der
Prinz
👑 What does "der Prinz" mean?
Der Prinz is a masculine noun primarily referring to a male title of nobility.
- Main Meaning: A non-reigning male descendant of a monarch (König - king, Kaiser - emperor, Fürst - sovereign prince) or the husband of a reigning queen or princess. Often the son of a king or emperor (Kronprinz = crown prince, heir to the throne).
- Figurative Meaning: Sometimes the term is used affectionately or ironically for a young man considered particularly charming, handsome, or spoiled ("Märchenprinz" - fairy-tale prince, "Prinz Charming").
⚠️ The word only takes the masculine article der. The female equivalent is die Prinzessin (the princess).
Article rules for der, die, and das
Male characters → always masculine.
Caution: Most professions also have their feminine forms (e.g. die Polizistin). Some words can also have two forms: der/die Deutsche, der/die Kranke.
🧐 Grammar of "der Prinz" in Detail
"Prinz" is a masculine noun (Maskulinum). It belongs to the weak declension (n-declension), which means it takes the ending -(e)n in all cases except the nominative singular.
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Prinz |
| Genitive | des | Prinzen |
| Dative | dem | Prinzen |
| Accusative | den | Prinzen |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Prinzen |
| Genitive | der | Prinzen |
| Dative | den | Prinzen |
| Accusative | die | Prinzen |
✨ Examples
- Der junge Prinz winkte dem Volk zu. (The young prince waved to the people.)
- Das Schloss gehört dem Prinzen. (The castle belongs to the prince.)
- Die Hochzeit des Prinzen wurde im Fernsehen übertragen. (The prince's wedding was broadcast on TV.)
- Sie traf den Prinzen auf dem Ball. (She met the prince at the ball.)
- Die Prinzen besuchten das Nachbarland. (The princes visited the neighboring country.)
💬 How to use "Prinz"?
- Context: Mainly used in contexts related to nobility, royalty, history, and fairy tales.
- Formality: The term itself is neutral. Its figurative use can be informal or even ironic.
- Distinction: A Prinz usually ranks below a König (king) or Kaiser (emperor), but above a Herzog (duke) or Graf (count), although exact hierarchies can be complex. A Fürst can be a reigning monarch or a high noble title, sometimes used synonymously with Prinz, but often implying sovereignty.
- Set Phrases: "Prinz Charming" (ideal man), "sich wie ein Prinz fühlen" (to feel very comfortable/pampered).
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
For the article 'der': Remember that der Prinz is a man. Many male roles and person designations in German are masculine and take the article 'der'. Think: Der Mann, der König, der Prinz.
For the meaning: The word sounds very similar to the English "prince". Imagine a royal son who, in principle (prinzipiell), could be next on the throne – that's der Prinz.
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Thronfolger: Specifically, the prince who is designated as the next king/ruler (Kronprinz - crown prince).
- Königssohn: Son of a king.
- Fürstensohn: Son of a sovereign prince (Fürst).
- Edelmann: Nobleman (general term).
- (Figuratively): Traummann (dream man), Herzensbrecher (heartbreaker)
Antonyms (opposites):
- Prinzessin: Princess (female equivalent).
- König/Kaiser/Fürst: Higher-ranking or reigning monarch.
- Bürgerlicher/Untertan: Commoner/subject (person without a noble title).
⚠️ Similar Words:
- Prinzip (das): Sounds similar, but means principle or rule. Do not confuse!
😄 A Little Joke
DE: Warum hat der Froschkönig keinen Job?
Weil er immer nur darauf wartet, von einer Prinzessin zum Prinzen geküsst zu werden!
EN: Why doesn't the Frog Prince have a job?
Because he's always just waiting to be kissed by a princess and turned into a prince!
📜 Poem about the Prince
DE:
Im Schlosse hoch, mit edlem Sinn,
Lebt der Prinz, ein Herrscher im Beginn.
Mal kühn im Kampf, mal sanft und zart,
Träumt von der Krone, seiner Art.
Durch Gärten wandelt er allein,
Bald wird er König sein.
EN:
In castle high, with noble mind,
Lives the Prince, a ruler yet to find
His final form. Bold in the fray, or gentle, mild,
He dreams of the crown, nature's child.
Through gardens he walks all alone,
Soon he'll ascend the throne.
❓ Little Riddle
DE:
Ich bin der Sohn vom Königspaar,
Trage oft Samt und edles Haar.
Im Märchen warte ich auf den Kuss,
Der mich vom Zauber erlösen muss.
Wer bin ich?
Antwort: Der Prinz
EN:
I am the son of the royal pair,
Often wear velvet and noble hair.
In fairy tales, I await a kiss,
That must release me from enchantment's bliss (or curse).
Who am I?
Answer: The Prince (der Prinz)
💡 Other Interesting Facts
- Word Origin: The word "Prinz" comes from the Latin princeps, meaning "the first" or "the leader". In the Roman Empire, this was an honorary title.
- Famous Princes: Many fairy tale characters (Froschkönig - Frog Prince, Sleeping Beauty's prince) and historical figures (Prince Eugene of Savoy, Prince Charles/King Charles III) bear this title.
- N-Declension: Belonging to the n-declension is a grammatical feature that needs to be memorized. Other examples include: der Junge (des Jungen - the boy), der Kunde (des Kunden - the customer), der Herr (des Herrn - the gentleman/lord).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Prinz?
The German word 'Prinz' is masculine, so the correct article is der Prinz.
