der
Joint
🚬 What exactly is a 'Joint'?
The term der Joint [dʒɔɪ̯nt] is a loanword from English. In German, it colloquially refers to a self-rolled cigarette containing cannabis products like Marihuana (marijuana) or Haschisch (hashish) instead of, or in addition to, tobacco.
It's primarily a term from Drogenkultur (drug culture) or Jugendsprache (youth language) and is mostly used informally.
🧐 Grammar of 'der Joint'
The word 'Joint' is a masculine noun and therefore uses the article der. It follows regular declension patterns.
Singular Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Joint |
| Genitive | des | Joints |
| Dative | dem | Joint |
| Accusative | den | Joint |
Plural Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Joints |
| Genitive | der | Joints |
| Dative | den | Joints |
| Accusative | die | Joints |
Example Sentences
🗣️ Everyday Usage
The term der Joint is mainly used in Umgangssprache (colloquial language) and in contexts related to cannabis consumption. It's often part of Jugendsprache (youth language) or used in discussions about Drogenpolitik (drug policy) and Legalisierung (legalization).
In more formal or medical contexts, one would rather speak of a 'Cannabiszigarette' or more specific terms. Compared to a normal 'Zigarette' (cigarette), 'Joint' always implies the cannabis content.
⚠️ Attention: The word for an anatomical or mechanical joint is das Gelenk in German, not 'der Joint'.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
Article Mnemonic: Think of the English word 'joint' often being associated with male stereotypes in certain contexts (e.g., construction 'joint', a 'joint' venture often led by men). Associate this masculine imagery with der Joint.
Meaning Mnemonic: A 'Joint' joins cannabis with paper (and maybe tobacco).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (colloquial):
- Die Tüte: (Literally 'the bag', but very common slang for joint)
- Der Dübel: (Literally 'the dowel', rather slangy, often youth language)
- Der Ofen: (Literally 'the oven/stove', slang for something that 'burns' or 'heats up')
- Die Sportzigarette: (Literally 'the sports cigarette', ironic, downplaying term)
Antonyms / Contrasts:
- Die Zigarette: (Contains (usually) only tobacco)
- Die Nüchternheit: (Sobriety, the state of not being intoxicated - conceptual opposite of the effect)
Similar but Different Words:
- Das Gelenk: (The anatomical joint (e.g., knee joint) or mechanical part. Nothing to do with smoking. Note the different article 'das'!)
😂 A Little Joke
German: Warum hat der Joint den Job nicht bekommen? Er war nicht wirklich geeignet!
English: Why didn't the joint get the job? He wasn't really suitable/qualified! ('Geeignet' sounds a bit like 'gee' - slang for weed - and means 'suitable/qualified'. It's a pun.)
📜 Little Poem
German:
Gedreht aus Papier, so fein,
gefüllt mit Grün, nicht nur Schein.
Der Joint, er glimmt im Dämmerlicht,
ein Rauch, der langsam aufwärts sticht.
English:
Rolled from paper, so fine,
filled with green, not just shine.
The joint, it glows in twilight's gleam,
a smoke that slowly rises, like a dream.
❓ Riddle Time
German:
Ich bin gerollt, doch keine Wurst,
ich stille selten einen Durst.
Man zündet mich am Ende an,
oft teilt man mich mit nebenan.
Mit 'der' komm ich daher gebraust.
Was bin ich?
English:
I'm rolled, but not a sausage link,
I rarely quench a thirst, I think.
You light me at one end, you see,
often shared with company.
With 'der' I come announced.
What am I?(Answer: Der Joint)
💡 More Info
Origin: The word 'Joint' was directly borrowed from English (it's a Lehnwort or Anglizismus).
Pronunciation: The pronunciation [dʒɔɪ̯nt] is based on English.
Cultural Context: The term is closely linked to the subculture of cannabis use and its connotation can vary depending on the social environment (from neutral-descriptive to negative or positive).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Joint?
The German word 'Joint' is a masculine noun. The correct article is therefore der. You say: der Joint, des Joints, dem Joint, den Joint. The plural is die Joints.