der /
die
Kunde
🗣️ What does 'Kunde' actually mean?
The word Kunde has two different meanings in German, depending on the article:
Der Kunde (masculine)
This refers to a male person (or generally a person of any gender in the generic masculine form) who buys goods or uses a service. It's the most common use of the word.
Die Kunde (feminine)
This means news, tidings, message, or even rumor. This usage is more formal, literary, or found in fixed expressions and is less common in everyday language.
- Synonyms: Nachricht (news, message), Botschaft (message, tidings), Meldung (report).
- Example: Die frohe Kunde verbreitete sich schnell. (The good news spread quickly.)
🚨 Attention: This meaning is often confused with "der Kunde", especially by learners. Remember: "Die Kunde" is always information, not a person.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Male characters → always masculine.
Caution: Most professions also have their feminine forms (e.g. die Polizistin). Some words can also have two forms: der/die Deutsche, der/die Kranke.
📐 Grammar Corner: Declining 'Kunde'
Here you can see the declension for der Kunde and die Kunde.
Declension of "der Kunde" (masculine - customer)
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (who/what?) | der Kunde | die Kunden |
| Genitive (whose?) | des Kunden | der Kunden |
| Dative (to whom?) | dem Kunden | den Kunden |
| Accusative (whom/what?) | den Kunden | die Kunden |
Declension of "die Kunde" (feminine - news/tidings)
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (who/what?) | die Kunde | die Kunden (rare) |
| Genitive (whose?) | der Kunde | der Kunden (rare) |
| Dative (to whom?) | der Kunde | den Kunden (rare) |
| Accusative (whom/what?) | die Kunde | die Kunden (rare) |
Note on the plural of "die Kunde": The plural "die Kunden" for news/tidings is very rare and mostly found in formal or archaic language. In modern German, one would typically use "Nachrichten" or "Meldungen" in the plural.
Example Sentences 📖
- Der Kunde möchte bitte an Kasse 2 bezahlen. (The customer would like to pay at checkout 2, please.)
- Wir legen großen Wert auf die Zufriedenheit unserer Kunden. (We place great value on the satisfaction of our customers.)
- Hast du schon die Kunde von seiner Beförderung erhalten? (Have you already received the news of his promotion?)
- Es waren düstere Kunden, die uns erreichten. (It was grim tidings that reached us. - rare plural usage)
💡 How 'der/die Kunde' is used in everyday life
Usage of "der Kunde" (person)
"Der Kunde" is an everyday word in business, commerce, and the service sector. It describes the person or organization that buys a product or uses a service.
- Context: Shops, companies, customer service, marketing.
- Examples:
- Ein zufriedener Kunde kommt gerne wieder. (A satisfied customer likes to come back.)
- Der Kundenservice kümmert sich um die Anliegen der Kunden. (Customer service takes care of customers' concerns.)
- Wir müssen unsere Zielkunden besser verstehen. (We need to understand our target customers better.)
- Comparison: Similar to "Klient" (client, often for freelancers like lawyers, doctors) or "Abnehmer" (purchaser). The term "Gast" (guest) is often used in hospitality instead of "Kunde".
Usage of "die Kunde" (news/tidings)
"Die Kunde" meaning news is less common and often sounds formal, poetic, or archaic. It is more frequently found in fixed expressions.
- Context: Literature, formal language, historical reports, fixed phrases.
- Examples:
- Frohe Kunde erreichte das Dorf. (Good news reached the village.)
- Die Kunde von der Niederlage verbreitete sich wie ein Lauffeuer. (The news of the defeat spread like wildfire.)
- Er brachte schlechte Kunde. (He brought bad news.)
- Comparison: "Nachricht" (news, message), "Meldung" (report), "Botschaft" (message, tidings) are more modern and common alternatives. "Gerücht" (rumor) has an uncertain connotation, while "Kunde" was often understood as confirmed information, though it can also be neutral.
⚠️ It's important not to confuse the two meanings, as this can lead to misunderstandings. "Ein Kunde" is always a person, "eine Kunde" (or "die Kunde") is always information.
🧠 Mnemonics for 'der/die Kunde'
For article and meaning:
"Imagine Der Kunde is a distinguished gentleman (masculine) who is a customer."
"Die Kunde is like a message delivered by a lady (feminine). 'Die' sounds like 'thee' news I bring to thee."
For the meaning itself:
"A Kunde demands service. He's the person known to the business."
"Die Kunde makes something known – it proclaims news."
↔️ Similar & Opposite: Synonyms and Antonyms
For "der Kunde" (person/customer)
Synonyms (words with similar meaning):
- Käufer: buyer.
- Klient: client (often for services from professionals like lawyers, consultants).
- Abnehmer: purchaser, someone who takes delivery of goods.
- Auftraggeber: principal, client (who places an order).
- Konsument/Verbraucher: consumer.
Antonyms (opposites):
- Verkäufer: seller.
- Anbieter: provider, supplier.
- Lieferant: supplier, deliverer.
- Hersteller/Produzent: manufacturer/producer.
For "die Kunde" (news/tidings)
Synonyms (words with similar meaning):
- Nachricht: The most common alternative for news/message.
- Botschaft: message, often an important or official one.
- Meldung: report, a brief, often official piece of information.
- Mitteilung: communication, notification.
- Neuigkeit: piece of news, something new one learns.
Antonyms (opposites):
- Geheimnis: secret (i.e., no news).
- Desinformation/Fehlinformation: disinformation/misinformation (false news).
- Verschweigen: to keep secret, the opposite of giving news.
Potentially Misleading Word:
"Die Kundgebung" (demonstration, rally) sounds similar but has a completely different meaning.
😄 A little joke on the side
A new Kunde (customer) enters the shop and asks the salesperson: "Haben Sie unsichtbare Tinte?"
Salesperson: "Ja, haben wir. Welche Farbe darf es denn sein?"
Translation:
Customer: "Do you have invisible ink?"
Salesperson: "Yes, we do. What color would you like?"
📜 'Kunde' in verse
Der Kunde kommt, mit Wunsch und Geld,
was er begehrt, wird ihm bestellt.
Er prüft die Ware, wägt und schaut,
bis er dem Händler voll vertraut.
Die Kunde eilt, mal schnell, mal sacht,
hat frohe Botschaft mitgebracht.
Von Sieg und Glück, von fernem Land,
reicht sie die Neuigkeit von Hand zu Hand.
Rough English Translation:
The customer comes, with wish and gold,
What he desires, is to be sold.
He checks the goods, he weighs and sees,
Until the merchant he can please.
The tidings rush, now swift, now slow,
Have brought glad news, a happy glow.
Of victory and luck, from distant shore,
It passes on the news from door to door.
🤔 Who or what am I?
Ich komme oft mit Geld in der Hand,
suche Waren im ganzen Land.
Doch manchmal bin ich nur ein Wort,
trage Nachrichten von Ort zu Ort.
Mal bin ich der, mal bin ich die,
was bin ich wohl? Rate, und schrei es hie!
English Version & Translation:
I often come with cash in hand,
Seeking goods throughout the land.
But sometimes I am just a word,
Carrying news that must be heard.
Sometimes I'm 'der', sometimes I'm 'die',
What am I then? Guess now, oh my!
Answer: Der Kunde / Die Kunde (The customer / The news or tidings)
🧩 Trivia and Word Composition
Word Origin (Etymology)
The word "Kunde" derives from the Old High German word "kundo" (known) or "chund" (known), related to "kennen" (to know) and "kund" (known, public). So, "der Kunde" was originally a person known to the businessperson. "Die Kunde" is that which is made known, i.e., announced.
Compound words with "der Kunde" (customer):
- Kundendienst: customer service
- Kundenstamm: customer base
- Neukunde: new customer
- Stammkunde: regular customer
- Kundenorientierung: customer orientation
- Kundenzufriedenheit: customer satisfaction
Compound words with "die Kunde" (news/tidings - rather rare/formal):
- Frohkunde: good news (archaic for Frohbotschaft - good tidings)
- Hiobskunde: Job's news, i.e., terrible news (after the biblical Job's tidings)
- Märenkunde: lore, tales (archaic)
It's interesting that "künden" or "verkünden" (to announce, proclaim) are directly related to "die Kunde".
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Kunde?
The word Kunde has two genders: der Kunde (masculine) refers to a person who buys goods or uses a service (e.g., der Kunde im Supermarkt - the customer in the supermarket). Die Kunde (feminine) means news or tidings (e.g., die frohe Kunde - the good news) and is nowadays more formal or used in set phrases. There is no 'das Kunde'.