der  Pfennig

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈpfɛnɪç/

💰 What exactly is a Pfennig?

Der Pfennig (abbreviation: Pf.) was a German currency unit, used as small change. It represents one hundredth of the Mark (both the Deutsche Mark (DM) and the Reichsmark, as well as other earlier Mark currencies).

Although the Euro has replaced the Pfennig as official currency, the term is still present in common language, especially in idioms.

⚠️ Der Pfennig is no longer legal tender in Germany.

🧐 Grammar Focus: der Pfennig

The noun „Pfennig“ is masculine. Therefore, the article is der.

Singular Declension

Plural Declension

📝 Example Sentences

• Früher kostete ein Kaugummi nur zehn Pfennige.
  (In the past, chewing gum only cost ten Pfennigs.)
• Er drehte jeden Pfennig zweimal um, bevor er ihn ausgab.
  (He turned every Pfennig over twice before spending it. - Meaning: He was very frugal.)
• Das ist keinen Pfennig wert!
  (That's not worth a Pfennig! - Meaning: That's worthless.)

🗣️ How is „Pfennig“ used?

Today, the term „Pfennig“ is mostly used figuratively or in historical contexts:

• Historical Context: When talking about prices or money before the introduction of the Euro.
• Idioms: Expressions like „jeden Pfennig umdrehen“ (to be very frugal), „auf Heller und Pfennig“ (down to the last penny, exactly), „keinen Pfennig wert sein“ (to be worthless) are still common.
• Symbol for Small Change: Sometimes „Pfennig“ is used colloquially as a synonym for a very small amount of money, similar to "cent". Example: „Ich habe keinen roten Pfennig mehr.“ (I don't have a red cent left. - Meaning: I'm broke.)

Compared to Cent (the current small change unit), Pfennig often sounds nostalgic or is deliberately used in idioms.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Article Mnemonic: Imagine an old, wise man (masculine -> der) nostalgically counting his old Pfennige. Der alte Mann zählt den Pfennig. (The old man counts the Pfennig.)

Meaning Mnemonic: Think of the English word "penny". Pfennig and Penny sound similar and both refer to a small coin unit. A Pfennig was the small change for the Mark (or maybe for the big Pfundskerle - strapping fellows - who used the Mark).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar, but different terms

• Heller: An even older, smaller German coin unit, sometimes appearing with Pfennig in idioms ("auf Heller und Pfennig").

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Lehrer: „Fritzchen, wenn du zehn Mark hast und gibst deinem Bruder fünfzig Pfennig, was bleibt dir dann?“
Fritzchen: „Neun Mark und fünfzig Pfennig – und wahrscheinlich ein blauer Fleck!“

Translation:
The teacher asks: "Little Fritz, if you have ten Marks and give your brother fifty Pfennigs, what do you have left?"
Little Fritz: "Nine Marks and fifty Pfennigs – and probably a bruise!"

📜 A Little Poem

Der Pfennig, klein und rund,
Lag einst in jeder Hand und Mund.
Hundert Stück, 'ne Mark war voll,
Sein Klang im Beutel klang oft toll.
Heut' ist er nur Erinnerung,
An alten Handel, alten Schwung.
Doch „keinen Pfennig“ sagt man noch,
Lebt fort im Sprachgebrauch er doch.

Translation:
The Pfennig, small and round,
Was once in every hand and mouth found.
A hundred pieces made a Mark complete,
Its jingle in the purse sounded sweet.
Today it's just a memory,
Of old commerce, old energy.
But "not a Pfennig" people still say,
It lives on in language today.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich war klein und aus Kupfer meist,
Hundert von mir wurden einst verreist,
Um eine Mark zu geben her.
Mein Name reimt sich fast auf „wenig“, sehr.

Was bin ich?

Translation:
I was small and mostly made of copper bright,
A hundred of me once took flight,
To make up one Mark, you see.
My name almost rhymes with "wenig" (few/little), indeed.

What am I?

Solution: Der Pfennig

🌐 Other Information

A Glimpse into History

The Pfennig has a long history dating back to the Middle Ages (Old High German „pfenning“). Its appearance, material, and value changed significantly over the centuries. The last Pfennigs of the Deutsche Mark (DM) were mostly made of copper-plated steel.

Abbreviation

The common abbreviation for Pfennig is Pf.