der  Mist

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/mɪst/

💩 What does "der Mist" actually mean?

The German word der Mist has two main meanings:

1. Animal excrement, manure, dung: The original meaning refers to the dung of animals, especially farm animals like cows or horses, often used as natural fertilizer in agriculture or gardening. It describes a concrete substance.
2. Nonsense, rubbish, bad luck, something annoying (colloquial): Figuratively, "Mist" is very commonly used as an exclamation or term for something annoying, unpleasant, inferior, or simply nonsensical. It often expresses frustration or disappointment. Comparable to "Damn!", "Crap!" or "What rubbish!".

⚠️ Attention: Although both meanings exist, the colloquial use as an exclamation or for "nonsense" is much more common in everyday life than the agricultural meaning.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "der Mist" in Detail

"Mist" is a masculine noun and takes the article der. It is mostly used in the singular because it often refers to an uncountable mass (manure) or an abstract concept (nonsense, bad luck).

Declension (Singular)

🚨 Note: The forms ending in "-e" in the dative singular (dem Miste) and the form "des Mistes" in the genitive singular are rather outdated or elevated and rarely used in normal conversation.

A plural form ("die Miste") is very uncommon and practically never used.

Example Sentences

• Meaning 1 (Dung): Der Bauer fährt den Mist aufs Feld. (The farmer drives the manure onto the field.)
• Meaning 1 (Dung): Dieser Gartenboden braucht dringend etwas Mist. (This garden soil urgently needs some manure.)
• Meaning 2 (Nonsense/Annoyance): So ein Mist! Ich habe meinen Schlüssel vergessen. (Damn! / What crap! I forgot my key.)
• Meaning 2 (Nonsense/Annoyance): Erzähl doch nicht so einen Mist! (Don't talk such rubbish!)
• Meaning 2 (Nonsense/Annoyance): Das ganze Projekt war von Anfang an Mist. (The whole project was rubbish from the start.)

💬 How to use "der Mist"?

The use of "der Mist" strongly depends on the meaning:

• As manure/dung: Here, "Mist" is used neutrally in an agricultural or gardening context. It simply describes the material (e.g., Pferdemist - horse manure, Kuhmist - cow dung).
• As an expression of annoyance/frustration: This is the most common use in everyday life. "Mist!" or "So ein Mist!" are common interjections when something goes wrong or is annoying. It's informal and should be avoided in very formal situations.
• As a term for nonsense/poor quality: You can refer to things or statements as "Mist" to express that they are worthless, wrong, or of poor quality (e.g., "Dieser Film ist totaler Mist." - This movie is total rubbish.). This is also colloquial.

Comparison: Compared to stronger swear words, "Mist" is rather mild, but still clearly negative and informal in its figurative meaning. It's less vulgar than, for example, "Scheiße" (shit), but used in similar situations.

🧠 Mnemonics for "der Mist"

For the article (der): Think of der Bauer (the farmer, masculine) who spreads der Mist in the field. Working with manure is often seen as a man's job on the farm (traditionally).

For the meanings: Imagine you step in something soft in a meadow – 💩 "Mist!" (exclamation of annoyance) – and then realize it's der Mist (manure) from a cow.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Der Mist

Similar Words

Be careful with pronunciation: German "Mist" does not sound like English "mist" (Nebel). German "Mist" has a short 'i' sound.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Städter den Bauern: "Sagen Sie mal, warum tragen Sie Gummistiefel auf dem Feld?"
Bauer: "Damit ich nicht bis zu den Knien im Mist stehe!"
Städter: "Ach so, ich dachte, das wäre Dünger?"
Bauer: "Ist es auch. Aber bis Dünger hüfthoch steht, dauert's noch 'ne Weile!"

Translation:

City dweller asks the farmer: "Tell me, why do you wear rubber boots in the field?"
Farmer: "So I don't stand knee-deep in the manure (Mist)!"
City dweller: "Oh, I thought that was fertilizer?"
Farmer: "It is. But it'll be a while before fertilizer is hip-high!"

✒️ Poem about Mist

Auf dem Feld, da liegt er breit,
Der Mist, für gute Erntezeit.
Doch rutscht du aus, welch Missgeschick,
rufst du nur "Mist!" – zum Augenblick.

Mal ist er Dünger, braun und schwer,
Mal nur ein Fluch, "Ach geh doch, wer
hat diesen Unsinn hier verzapft?"
Der Mist, er hat's nicht immer leicht geschafft.

Translation:

In the field, there it lies wide,
Der Mist, for a good harvest tide.
But if you slip, what bad luck you pick,
you just shout "Mist!" – in that moment quick.

Sometimes it's fertilizer, brown and dense,
Sometimes just a curse, "Oh go, who hence
cooked up this nonsense here?"
Der Mist, it hasn't always had it easy, clear.

🤔 Little Riddle

Ich lieg' auf dem Bauernhof herum,
manchmal bin ich auch nur dumm.
Als Ausruf dient' ich, kurz und knapp,
wenn etwas geht so richtig schlapp.
Der Bauer braucht mich auf dem Feld,
Ich bring' ihm manchmal sogar Geld.

Was bin ich?

(Lösung/Solution: der Mist)

Translation:

I lie around on the farm,
Sometimes I'm also just dumb (or: nonsense harm).
As an exclamation I serve, short and brief,
when something goes really wrong, bringing grief.
The farmer needs me in the field,
Sometimes I even bring him a yield (money).

What am I?

(Solution: der Mist - manure / crap)

💡 Other Information about "Mist"

Compound Words (Wortzusammensetzungen): "Mist" is part of many compound words, often with a negative connotation or an agricultural reference:

• Mistgabel: Pitchfork (for moving manure).
• Misthaufen: Dunghill, manure pile.
• Mistwetter: Awful/rotten weather.
• Mistkerl: Bastard, asshole (strong insult for a man).
• Miststück: Bitch (strong insult for a woman, less common).
• Mistfliege: Dung fly.

Etymology: The word "Mist" comes from the Old High German word "mist", which also meant manure or dung. The figurative meaning of "nonsense" or "bad luck" developed later.