der
Malteser
📖 What does 'der Malteser' mean?
The word der Malteser is a masculine noun in German and has several main meanings:
- Inhabitant of Malta: A man or male person originating from or living in Malta.
- Dog Breed: A small companion dog breed with long, white fur, originally from the Mediterranean region (not necessarily directly from Malta).
- Member of the Order of Malta: A male member of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (officially: Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta) or an associated organization like the Malteser Hilfsdienst (German Malteser Relief Service).
- Spirit (less common): Regionally, it can also refer to a type of aquavit (caraway schnapps), similar to the brand „Malteserkreuz Aquavit“.
⚠️ The meaning usually becomes clear from the context.
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 Malteser' in Detail
Der Malteser is a masculine noun. It is generally declined using the strong declension pattern.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Malteser |
| Genitive | des | Maltesers |
| Dative | dem | Malteser |
| Accusative | den | Malteser |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Malteser |
| Genitive | der | Malteser |
| Dative | den | Maltesern |
| Accusative | die | Malteser |
📝 Example Sentences
- Inhabitant: Der Malteser zeigte uns stolz seine Heimatinsel.
(The Maltese man proudly showed us his home island.) - Dog: Mein Nachbar hat einen kleinen Malteser, der sehr verspielt ist.
(My neighbor has a small Maltese dog that is very playful.) - Order (group): Viele Malteser engagieren sich ehrenamtlich im Rettungsdienst.
(Many members of the Malteser organization volunteer in emergency medical services.) - Order (individual): Er wurde als Malteser in den Ritterorden aufgenommen.
(He was accepted into the knightly order as a Knight of Malta.)
🗣️ How to use 'der Malteser'
The use of der Malteser depends heavily on the context:
- When talking about origin/travel: It usually refers to a male person from Malta. Example: „Ich habe im Urlaub einen netten Malteser kennengelernt.“ (I met a nice Maltese man on vacation.)
- When talking about pets: It refers to the dog breed. Example: „Malteser sind beliebte Schoßhunde.“ (Maltese dogs are popular lap dogs.)
- In the context of history, church, or relief organizations: It means a member of the Order of Malta or the Malteser Relief Service. Example: „Die Malteser organisierten eine Spendenaktion.“ (The Malteser organization arranged a fundraiser.)
Without clear context, the word can be ambiguous. The female form for an inhabitant of Malta is die Malteserin. For female members of the order, die Malteserin is also often used, or more specific titles depending on rank. For the dog breed, there is no established female form; one might say „das Malteser-Weibchen“ (the female Maltese) or „die Malteserhündin“ (the female Maltese dog).
🧠 Mnemonics
Remembering the article: Imagine: Der Mann (the man) from Malta is walking den (accusative of 'der') small white dog and wearing das (neuter, but think masculine: den) Order's cross – they are all der Malteser.
Remembering the meanings: Think of the 3 P's: Person (from Malta), Pet (the dog breed), Philanthropy (the Order/Relief Service).
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- (Inhabitant): Bewohner Maltas (Inhabitant of Malta)
- (Dog): Malteserhund (Maltese dog)
- (Order): Malteserritter (Knight of Malta), Ordensmitglied (des Malteserordens) (member of the Order of Malta), Johanniter (Knight Hospitaller - historically related, but a different order)
Similar Terms
- Malteserkreuz: The Maltese cross, the eight-pointed cross symbol of the Order of Malta.
- Maltesisch: The Maltese language or the adjective relating to Malta.
😂 A Little Joke
German: Frage: Was sagt ein Malteser (Hund) am Frühstückstisch? Antwort: „Wuff darf ich heute haben?“
English: Question: What does a Maltese dog say at the breakfast table? Answer: "Woof may I have today?" (Pun on „Was darf ich...“ - What may I...)
📜 Poem about the Malteser
German:
Ein Hund so weiß, mit langem Haar,
Ein Ritter stolz, seit manchem Jahr,
Ein Mann der Insel, sonnenklar.
Der Malteser, wunderbar!
Ob flauschig, edel oder schlicht,
Man kennt sein freundliches Gesicht.
English:
A dog so white, with flowing hair,
A knight so proud, beyond compare,
A man from the island, sun so fair.
The Malteser, wonderfully rare!
Whether fluffy, noble, plain to see,
Known for his friendly company.
❓ Riddle
German:
Ich kann bellen, bin meist weiß und klein,
Ich kann helfen, trug ein Kreuz aus Stein,
Ich kann von einer Insel im Mittelmeer sein.
Wer bin ich? (Ein ...)
English:
I can bark, I'm usually white and small,
I can help, once wore a cross for all,
I can be from a Mediterranean island tall.
Who am I? (A ...)
Solution: Der Malteser
💡 Other Interesting Facts
Word Origin: The name derives directly from the island or state of Malta. Although the dog breed is named this way, its exact origin is debated and likely lies in the central Mediterranean area, not exclusively Malta.
Malteser Hilfsdienst: In Germany, the Malteser Hilfsdienst e.V. is a major Catholic relief organization closely associated with the Order of Malta. Its members are often informally referred to as „die Malteser“.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Malteser?
The word Malteser is always masculine, so the article is der Malteser. It can refer to a man from Malta, a breed of dog, or a member of the Order of Malta.