der
Mieter
🏠 What exactly is a 'Mieter'?
Der Mieter refers to a male person who uses an apartment (Wohnung), house (Haus), room (Zimmer), or other property (Immobilie) in exchange for paying rent (Miete) to a landlord (Vermieter). It signifies one party in a rental agreement (Mietvertrag).
The female form is die Mieterin.
Important 🚨: The plural form "die Mieter" can refer to a group of male tenants or a mixed group. If referring explicitly to only female tenants, use "die Mieterinnen".
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 Mieter' in Detail
The noun "Mieter" is masculine and belongs to the n-declension in the plural.
Declension of 'der Mieter'
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Mieter |
| Genitive | des | Mieters |
| Dative | dem | Mieter |
| Accusative | den | Mieter |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Mieter |
| Genitive | der | Mieter |
| Dative | den | Mietern |
| Accusative | die | Mieter |
Example Sentences
- Der Mieter zahlt pünktlich seine Miete. (The tenant pays his rent on time.)
- Die Rechte des Mieters sind im Mietvertrag festgelegt. (The tenant's rights are defined in the rental agreement.)
- Der Vermieter sprach mit dem Mieter über die Nebenkostenabrechnung. (The landlord talked to the tenant about the utility bill settlement.)
- Die Nachbarn haben den neuen Mieter freundlich begrüßt. (The neighbors greeted the new tenant friendly.)
- Die Mieter des Hauses organisieren ein Sommerfest. (The tenants of the building are organizing a summer party.)
🗣️ How to use 'Mieter'?
"Mieter" is mainly used in the context of residential space, but it can also apply to commercial properties (e.g., der Mieter eines Ladenlokals - the tenant of a retail store).
- Typical Collocations: Mieterschutz (tenant protection), Mieterhöhung (rent increase), Hauptmieter (main tenant), Untermieter (subtenant), Nachmieter (subsequent tenant), Vormieter (previous tenant).
- Context: The word is common in everyday language as well as in legal and administrative contexts.
- Distinction: A Mieter pays Miete (rent) for usage. A Pächter (lessee/leaseholder) pays Pacht (lease) and often has the right to derive profits or benefits (e.g., from farmland or a restaurant). An Eigentümer (owner) owns the property.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
Remembering the Article: Think: Der is the masculine article, and a Mieter is typically a man (or the general term). Imagine der guy who needs a place to meet her (sounds a bit like Mieter) - he needs to rent! So, der Mieter.
Remembering the Meaning: Mieter sounds like the English word "meter". Imagine a tenant checking the electricity meter in their rented apartment. Or think of the verb mieten (to rent) – someone who mietet is a Mieter.
↔️ Opposites and Similar Words
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Wohnungsinhaber/Hausbewohner: (Apartment owner/house resident) More general, describes someone living there, not necessarily their legal status.
- Vertragspartner: (Contractual partner) Legally precise in the context of a rental agreement, but less common in everyday speech.
- Pächter: (Lessee/Leaseholder) Similar, but usually implies the right to generate income or harvest produce (see Usage).
Antonyms (Opposites):
- Vermieter/Vermieterin: (Landlord/Landlady) The person or company owning and renting out the property.
- Eigentümer/Eigentümerin: (Owner) The person who owns the property (can be the same as the Vermieter).
Caution ⚠️: Don't confuse Mieter (tenant) with Vermieter (landlord)! They are opposites.
😂 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Vermieter den neuen Mieter: "Haben Sie Kinder?" Antwortet der Mieter: "Nein, aber ich bin nicht nachtragend – ich kann noch welche machen, wenn das Bedingung ist!"
English Translation: The landlord asks the new tenant: "Do you have children?" The tenant replies: "No, but I don't hold a grudge – I can still make some if it's a requirement!"
✍️ A Poem about the Tenant
German:
Der Mieter wohnt in Raum und Zeit,
zahlt pünktlich, was der Vertrag gebeut.
Er hegt das Heim, hält Wände rein,
hofft, lang ein guter Nachbar zu sein.
Doch zieht er aus, kommt schnell herbei,
ein neuer Mieter, eins, zwei, drei.
English Translation:
The tenant dwells in space and time,
pays punctually, as contracts chime.
He tends the home, keeps walls clean bright,
hopes long to be a neighbor's light.
But when he moves, arrives anew,
a different tenant, one, two, three, who?
❓ Little Riddle
German:
Ich wohne in vier Wänden gern,
doch gehören sie nicht mir, dem Herrn.
Ich zahle Geld dafür im Monat,
damit mein Aufenthalt sich lohnet.
Wer bin ich?
English Translation:
I like living within four walls,
but they don't belong to me, this man.
I pay money for it each month,
so that my stay is worthwhile.
Who am I?
Solution: Der Mieter (The tenant)
🧩 Other Information
Word Formation: The word "Mieter" is derived directly from the verb "mieten", which means 'to rent' or 'to hire'. The suffix "-er" is commonly used in German to form masculine nouns indicating a person performing the action of the verb.
Related Concepts: Mietrecht (rental law), Nebenkosten (utility costs/service charges), Kaution (security deposit), Kündigungsfrist (notice period), Mieterschutzbund (tenants' association).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Mieter?
The noun "Mieter" is masculine. The correct article is der Mieter. The feminine form is die Mieterin, and the plural is die Mieter.