der  März

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/mɛʁts/

📅 What does 'der März' mean?

Der März is the third month of the year in the Gregorian calendar. It has 31 days and often marks the transition from winter to spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Its name derives from the Roman god of war, Mars, after whom the first month of the ancient Roman calendar was originally named.

There is only this one meaning for the word 'März' as a month name, and it is always masculine (der März).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of 'der März' in Detail

'März' is a noun (Substantiv) of masculine gender (Maskulinum). It is usually used without a plural form, as there is only one March per year. In specific contexts (e.g., multiple March issues of a magazine), a plural could be formed, but this is uncommon for the month name itself.

Singular Declension

Note: The Genitive and Dative forms ending in '-es' or '-e' (Märzes, Märze) are slightly more formal or older, but grammatically correct.

Example Sentences

1. Der März beginnt oft kalt, aber endet mild.
   (March often starts cold, but ends mild.)
2. Wir fahren Anfang März in den Urlaub.
   (We are going on vacation at the beginning of March.)
3. Im letzten März hat es viel geschneit.
   (Last March it snowed a lot.)
4. Sie hat im März Geburtstag.
   (She has her birthday in March.)
5. Der Übergang vom Februar zum März ist manchmal kaum spürbar.
   (The transition from February to March is sometimes hardly noticeable.)

💡 How to use 'März'

'Der März' is mainly used to name the specific third month of the year. Here are typical contexts:

• Dates: am 15. März (on March 15th), im März 2024 (in March 2024), Anfang/Mitte/Ende März (beginning/middle/end of March)
• Temporal classification: Der Frühling beginnt im März. (Spring begins in March.)
• Comparisons: Der März war dieses Jahr wärmer als der April. (March was warmer than April this year.)
• Festivals and Events: Many cultures celebrate spring festivals or other traditional events in March.

It is almost always used with prepositions like 'im' (short for 'in dem', meaning 'in the'), 'Anfang' (beginning), 'Mitte' (middle), 'Ende' (end), or specific dates. For example, you would say "Ich bin im März geboren" (I was born in March) or "Das Meeting ist am 5. März" (The meeting is on March 5th).

🧠 Mnemonics for 'der März'

Remembering the article: Think of Mars, the god of war. Gods are often depicted as male, so der Mars -> der März. Or think: Winter 'marches' out in March, and 'march' sounds strong/masculine -> der März.

Remembering the meaning: Imagine nature 'marching' 🚶‍♂️ out of winter into spring during März (March).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Caution: There are no direct modern synonyms for 'März' in everyday language. The old terms are uncommon.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum freut sich der Schneemann auf den März?
Weil er dann endlich Frühlingsrollen machen kann! 😉🌷

(Why is the snowman looking forward to March?
Because then he can finally make spring rolls! [Pun: Frühlingsrolle = spring roll, but sounds like 'spring role' or 'rolling into spring'])

📜 Poem about March

Der März, der Lenzing, kommt herbei,
Vertreibt den Frost, macht alles neu.
Die Knospen sprießen, zart und grün,
Die ersten warmen Winde zieh'n.

Mal Sonne, mal ein Regenschauer,
Der Winter liegt noch auf der Lauer.
Doch Hoffnung keimt in Feld und Flur,
Der Frühling naht, welch eine Kur!

(March, the 'spring month', arrives now,
Drives away frost, makes all things new somehow.
The buds are sprouting, tender green,
The first warm winds are blowing keen.

Sometimes sun, sometimes a rainy shower,
Winter is still lurking with its power.
But hope sprouts in field and lea,
Spring is approaching, what a glee!)

❓ Little Riddle

Ich folge auf den Monat kurz,
Bring' Krokus, Tulpe aus dem Sturz
Des Winterschlafs, mit Saus und Braus.
Mal mild, mal wild – wer bin ich, laus'?

(I follow the short month's flight,
Bring crocus, tulip from the plight
Of winter's sleep, with wind and sound.
Sometimes mild, sometimes wild around.
Who am I? Listen and expound!)

Solution: Der März (March)

🤓 Trivia about 'der März'

• Name Origin: The name 'März' comes from the Latin 'Martius', named after the Roman god of war, Mars. In the ancient Roman calendar, March was the first month of the year. (Der Name 'März' stammt vom lateinischen Martius, benannt nach dem römischen Kriegsgott Mars.)
• Meteorological Spring: In the Northern Hemisphere, meteorological spring always begins on March 1st. (Der meteorologische Frühling beginnt auf der Nordhalbkugel immer am 1. März.)
• Astronomical Spring: The astronomical (calendar) beginning of spring usually falls on March 20th or 21st (vernal equinox). (Der astronomische Frühlingsanfang fällt meist auf den 20. oder 21. März.)
• Farmer's Rules (Bauernregeln): There are many German farmer's rules for March, supposed to predict the weather, e.g., "Märzenstaub und Märzenwind verkünden, dass bald die Osterglocken sind." ('March dust and March wind announce that the Easter bells [daffodils] will soon be here.')