine) is a type of retail store characterized by an aggressive pricing policy. This means goods are offered at particularly low prices. This is often achieved through a limited product range, simple store fittings, high turnover of goods, and a high proportion of own brands (Eigenmarken).
Typical examples of discounters in Germany are Aldi, Lidl, or Netto. They often focus on groceries (Lebensmittel) and everyday items.
⚠️ Important: The term is primarily used for this type of supermarket and not for other types of stores offering discounts (e.g., outlet stores).
Article rules for der, die, and das
-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 Discounter' in Detail
The word "Discounter" is a masculine noun. Its declension is as follows:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Discounter |
| Genitive | des | Discounters |
| Dative | dem | Discounter |
| Accusative | den | Discounter |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Discounter |
| Genitive | der | Discounter |
| Dative | den | Discountern |
| Accusative | die | Discounter |
📝 Example Sentences
- Der neue Discounter in der Stadt hat sehr günstige Angebote. (The new discounter in town has very cheap offers.)
- Ich kaufe meine Grundnahrungsmittel meistens beim Discounter. (I usually buy my basic groceries at the discounter.)
- Die Qualität der Eigenmarken des Discounters hat sich verbessert. (The quality of the discounter's own brands has improved.)
- Viele Discounter bieten mittlerweile auch Markenartikel an. (Many discounters now also offer branded goods.)
- Wir haben den Discounter direkt um die Ecke. (We have the discounter right around the corner.)
💡 How to Use 'der Discounter'
The term Discounter is firmly established in German usage and is used daily when talking about low-priced supermarkets.
- Typical Context: Shopping for groceries and daily necessities, price comparisons, discussions about retail chains.
- Differentiation: A Supermarkt usually has a wider range (breiteres Sortiment), more branded products (Markenartikel), and a more elaborate presentation than a Discounter. A Kaufhaus (department store) offers goods from many different areas (clothing, electronics, household goods, etc.). A Fachgeschäft (specialty store) specializes in a specific product group (e.g., Metzgerei - butcher shop, Bäckerei - bakery).
- Connotation: Previously often associated with lower quality, the image of many discounters has changed. Today, they often stand for good value for money (gutes Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis).
🧠 Memory Aids for 'der Discounter'
Article Aid: Think of DER customer (DER Kunde) or DER man (DER Mann) shopping at the Discounter. The 'D' in 'der' and 'Discounter' can help remember the masculine article.
Meaning Aid: The word comes from the English "discount". A Discounter is a store that constantly gives discounts or low prices.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Billigladen/Billigmarkt: (Cheap shop/market) Strongly emphasizes the low price, sometimes slightly derogatory.
- Supermarkt (partially): Sometimes used synonymously, but often refers to stores with a larger selection.
- Preisbrecher (ugs.): (Price breaker) Colloquial term for shops with aggressive pricing.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Feinkostladen: (Delicatessen) Shop with high-quality, often expensive specialties.
- Fachgeschäft: (Specialty store) Specializes in specific products with expert advice (e.g., Buchhandlung - bookstore, Metzgerei - butcher).
- Boutique: Small fashion store, often with higher-priced goods.
- Kaufhaus/Warenhaus: (Department store) Large store with a wide range of goods across multiple floors.
🚨 Caution: Not every store offering discounts (like an Outlet-Center) is a Discounter in the traditional sense.
😂 A Little Joke
Was kauft ein Informatiker am liebsten beim Discounter?
Ein Gigabyte Hackfleisch! 😉
---
What does a computer scientist preferably buy at the discounter?
A gigabyte of minced meat! 😉 (Play on words: 'Gigabyte' sounds like a quantity, 'Hackfleisch' is minced meat)
📜 Poetically Expressed
Der Discounter-Rap
Yo, ich geh' zum Discounter, schnell und schlau,
Preise niedrig, das weiß ich genau.
Eigenmarken in Reih und Glied,
Was man so braucht, man alles kriegt.
Kein Schnickschnack, kein teurer Tand,
Einfach sparen, Hand in Hand.
Der Laden für den klugen Kauf,
Da nehm' ich gern den Weg in Kauf!
---
The Discounter Rap (Translation)
Yo, I go to the Discounter, quick and smart,
Prices low, I know that by heart.
Own brands lined up in a row,
Whatever you need, you get it, you know.
No frills, no expensive stuff,
Simply saving, hand in glove.
The store for the savvy buy,
I'll gladly make the trip, oh my!
❓ A Little Riddle
Ich bin ein Laden, oft bekannt,
mit Preisen tief im ganzen Land.
Das Sortiment ist nicht so breit,
doch sparst du hier viel Geld und Zeit.
Der Einkaufswagen schnell gefüllt,
mein Name wird oft stolz enthüllt.
Wer oder was bin ich? (Lösung: der Discounter)
---
I am a store, often well-known,
with prices low throughout the zone.
The product range is not so wide,
but here you save much time and tide (money).
The shopping cart is quickly filled,
my name is often proudly spilled.
Who or what am I? (Solution: the Discounter)
📌 Interesting Facts
- Word Origin: The word "Discounter" comes from the English verb "to discount".
- Concept: The discounter principle (Discounter-Prinzip) was significantly shaped in Germany after World War II by the founders of Aldi and has spread worldwide.
- Development: Modern discounters often also offer organic products (Bioprodukte), branded goods (Markenartikel), and weekly changing non-food special buys (Aktionswaren).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Discounter?
The word "Discounter" is masculine. The correct article is der. So, it is der Discounter (Nominative singular), des Discounters (Genitive singular), dem Discounter (Dative singular), den Discounter (Accusative singular), and die Discounter (Nominative/Accusative plural).