der
Maler
🎨 What does "der Maler" mean?
The word der Maler refers to a male person who paints, either professionally as a job or artistically. It primarily has two meanings:
- Artist Painter: A person who creates works of art (paintings). 👨🎨 Example: Picasso war ein berühmter Maler. (Picasso was a famous painter.)
- Craftsman Painter (Decorator/House Painter): A person who paints walls, ceilings, facades, or other surfaces. 👨🔧 Example: Wir haben einen Maler beauftragt, das Wohnzimmer neu zu streichen. (We hired a painter to repaint the living room.)
🚨 Attention: The context usually clarifies which meaning is intended. The feminine form is die Malerin.
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 Maler" in Detail
"Maler" is a masculine noun. The article is der.
Singular
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | ein | Maler |
| Genitive | des | eines | Malers |
| Dative | dem | einem | Maler |
| Accusative | den | einen | Maler |
Plural
| Case | Definite Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Maler |
| Genitive | der | Maler |
| Dative | den | Malern |
| Accusative | die | Maler |
Example Sentences
- Der Maler (Künstler) stellte seine neuesten Werke aus. (The painter (artist) exhibited his latest works.)
- Der Maler (Handwerker) kommt morgen, um die Fassade zu streichen. (The painter (craftsman) is coming tomorrow to paint the facade.)
- Ich sprach mit dem Maler über die Farbauswahl. (I spoke with the painter about the choice of colors.)
- Die Bilder dieses jungen Malers sind sehr gefragt. (The paintings of this young painter are in high demand.)
- Viele Maler (Handwerker) waren auf der Baustelle beschäftigt. (Many painters (craftsmen) were busy on the construction site.)
💡 How to use "der Maler"?
The use of der Maler strongly depends on the context:
- In the context of Kunst & Kultur (Art & Culture), "der Maler" refers to an artist who creates paintings (e.g., Kunstmaler). Synonyms here are Künstler, Bildmaler.
- In the context of Handwerk & Bau (Craftsmanship & Construction), "der Maler" means a craftsman who carries out painting work (also called Anstreicher, Lackierer, Zimmermaler).
- The distinction is important: If you talk about a "Maler" in a museum, you mean the artist. If you talk about a "Maler" for a renovation, you mean the craftsman.
- The feminine form die Malerin is used for female individuals in both professional fields.
🧠 Mnemonics for "der Maler"
- Article Mnemonic: Think of a strong man painting; most nouns ending in -er representing professions are masculine (der). So, der Maler is the painting man.
- Meaning Mnemonic: A "Maler" makes things more colorful, whether it's a mall wall (Handwerker) or a master-piece (Künstler). He malt (paints)!
Imagine: Der famous painter Rembrandt was a man -> der Maler. Or: Der friendly craftsman is painting the wall -> der Maler.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- For Artist: Kunstmaler (art painter), Künstler (artist), Bildmaler (picture painter)
- For Craftsman: Anstreicher (house painter), Lackierer (varnisher, lacquerer), Tüncher (whitewasher, dated), Weißbinder (whitewasher, regional)
Antonyms
Direct antonyms are difficult. One could name professions that have nothing to do with painting or that remove something instead of applying it.
- Bildhauer (sculptor - works with forms instead of colors)
- Restaurator (restorer - might paint, but focus is on preservation)
- Betrachter (viewer), Kunstkritiker (art critic - engage with art but don't paint)
Related Terms
😂 A little Painter Joke
Kunde zum Maler: "Können Sie das Bild meiner Schwiegermutter übermalen?"
Maler: "Klar, aber haben Sie auch Terpentin, um sie vorher zu reinigen?" 😉
Translation:
Customer to the painter: "Can you paint over the picture of my mother-in-law?"
Painter: "Sure, but do you also have turpentine to clean her first?" 😉
📜 Poem about the Painter
Der Maler, Mann mit Farb' und Hand,
Gestaltet Wände, Leinewand.
Mal Künstlergeist, mal Handwerkskunst,
Bringt Farbe in des Lebens Dunst.
Mit Pinselstrich, so fein, so breit,
Schafft Schönheit er für alle Zeit.
Ob Haus, ob Bild, ob alt, ob neu,
Der Maler bleibt der Farbe treu.
Translation:
The painter, man with paint and hand,
Designs walls, canvas land.
Sometimes artist's spirit, sometimes craft's art,
Brings color into life's dull part.
With brushstroke, so fine, so wide,
He creates beauty for all time to abide.
Be it house, or picture, old or new,
The painter stays to color true.
❓ Riddle: Who am I?
Ich trage Weiß, doch bin kein Arzt,
Mit Farb' und Pinsel stets am Start.
Ich schmück' dein Haus von außen, innen,
Oder lass' auf Leinwand Welten spinnen.
Wer bin ich?
Translation:
I wear white, but am no doctor,
With paint and brush always ready to start here.
I adorn your house outside, inside,
Or let worlds spin on canvas wide.
Who am I?
Solution: Der Maler (The Painter)
✨ Other Interesting Facts
- Feminine Form: The feminine form is die Malerin.
- Compound Words: There are many compound words, such as Kunstmaler (artist painter), Zimmermaler (room painter/decorator), Autolackierer (car painter, related), Malerbetrieb (painting business), Malerwerkstatt (painter's workshop), Malermeister (master painter).
- Vocation: In Germany, "Maler und Lackierer" (Painter and Varnisher) is a recognized apprenticeship trade (Ausbildungsberuf) in the craft sector.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Maler?
The word "Maler" is masculine, so the correct article is der Maler. It refers to both an artist who paints pictures and a craftsman who paints surfaces (like walls).