der  Neunziger

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈnɔʏnt͡sɪɡɐ/

📖 What does "der Neunziger" mean?

The word der Neunziger primarily has two meanings:

1. A decade: Usually used in the plural (die Neunziger), it refers to the years from 1990 to 1999 (the Nineties). Example: Die Musik der Neunziger war sehr vielfältig. (The music of the Nineties was very diverse.)
2. A person: It describes a person who is between 90 and 99 years old (a nonagenarian). Example: Der Neunziger erzählte aus seinem langen Leben. (The nonagenarian told stories from his long life.)

🚨 Attention: Although the singular 'der Neunziger' is correct for a male person, the plural 'die Neunziger' (or 'die Neunzigerjahre') is used almost exclusively for the decade.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Focus: Der Neunziger

The word "Neunziger" is a nominalized numeral (substantiviertes Zahlwort).

👤 Meaning: Person (Nonagenarian) - Masculine

When "Neunziger" refers to a male person aged 90-99, it's a masculine noun and usually follows weak declension (when preceded by an article or pronoun).

📅 Meaning: Decade (1990s) - Mostly Plural

When "Neunziger" refers to the decade, it's almost always used in the plural (die Neunziger) and declined accordingly.

Example Sentences

• Der rüstige Neunziger geht noch täglich spazieren. (The spry nonagenarian still goes for a walk every day.)
• Wir haben gestern einen vitalen Neunziger kennengelernt. (Yesterday we met a vital nonagenarian.)
• Die Mode der Neunziger kommt wieder in Trend. (The fashion of the Nineties is becoming trendy again.)
• In den Neunzigern gab es den großen Techno-Boom. (In the Nineties, there was the big techno boom.)

💡 How "der Neunziger" is Used

Usage depends heavily on the meaning:

• As a decade: Always in the plural "die Neunziger" or "die Neunzigerjahre". It describes the cultural, political, or social era from 1990-1999. Example: Die politischen Umbrüche der Neunziger waren prägend. (The political upheavals of the Nineties were formative.)
• As a person: "Der Neunziger" (male), "die Neunzigerin" (female), "die Neunziger" (plural). Refers to the age group. Example: Sie feiert bald ihren Geburtstag und wird dann eine Neunzigerin. (She's celebrating her birthday soon and will then be a nonagenarian.)

Stylistically, "die Neunziger" for the decade is very common and sounds more natural than "die Jahre von 1990 bis 1999". For people, it's a standard term for advanced age.

Confusion is rare, as the context (person vs. time) is usually clear, and the plural form is almost exclusively used for the decade.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar words: Achtziger (Eighties/person in 80s), Siebziger (Seventies/person in 70s) etc. (refer analogously to other decades or age groups).

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Enkel den Opa: "Opa, wie war das eigentlich so in den Neunzigern?"
Antwortet der Opa, ein fitter Neunziger: "Welche meinst du? Die von 1990 bis '99, oder die Jahre, seit ich neunzig bin? Beide waren auf ihre Art ziemlich wild!" 😄

Translation:
The grandson asks his grandpa: "Grandpa, what was it actually like back in the Nineties?"
The grandpa, a fit nonagenarian, replies: "Which ones do you mean? The ones from 1990 to '99, or the years since I turned ninety? Both were pretty wild in their own way!" 😄

📜 Poem about the Nineties

Die Neunziger

Techno-Beats und bunte Clips,
Das Internet macht erste Klicks.
Game Boy, Tamagotchi-Zeit,
Die Mauer fiel, die Welt war weit.

Oder ist's der alte Mann,
Der neunzig Kerzen zählen kann?
Ein Leben lang, so viel geseh'n,
Geschichten kann er schön erzähl'n.

Ob Zeit, ob Mensch, das Wort es eint,
Ein Stück Geschichte, wie's scheint.

Translation:
The Nineties

Techno beats and colourful clips,
The internet makes its first clicks.
Game Boy, Tamagotchi time,
The Wall fell, the world was wide.

Or is it the old man,
Who can count ninety candles?
A whole life long, so much he's seen,
He can tell stories beautifully.

Whether time or person, the word unites,
A piece of history, it seems.

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich kann ein Jahrzehnt sein, mit Eurodance und viel Tamtam,
Oder ein Mensch, der schon sehr lange auf die Welt ankam.
Mit 'der' bin ich der Greis, mit 'die' (im Plural) oft die bunte Zeit.
Was bin ich wohl, steh' für Dekade oder Langlebigkeit?

Translation:
I can be a decade, with Eurodance and lots of fuss,
Or a person who arrived in the world a long, long time thus.
With 'der' I'm the old man, with 'die' (plural) often the colourful time.
What am I, standing for decade or longevity's prime?

(Solution: Der/Die Neunziger - The Nineties / The Nonagenarian(s))

ℹ️ Other Information

Word Formation: The word "Neunziger" is formed from the cardinal number "neunzig" (ninety) by adding the suffix "-er". This suffix serves here for nominalization and can refer to a time period (as with years) or a person.

Cultural Associations (Decade): Die Neunziger (the Nineties) in Germany are often associated with reunification (Wiedervereinigung), the rise of the internet for the general public, specific music styles (Grunge, Techno, Boybands), and fashion trends (platform shoes, baggy pants).