der
Mailänder
🌍 What does 'der Mailänder' mean?
Der Mailänder refers to a male person who comes from or lives in the city of Mailand (Milan) in Italy.
It's a so-called demonym (Einwohnerbezeichnung).
- Masculine: der Mailänder (the Milanese man)
- Feminine: die Mailänderin (the Milanese woman)
- Plural (m/f/mixed): die Mailänder (the Milanese people)
🚨 Attention: The word is capitalized because it's a nominalized adjective functioning as a proper name for inhabitants.
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.
-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 of 'der Mailänder' in Detail
'Der Mailänder' is a masculine noun. It follows the weak N-declension (specifically, a mixed declension pattern common for demonyms ending in -er, where only the Genitive singular takes -s, and the Dative plural takes -n, otherwise no case endings).
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Mailänder |
| Accusative | den | Mailänder |
| Dative | dem | Mailänder |
| Genitive | des | Mailänders |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Mailänder |
| Accusative | die | Mailänder |
| Dative | den | Mailändern |
| Genitive | der | Mailänder |
📝 Example Sentences
- Der Mailänder besucht seine Familie in Italien. (The Milanese man visits his family in Italy.)
- Ich habe gestern den Mailänder auf der Konferenz getroffen. (I met the Milanese man at the conference yesterday.)
- Wir haben dem Mailänder den Weg zum Bahnhof gezeigt. (We showed the Milanese man the way to the train station.)
- Das Auto des Mailänders steht vor dem Hotel. (The Milanese man's car is parked in front of the hotel.)
- Die Mailänder sind bekannt für ihren Sinn für Mode. (The Milanese are known for their sense of fashion.)
🗣️ How to use 'Mailänder'?
The word 'der Mailänder' is used specifically when talking about a man from Milan. In the plural ('die Mailänder'), it can refer to men, women, or a mixed group.
- Context: Geography, travel, culture, social interactions.
- Distinction: 'Der Mailänder' is the person. 'Mailand' is the city. The adjective 'Mailänder' (lowercase, unless at the beginning of a sentence) describes something typical of or from Milan (e.g., das Mailänder Schnitzel - Milanese cutlet, die Mailänder Modewoche - Milan Fashion Week). For the cutlet, it refers to the style of preparation ('alla milanese').
💡 Mnemonics to Remember
Article Mnemonic: Think of 'der Mann' (the man). A man from Milan is der Mailänder.
Meaning Mnemonic: Mailand is the city, adding -er at the end makes the male inhabitant: Der Mailänder.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
⚠️ Similar Words:
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt ein Tourist einen Mailänder: "Entschuldigen Sie, wie komme ich am schnellsten zum Dom?"
Antwortet der Mailänder: "Am schnellsten? Laufen Sie einfach laut 'Forza Inter!' oder 'Forza Milan!', dann werden Sie schon getragen – in welche Richtung, ist die andere Frage!" 😉
Translation:
A tourist asks a Milanese man: "Excuse me, what's the quickest way to get to the cathedral?"
The Milanese replies: "The quickest? Just walk around shouting 'Forza Inter!' or 'Forza Milan!', and you'll soon be carried – which direction, however, is another question!" 😉
📜 Poem about the Mailänder
Im Herzen der Lombardei,
Lebt der Mailänder, schick und frei.
Zwischen Dom und Scala stolziert er gern,
Mode im Blut, dem Stil so fern
Ist keiner, der aus Mailand stammt,
Sein Ruf hat die Welt entflammt.
Translation:
In the heart of Lombardy,
Lives the Milanese man, chic and free.
Between the Duomo and La Scala, he likes to stroll,
Fashion in his blood, from style so far
Is no one who comes from Milan,
His reputation has inflamed the world.
❓ Little Riddle
Ich komm' aus einer Stadt voll Pracht,
Wo Mode wird gemacht.
Der Dom ist mein Wahrzeichen,
Ich bin ein Mann, um es zu zeigen.
Wer bin ich?
Translation:
I come from a city full of splendor,
Where fashion is made.
The cathedral is my landmark,
I am a man, just to remark.
Who am I?
Solution: der Mailänder (the Milanese man)
🌐 Further Information
Word Formation: The word 'Mailänder' is formed by adding the suffix '-er' to the city name 'Mailand'. This is a common way to form demonyms in German (e.g., Berlin -> Berliner, Hamburg -> Hamburger).
Cultural Context: Milan is known as a capital of fashion and design. A 'Mailänder' is therefore often stereotypically associated with elegance and a sense of style.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Mailänder?
The word 'Mailänder' refers to a person from Milan. For a male person, the correct article is 'der' (der Mailänder). The female form is 'die Mailänderin', and the plural is 'die Mailänder'.