der
Mexikaner
🌍🍹 What does "der Mexikaner" mean?
The German word der Mexikaner has two main meanings:
-
A male person from Mexico: This is the most common meaning. It refers to a man who holds Mexican citizenship or originates from Mexico.
Example: Mein Nachbar ist Mexikaner. (My neighbour is Mexican.)
Note: The female form is die Mexikanerin.
-
An alcoholic beverage: A shot (Schnaps) typically made from grain spirit (Korn) or vodka, tomato juice, Tabasco or another chili sauce, salt, and pepper. It's known for its spicy-hot taste.
Example: Lass uns einen Mexikaner trinken! (Let's drink a Mexikaner!)
⚠️ It's important to understand from the context which meaning is intended.
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.
-ner → almost always masculine.
Compare with the category '-er'.
-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: Der Mexikaner in Detail
Der Mexikaner is a masculine noun. For the meaning "person", the declension follows the weak N-declension pattern in the singular (genitive, dative, accusative end in -n), but not fully in the plural. The meaning "drink" is strongly declined. In practice, the forms are often identical, especially in the singular.
Singular
| Case | Person | Drink |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Mexikaner | der Mexikaner |
| Genitive | des Mexikaners | des Mexikaners |
| Dative | dem Mexikaner | dem Mexikaner |
| Accusative | den Mexikaner | den Mexikaner |
Plural
| Case | Person | Drink |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Mexikaner | die Mexikaner |
| Genitive | der Mexikaner | der Mexikaner |
| Dative | den Mexikanern | den Mexikanern |
| Accusative | die Mexikaner | die Mexikaner |
📝 Example Sentences
- Person: Der Mexikaner zeigte uns stolz seine Heimatstadt. (The Mexican proudly showed us his hometown.)
- Person: Wir sprachen lange mit dem Mexikaner. (We talked with the Mexican for a long time.)
- Drink: Sie bestellte einen scharfen Mexikaner an der Bar. (She ordered a spicy Mexikaner at the bar.)
- Drink: Nach dem Essen gab es für alle Mexikaner. (After the meal, there were Mexikaners for everyone.)
🗣️ How to use "der Mexikaner"?
Usage clearly depends on the context:
- Person: Used when talking about male individuals from Mexico. In official contexts or when gender is unknown or mixed, one might use "Personen aus Mexiko" (people from Mexico) or "mexikanische Staatsbürger" (Mexican citizens). The female form is "die Mexikanerin".
- Drink: Primarily used in bars, pubs (Kneipen), or at parties when ordering or talking about the spicy tomato shot. It's a colloquial term for the drink.
Risk of confusion: Outside the context of the drink, "Mexikaner" almost always refers to the person.
🧠 Mnemonics
Remembering the article: Think of a male figure associated with Mexico (perhaps wearing a sombrero) – DER Mann (the man) is DER Mexikaner. For the drink: it's DER spicy drink for the man.
Remembering the meanings: Imagine a Mexikaner (person) drinking a Mexikaner (drink) and shouting "¡Ay, caramba, der ist scharf!" (Oh my, this one is spicy!)
🔄 Synonyms & Similar Terms
Synonyms (Person)
- Mann aus Mexiko (Man from Mexico)
- Mexikanischer Staatsbürger (Mexican citizen, male)
Synonyms (Drink)
- Tomatenschnaps (Tomato schnapps - depending on composition)
- Würziger Kurzer (Spicy shot)
😂 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Barkeeper: "Noch einen Mexikaner?" Antwortet der Gast: "Nein danke, ich bin immer noch von dem Letzten ganz schön gezeichnet – vom Sombrero-Abdruck auf der Stirn!"
English Translation: The bartender asks: "Another Mexikaner?" The guest replies: "No thanks, I'm still quite marked by the last one – from the sombrero imprint on my forehead!"
(Humorously plays on the stereotype and the drink)
📜 Poem about the Mexikaner (Drink)
German:
Rot und feurig, scharf und klar,
Der Mexikaner ist nun da.
Tomate, Pfeffer, Wodka drin,
Ein kleiner Schluck, ein neuer Sinn.
Er weckt die Geister, brennt im Mund,
Auf gute Freunde, frohe Stund'!
English Translation:
Red and fiery, sharp and clear,
The Mexikaner is now here.
Tomato, pepper, vodka within,
A little sip, a new sense begin.
It wakes the spirits, burns in the mouth,
To good friends, happy hour's growth!
❓ Riddle
German:
Ich kann ein Mann aus Mittelamerika sein,
Oder feurig rot und gar nicht fein (für Zartbesaitete).
Den einen triffst du auf der Reise,
Den andern trinkst du, auf deine Weise.
Wer oder was bin ich, sag geschwind?
English Translation:
I can be a man from Central America,
Or fiery red and not so nice (for the faint-hearted).
You meet one while traveling far,
The other you drink, however you are.
Who or what am I, tell me fast?
Solution: Der Mexikaner
💡 Other Interesting Facts
Word Origin: Derived from the country name Mexiko.
The Drink: The cocktail "Mexikaner" is said to have originated in Hamburg in the 1980s, supposedly as an emergency solution to salvage an undrinkable fruit brandy (Obstbrand). Today, it's a cult drink in many pubs (Kneipen).
Cultural Sensitivity: When referring to people, it's always more respectful to be specific (e.g., "ein Mann aus Mexiko City" - a man from Mexico City) or to ask how someone self-identifies, rather than using generalizations.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Mexikaner?
The word "Mexikaner" is always masculine: der Mexikaner. It refers to either a male person from Mexico or a spicy alcoholic beverage.