der  Millionenbetrag

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/mɪli̯oˈnənbəˌtʁaːk/

💰 What exactly is a Millionenbetrag?

Der Millionenbetrag (noun, masculine) refers to an amount of money that is in the range of one or more million (e.g., Euros, Dollars, Francs, etc.). It signifies a large sum of money.

It is a compound word formed from:

• Millionen (plural of Million - million)
• Betrag (the amount, the sum of money)

Since der Betrag is masculine, der Millionenbetrag is also masculine.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar & Declension: Der Millionenbetrag

The noun 'Millionenbetrag' is masculine. Here are the declension tables:

Example Sentences

1. Der Lottogewinner erhielt einen Millionenbetrag.
   (The lottery winner received an amount in the millions.)
2. Für den Bau der neuen Brücke wurde ein Millionenbetrag veranschlagt.
   (An amount in the millions was estimated for the construction of the new bridge.)
3. Die Firma investierte einen Millionenbetrag in die Forschung.
   (The company invested an amount in the millions in research.)
4. Es geht um Millionenbeträge, die veruntreut wurden.
   (It's about sums in the millions that were embezzled.)

💡 Usage in Context

The term Millionenbetrag is mainly used in contexts involving large sums of money:

• Economy and Finance: In discussions about company profits, investments, market values, state budgets, or debts.
• News: Reporting on lottery winnings, transfer fees in sports, costs of large construction projects, damage amounts in disasters, or court rulings.
• Everyday Language: Often slightly exaggerated or to emphasize the enormous size of a sum.

It is often used synonymously with Millionensumme (sum in the millions), although Millionenbetrag might sound slightly more formal or objective.

⚠️ Avoid using the term for small amounts – unless used ironically.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Article Mnemonic: The base word is 'der Betrag' (the amount). Just like 'der Betrag', it's 'der Millionenbetrag'. A large amount remains der amount.

Meaning Mnemonic: Think of 'Millionen' (millions) + 'Betrag' (amount). It's simply an amount in the millions. Imagine a huge money bag 💰 labelled "1,000,000+" – that's der Millionenbetrag.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Sometimes Milliardenbetrag (amount in the billions) is used for even larger sums.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Bankräuber den Kassierer: "Ist das wirklich alles?"
Sagt der Kassierer: "Nein, aber für einen Millionenbetrag hätten Sie schon eine größere Tasche mitbringen müssen!"

Translation:
The bank robber asks the cashier: "Is that really all?"
The cashier says: "No, but for an amount in the millions, you should have brought a bigger bag!"

📜 Poem about the Word

Ein Traum vom Glück, so süß und rein,
Ein Lottoschein, er könnt' es sein.
Sechs Zahlen richtig, welch ein Segen,
Ein Millionenbetrag kommt entgegen.
Keine Sorgen mehr, das Leben lacht,
Mit einem Schlag über Nacht.
Doch Geld allein, das weiß man ja,
Macht nicht glücklich, tralala.

Translation:
A dream of luck, so sweet and pure,
A lottery ticket, it could ensure.
Six numbers right, what a blessing,
An amount in the millions is addressing.
No more worries, life gives a smile,
With one strike, overnight style.
But money alone, as everyone knows,
Doesn't bring happiness, that's how it goes.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin eine Summe, groß und rund,
Mach' manchen reich in kurzer Stund'.
Sechs Nullen oder mehr sind mein Gefolge,
Man spricht von mir bei großer Erfolge.

Wer bin ich? (Lösung: der Millionenbetrag)

Translation:
I am a sum, large and round,
Making some rich in a short bound.
Six zeros or more are my entourage,
People talk of me with great success barrage.

Who am I? (Answer: der Millionenbetrag / an amount in the millions)

🧩 Word Components & Trivia

Word Composition:

The word 'Millionenbetrag' is a compound noun (Kompositum) made up of:

• Millionen: The plural of the numeral 'Million' (1,000,000). The 'en' is a linking element (Fugen-n).
• Betrag: A noun meaning 'amount' or 'sum of money'.

The grammatical gender is determined by the last part of the compound (the base word): der Betrag → der Millionenbetrag.

Trivia: The term is often used in the media to make large sums more tangible, even if the exact figure is perhaps 1.5 million or 5 million – it falls under the general term 'Millionenbetrag'.