der
Sohn
📜 What does "der Sohn" mean?
Der Sohn (noun, masculine) refers to a male child in relation to his parents. In English, it translates to son.
- Main meaning: A male offspring of the first degree. Example: Mein Sohn geht jetzt zur Schule. (My son is going to school now.)
- Figurative meaning: Sometimes used to express a close, fatherly relationship or as a form of address for a younger man (rather archaic or religious, e.g., "Sohn Gottes" - Son of God).
There's only this one article, der, for this word, making the gender assignment clear. 👨👦 It's a masculine noun.
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 Sohn" in Detail
The word "Sohn" is a masculine noun and always uses the article der.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun | (English Case) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der | Sohn | (Nominative) |
| Genitiv | des | Sohnes / Sohns | (Genitive) |
| Dativ | dem | Sohn / Sohne | (Dative) |
| Akkusativ | den | Sohn | (Accusative) |
Note: In the Genitive and Dative singular, alternative forms often exist (-es/-s and -e/-). The forms without -e are more common today.
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun | (English Case) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | die | Söhne | (Nominative) |
| Genitiv | der | Söhne | (Genitive) |
| Dativ | den | Söhnen | (Dative) |
| Akkusativ | die | Söhne | (Accusative) |
Example Sentences ✍️
- Nominative Singular: Der Sohn spielt im Garten. (The son is playing in the garden.)
- Genitive Singular: Das ist das Fahrrad des Sohnes. (That is the son's bicycle.)
- Dativ Singular: Ich gebe dem Sohn ein Buch. (I give a book to the son.)
- Akkusativ Singular: Sie liebt ihren Sohn sehr. (She loves her son very much.)
- Nominativ Plural: Die Söhne helfen im Haushalt. (The sons help in the household.)
- Dativ Plural: Er spricht mit seinen Söhnen. (He is talking with his sons.)
🗣️ How to use "Sohn"?
- Family Context: The most common use refers directly to the family relationship. Peter ist der älteste Sohn von Maria und Klaus. (Peter is the eldest son of Maria and Klaus.)
- Inheritance/Succession: Historically and still relevant today in the context of inheritance or succession in family businesses. Der Sohn wird die Firma übernehmen. (The son will take over the company.)
- Religious Context: In Christianity, Jesus is referred to as the "Sohn Gottes" (Son of God).
- Figurative/Address: Less commonly used as an affectionate or patronizing term for a younger man by an older authority figure. Hör zu, mein Sohn... (Listen, my son...) (often sounds old-fashioned or condescending).
- Difference from "Junge": While "Junge" (boy) refers to a male child in general, "Sohn" emphasizes the relationship to the parents.
🧠 Mnemonics for "der Sohn"
For the article 'der': Think of DERminator, a strong male figure, like a proud father's Sohn. Masculine nouns often take 'der'.
For the meaning 'son': "Sohn" sounds a bit like the English word "sun". A Sohn can be the sunshine in his parents' lives. ☀️
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Sohn
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Nachkomme (männlich): (male descendant) - More general, refers to lineage.
- Sprössling (männlich): (male offspring) - More figurative or slightly dated.
- Junior: Often used when the son shares the same name as the father (e.g., Peter Schmidt Jr.).
- Junge/Bub: (boy) - Refers to age, not primarily the parent-child relationship.
Antonyms (opposites):
- Tochter: (daughter) - Female child of the parents.
- Elternteil (Vater/Mutter): (parent - father/mother) - The reference persons to whom the son relates.
⚠️ Be careful: "Söhnchen" is the diminutive form (little son).
😄 A little Joke
Deutsch:
Vater: "Na, mein Sohn, was möchtest du mal werden, wenn du groß bist?"
Sohn: "Rentner!"
English Translation:
Father: "Well, my son, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
Son: "A pensioner!"
📜 A Poem about the Son
Deutsch:
Ein kleiner Mann, der schnell wird groß,
liegt oft noch auf dem Mutterschoß.
Der Sohn, ein Band, so stark und rein,
soll stets geliebt und glücklich sein.
Er lernt die Welt, Schritt für Schritt,
und nimmt die Elternherzen mit.
English Translation:
A little man, who quickly grows tall,
often still lies on his mother's lap.
The son, a bond, so strong and pure,
shall always be loved and happy, secure.
He learns the world, step by step, you see,
and takes his parents' hearts along with glee.
❓ Riddle Time
Deutsch:
Ich bin ein Mann, doch war mal klein,
bin meines Vaters Augenschein.
Meine Mutter hat mich lieb,
als Junge fing mein Leben an, blieb
der Eltern Stolz, wer bin ich dann?
Lösung: Der Sohn
English Translation:
I am a man, but once was small,
I am the apple of my father's eye, standing tall.
My mother holds me dear,
As a boy my life began, it's clear,
My parents' pride, who am I here?
Solution: The son
💡 Other Interesting Facts
- Etymology: The German word "Sohn" has Germanic roots and is related to the English "son" and the Dutch "zoon".
- Compound Words: "Sohn" appears in many compound words, e.g., Enkelsohn (grandson), Schwiegersohn (son-in-law), Patensohn (godson), Stiefsohn (stepson), Adoptivsohn (adopted son).
- Idiom: "Wie der Vater, so der Sohn" - translates to "Like father, like son", meaning sons often share traits or behaviors with their fathers.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Sohn?
The word "Sohn" is always masculine. Therefore, the correct article is exclusively der Sohn.
