der  Donner

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈdɔnɐ/

⛈️ What does "der Donner" mean?

Der Donner is the German word for thunder. It refers to the loud sound produced during a thunderstorm due to the rapid expansion of air along a lightning channel. It's the acoustic companion to the Blitz (lightning).

Colloquially, Donner can sometimes be used for any very loud, booming noise.

There is only one article: der. It is a masculine noun.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📐 Grammar in Detail: Der Donner

The noun Donner is masculine. It's typically used only in the singular because thunder is perceived as a continuous or recurring phenomenon. The plural (die Donner) is rare and more poetic, or used when referring to distinct, separate claps of thunder.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural (rare)

Example Sentences

• Nominative: Der Donner war sehr laut. (The thunder was very loud.)
• Genitive: Das Geräusch des Donners erschreckte die Kinder. (The sound of the thunder frightened the children.)
• Dative: Wir lauschten dem Donner in der Ferne. (We listened to the thunder in the distance.)
• Accusative: Hast du den Donner gehört? (Did you hear the thunder?)

🗣️ Using "Donner"

Donner is mainly used in the context of weather phenomena, specifically thunderstorms.

• Typical Collocations: Blitz und Donner (lightning and thunder), rollender Donner (rolling thunder), dumpfer Donner (dull/muffled thunder), Donnerschlag (clap of thunder).
• Idioms:
  • "Donnerwetter!" or "Zum Donnerwetter!": An exclamation of surprise, annoyance, or acknowledgement (similar to "Good heavens!", "Damn it!" or "Wow!" depending on context).
  • "Von Blitz und Donner gerührt sein": To be completely surprised or perplexed (rare).
• Figurative Meaning: Occasionally used for loud applause (tosender Donner des Beifalls - thunderous applause) or other loud noises (e.g., Kanonendonner - cannon thunder).

It's important to distinguish between Donner (the sound) and Blitz (the light phenomenon). They occur together in a Gewitter (thunderstorm).

🧠 Mnemonics for "der Donner"

1. Article Mnemonic (der): Imagine the powerful Germanic god Donar (Thor), a strong, masculine figure creating thunder (Donner) with his hammer. Masculine god → der Donner.
2. Meaning Mnemonic (sound): The word Donner itself sounds loud and booming, almost like the sound it describes. Can you hear the Don-Don-Donner? It sounds like something *done* loudly.

Think of the mighty thunder god – der makes the noise!

🔄 Synonyms, Antonyms & Similar Words

⚠️ Similar Words (Caution!):

• Der Donnerstag: The fourth day of the week (Thursday), named after the god Donar/Thor. Not a direct synonym for the sound.
• Donnern (verb): To make the sound of thunder or to do something very loudly (to thunder).

😂 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der kleine Blitz den großen Blitz: "Warum machen wir immer so einen Lärm?" Sagt der große Blitz: "Na, nach so einem Auftritt muss man doch auch mal applaudieren!"

English: The little lightning asks the big lightning: "Why do we always make so much noise?" The big lightning says: "Well, after such a performance, you have to applaud!" (The thunder is the applause)

📜 Thunder Poem

German:
Erst zuckt ein Licht, ganz grell und klar,
dann folgt der Klang, ist plötzlich da.
Ein Grollen tief, ein lauter Schlag,
der Donner rollt durch Nacht und Tag.
Er kündigt Regen an, oft schwer,
die Wolken schieben vor sich her.
Ein mächtig Dröhnen in der Luft,
aus dunkler, nasser Wolkengruft.

English Translation:
First flashes a light, bright and clear,
then follows the sound, suddenly here.
A deep rumbling, a loud clap's might,
the thunder rolls through day and night.
It announces rain, often severe,
the clouds push onward, drawing near.
A mighty booming in the air,
from a dark, wet cloudy lair.

🧩 Little Riddle

German:
Ich folge stets dem hellen Schein,
doch sichtbar bin ich nie allein.
Ich rolle, grolle, krache laut,
hab' manchen schon erschreckt, geschaut.

Was bin ich?

English:
I always follow the bright gleam,
but visible alone, I'm never seen.
I roll, I rumble, I crash out loud,
I've startled many in the crowd.

What am I?

Solution: Der Donner (Thunder)

💡 More About Donner

• Etymology: The word Donner comes from the Old High German donar, which was also the name of the Germanic god of weather (Thor in Norse mythology). This god was associated with thunderstorms.
• Donnerstag: The day of the week Donnerstag (Thursday) is named after this god ("Donar's day").
• Physics: You can estimate the distance of a thunderstorm by counting the seconds between seeing the lightning (Blitz) and hearing the thunder (Donner) and dividing this number by three (approximate distance in kilometers, as sound travels at about 343 m/s).