der
Foulelfmeter
⚽ What exactly is a Foulelfmeter?
A Foulelfmeter is a term from Fußball (football/soccer). It refers to a Strafstoß (penalty kick) taken from the Elfmeterpunkt (penalty spot), eleven meters from the goal. It's awarded by the Schiedsrichter (referee) when a player from the defending team commits a Foul (foul) inside their own Strafraum (penalty area) that would normally result in a direct free kick.
So, it's a specific type of Elfmeter (penalty kick) that directly results from a preceding foul. The article is always der.
🚨 Attention: Not every Elfmeter is a Foulelfmeter! Penalties also occur in a Elfmeterschießen (penalty shootout) after drawn matches.
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 Spotlight: Der Foulelfmeter
The word "Foulelfmeter" is a masculine noun. Its article is der.
Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Foulelfmeter |
| Genitive | des | Foulelfmeters |
| Dative | dem | Foulelfmeter |
| Accusative | den | Foulelfmeter |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Foulelfmeter |
| Genitive | der | Foulelfmeter |
| Dative | den | Foulelfmetern |
| Accusative | die | Foulelfmeter |
Example Sentences
- Nach dem klaren Foul im Strafraum gab es den fälligen Foulelfmeter.
(After the clear foul in the penalty area, the due penalty kick was given.) - Der Schiedsrichter zeigte sofort auf den Punkt und entschied auf Foulelfmeter.
(The referee immediately pointed to the spot and decided on a penalty kick for a foul.) - Die Spannung vor dem Foulelfmeter war riesig.
(The tension before the penalty kick was immense.) - Er hat schon viele wichtige Foulelfmeter verwandelt.
(He has already converted many important penalty kicks.)
🗣️ Usage in Context
The term Foulelfmeter is used almost exclusively in the context of football reporting or discussions about football matches. It emphasizes the cause of the penalty kick – namely, a Foulspiel (foul play).
- Distinction from "Elfmeter": While "Elfmeter" is the general term for a penalty kick from eleven meters (also used in penalty shootouts), "Foulelfmeter" specifies the situation during the ongoing match following a rule violation. In common language, people often just say "Elfmeter" if the context is clear.
- Emphasis: Using "Foulelfmeter" can highlight the drama or the controversial nature of the decision.
- Context: Typical in sports news, live commentary, match analysis.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
For the article: Think of der referee (masculine, like der Schiedsrichter) who awards den Foulelfmeter.
For the meaning: The word itself tells the story: A Foul leads to an Elfmeter -> Foulelfmeter.
🔄 Synonyms and Opposites
Synonyms (similar meaning)
Antonyms/Opposites (conceptual)
- Freistoß (außerhalb des Strafraums): Free kick (outside the penalty area) - penalty for a foul elsewhere.
- Elfmeter (im Elfmeterschießen): Penalty (in a shootout) - same execution, different game context.
- Tor aus dem Spiel heraus: Goal from open play - not a set piece, not a penalty.
- Kein Foul: No foul - the action was legal.
Similar, but different terms
- Handelfmeter: A penalty given for a handball inside the penalty area. It's a sub-type of Foulelfmeter, as handball is considered a foul.
😂 A Little Football Joke
DE: Fragt der Trainer seinen Stürmer: "Warum schießt du den Foulelfmeter nicht selbst?" Antwortet der Stürmer: "Trainer, ich bin doch der Gefoulte – ich brauche erstmal eine Pause!"
EN: The coach asks his striker: "Why don't you take the penalty kick yourself?" The striker replies: "Coach, I'm the one who got fouled – I need a break first!"
📜 Poem: The Decisive Moment
DE:
Der Pfiff ertönt, die Menge tobt,
Ein Foul im Strafraum, unerprobt?
Nein, klar zu sehen, der Schiri zeigt,
Auf jenen Punkt, der Hoffnung steigt.
Der Foulelfmeter – Schicksalsstunde,
Elf Meter nur zur Siegesrunde.
Der Schütze läuft an, voller Mut,
Der Ball zischt los, entfacht die Glut!
Netz zappelt – Tor! Der Jubel schallt,
Ein Foul, das teuer nun bezahlt.
EN:
The whistle blows, the crowd goes wild,
A foul inside the box, reviled?
No, clear to see, the ref points now,
To that famed spot, where hopes avow.
The Foulelfmeter – fate's own hour,
Eleven yards to gain the power.
The taker runs, with courage high,
The ball flies fast, beneath the sky!
Net ripples – Goal! The cheers resound,
A foul for which the price is found.
❓ Little Football Riddle
DE:
Ich werde gegeben, nicht genommen,
Nachdem im Sechzehner ein Foul vorgekommen.
Elf Schritte Distanz, der Torwart allein,
Was bin ich wohl, im Fußballverein?
EN:
I am given, never taken,
After a foul in the box has shaken.
Eleven steps distance, the keeper alone,
What am I, in the football zone?
Solution: Der Foulelfmeter (The penalty kick for a foul)
🧩 Word Composition & Trivia
Word Formation
The term "Foulelfmeter" is a compound noun, composed of:
- Foul: (from English) an infringement of the rules.
- Elfmeter: Penalty kick from eleven meters ('elf') distance to the goal.
Trivia
- The first penalty kick in football history was taken in England in 1891.
- The decision to award a Foulelfmeter is often one of the most controversial moments in a football match.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Foulelfmeter?
The German word "Foulelfmeter" is a masculine noun, so the correct article is der. It refers to a penalty kick in football/soccer awarded after a foul has been committed inside the penalty area.