der
Posten
📌 What does "der Posten" mean?
The word der Posten is a versatile masculine noun in German with several main meanings:
- Job/Position 💼: Employment, an office, or a specific function within an organization or company. Example: Er hat einen neuen Posten als Abteilungsleiter angetreten. (He started a new position as department head.)
- Item/Entry (e.g., on a list, invoice) 📝: A separate entry or amount in a list, often in a financial or accounting context. Example: Auf der Rechnung gibt es noch einen offenen Posten von 50 Euro. (There is still an outstanding item/amount of 50 euros on the invoice.)
- Guard post/Sentry 💂: A person or place assigned to guard or observe, often in a military or security context. Example: Der Soldat stand auf seinem Posten am Tor. (The soldier stood at his post by the gate.)
- Batch/Lot (of goods) 📦: A specific quantity or lot of goods that belong together or were produced/delivered at the same time. Example: Wir haben einen großen Posten neuer T-Shirts erhalten. (We received a large batch of new T-shirts.)
⚠️ Pay attention to the context to understand the correct meaning of "Posten".
Article rules for der, die, and das
-en → mostly masculine.
1. All diminutives with '-chen' are neutral, like 'das Mädchen'. 2. Nouns derived from verbs are always neutral ('das Schrieben'). 3. There are many -en words, we won't list them all.
🧐 Grammar of "der Posten" in Detail
"Posten" is a masculine noun. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Posten |
| Genitive | des | Postens |
| Dative | dem | Posten |
| Accusative | den | Posten |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Posten |
| Genitive | der | Posten |
| Dative | den | Posten |
| Accusative | die | Posten |
Example Sentences
- (Job/Position) Nach langer Suche fand sie endlich einen gut bezahlten Posten. (After a long search, she finally found a well-paid position.)
- (Item/Entry) Bitte prüfen Sie die einzelnen Posten auf der Abrechnung genau. (Please check the individual items on the statement carefully.)
- (Guard post) Die Wachen wechselten ihre Posten alle zwei Stunden. (The guards changed their posts every two hours.)
- (Batch of goods) Der Händler kaufte einen Restposten günstig ein. (The trader bought a remainder batch cheaply.)
🗣️ How to Use "Posten" Correctly
- Job/Position: Often used with verbs like antreten (to start), bekleiden (to hold), innehaben (to occupy), aufgeben (to give up), suchen (to look for), finden (to find). Common collocations include leitender Posten (leading position), fester Posten (permanent position), offener Posten (open position/vacancy).
- Item/Entry: Mainly in the context of lists, invoices, budgets. You talk about einzelne Posten (individual items), offene Posten (outstanding items/amounts), durchlaufender Posten (suspense item, in accounting).
- Guard post: Typical phrases are auf Posten stehen (to be on duty/at one's post), seinen Posten beziehen (to take up one's post), den Posten verlassen (to leave one's post). Also used figuratively: auf seinem Posten bleiben (to stick to one's guns/opinion).
- Batch of goods: Common in trade, often for larger quantities or remaining stock (Restposten).
Confusion is rare as the context usually makes the meaning clear. The meaning 'job/position' is very common in everyday language.
🧠 Mnemonics for "der Posten"
- Article Mnemonic: Think of typically male roles: Der Chef (the boss, masc.) has a new Posten (job). Der Soldat (the soldier, masc.) stands on Posten (guard duty). This helps remember der Posten.
- Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a scene: A manager (Posten 1: job) checks a long list of expenses (Posten 2: items). Outside, a guard (Posten 3: sentry) stands next to a large box of goods (Posten 4: batch). All these "points" or "positions" are Posten. Think of 'posting' an entry on a list, or being 'posted' to a job or guard duty.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- For 'job/position': Stelle, Position, Amt, Anstellung, Arbeitsplatz, Funktion
- For 'item/entry': Eintrag, Punkt, Rechnungsposten, Einzelbetrag, Fakturaposition
- For 'guard post': Wache, Wachdienst, Sentry (rarely used in German), Beobachtungsposten
- For 'batch of goods': Charge, Partie, Los, Menge, Kontingent, (Rest-)Bestand
Antonyms
- For 'job/position': Arbeitslosigkeit (unemployment), Vakanz (vacancy, sometimes)
- For 'item/entry': Gesamtsumme (grand total), Gesamtbetrag (total amount)
- For 'guard post': (No direct antonym, perhaps 'unbewacht' - unguarded)
- For 'batch of goods': Einzelstück (single item, sometimes)
Similar Words
😂 A Little Joke
DE: Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Haben Sie schon Erfahrung auf einem ähnlichen Posten gesammelt?" Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: "Oh ja, ich stand schon oft an der Bushaltestelle auf Posten!"
EN: The boss asks the new employee: "Have you already gained experience in a similar post/position (Posten)?" The employee replies: "Oh yes, I've often stood 'on post' (auf Posten stehen - idiomatically also 'to wait/be stationed') at the bus stop!"
📜 Poem about Posten
DE:
Ein neuer Posten, frisch und fein,
als Chef, das soll die Zukunft sein.
Doch auf der Rechnung, ach du Schreck,
ist mancher Posten noch nicht weg.
Der Wächter steht auf seinem Posten,
bewacht die Waren, die was kosten.
Ein großer Posten Stoff, so bunt,
macht viele Kleider für die Stund'.
EN:
A new post (job), fresh and fine,
As boss, that shall be the future's sign.
But on the invoice, oh dear me,
Many an item (Posten) isn't yet free.
The guard stands firmly at his post (sentry duty),
Watches the goods that cost the most.
A large batch (Posten) of fabric, bright,
Makes many dresses for day and night.
🧩 Riddle
DE:
Ich kann ein Job sein, hoch im Haus,
oder ein Punkt auf dem Kontoauszug, o Graus.
Ein Soldat steht auf mir bei Nacht,
Und manchmal bin ich eine Warenfracht.
Was bin ich?
Lösung: der Posten
EN:
I can be a job, high in the house,
Or an item on the bank statement, oh louse.
A soldier stands on me at night,
And sometimes I'm a shipment of goods, that's right.
What am I?
Solution: der Posten
💡 Other Information
- Etymology: The word "Posten" likely comes via Italian (posto = place, position) and French (poste) from the Latin ponere (to put, place, set).
- Compounds: There are many compound nouns with "Posten" that clarify the meaning, e.g.: Chefposten (chief position), Außenposten (outpost), Rechnungsposten (invoice item), Wachposten (guard post), Restposten (remaining stock), Kostenposten (cost item), Haushaltsposten (budget item), Einzelposten (individual item), Dienstposten (service post/position).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Posten?
The word "Posten" is always masculine. The correct form is der Posten (in singular) and die Posten (in plural). It has various meanings, including a professional position, an item on a list, a guard post, or a batch of goods.