der
Spielverderber
🤨 What Exactly is a Spielverderber?
A Spielverderber is a person (typically male, as the noun is masculine) who spoils the fun for others during an activity, game, or social gathering. This can happen through excessive criticism, constant arguments about rules, a bad mood, or destructive behavior.
Essentially, it's someone who ruins the good atmosphere and ensures others stop having fun. The word has negative connotations. It translates closely to 'spoilsport' or 'wet blanket'.
- Article: der (masculine)
- Feminine form: die Spielverderberin
⚠️ Note: Although a feminine form exists (die Spielverderberin), the masculine form 'der Spielverderber' is often used colloquially even for women, especially when the characteristic is emphasized over the gender.
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.
-er → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. almost all -euer nouns are neutral. 3. There are many -er words, we don't list them all.
🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Der Spielverderber
The noun "Spielverderber" is masculine. Here is its declension:
Declension Masculine (der Spielverderber)
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | der | Spielverderber |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | den | Spielverderber |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | dem | Spielverderber |
| Genitive (Possessive) | des | Spielverderbers |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Spielverderber |
| Accusative | die | Spielverderber |
| Dative | den | Spielverderbern |
| Genitive | der | Spielverderber |
Examples 📝
- Sei kein Spielverderber und mach einfach mit! (Don't be a spoilsport and just join in!)
- Wir haben den Spielverderber ignoriert und weitergefeiert. (We ignored the spoilsport and continued celebrating.)
- Ich gebe dem Spielverderber keine Aufmerksamkeit mehr. (I don't give the spoilsport any more attention.)
- Das ständige Genörgel des Spielverderbers nervt alle. (The spoilsport's constant complaining annoys everyone.)
- Auf der Party gab es leider mehrere Spielverderber. (Unfortunately, there were several spoilsports at the party.)
🗣️ When to Use "Spielverderber"?
The term "Spielverderber" is mostly used colloquially when someone negatively impacts the mood or flow of an activity. Typical situations include:
- During games (Beim Spielen): Someone adheres pedantically to rules, cheats unfairly, gets angry quickly when losing, or constantly criticizes other players.
- At parties & social events (Bei Feiern & Geselligkeit): A person spreads a bad mood, complains about everything (music, food, people), or brings others down with negative comments.
- Figuratively (Im übertragenen Sinne): Someone who thwarts plans, raises unrealistic concerns, or generally adopts a negative, destructive attitude.
Comparable terms are "Spaßbremse" (fun brake) or "Miesepeter" (grump), although "Spielverderber" often targets the ruining of a specific activity or situation more directly.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
For the article (der): Think of a typical man (masculine - der) who angrily flips the table during a card game – der typical Spielverderber.
For the meaning: Imagine someone takes away your Spiel (game) and verdirbt (spoils) all the fun – a Spiel-Verderber (game-spoiler).
↔️ Similar and Opposite Words
Synonyms (Similar meaning):
- Spaßbremse: (Fun brake) Someone who dampens others' joy (very similar).
- Miesepeter: (Grump) A generally bad-tempered, grumpy person.
- Quengler / Nörgler: (Whiner / Complainer) Someone who constantly whines or criticizes.
- Störenfried: (Troublemaker) Someone who intentionally causes disturbance.
Antonyms (Opposite meaning):
- Stimmungskanone: (Life of the party, lit. mood cannon) Someone who creates a great atmosphere.
- Entertainer / Unterhalter: Someone who entertains others well.
- Guter Verlierer: (Good loser) Someone who remains fair and cheerful even when losing.
- Teamplayer: Someone who is cooperative and enhances the group experience.
🚨 Caution: "Kritiker" (critic) is not necessarily a synonym. A critic can be constructive, whereas a Spielverderber is usually destructive to the mood.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum nehmen Spielverderber nie am Versteckspiel teil?
(Why do spoilsports never take part in hide-and-seek?)
Weil sie immer etwas zu meckern finden, bevor alle versteckt sind!
(Because they always find something to complain about before everyone is hidden!)
📜 Poem about the Spielverderber
Die Karten gemischt, die Würfel bereit,
(The cards shuffled, the dice ready,)
die Stimmung ist gut, weit und breit.
(The mood is good, far and wide.)
Doch einer sitzt da mit saurem Gesicht,
(But one sits there with a sour face,)
macht Regeln zunicht', stört das Gleichgewicht.
(Voids rules, disturbs the balance.)
"Das zählt nicht!", ruft er, "Das ist unfair!",
("That doesn't count!", he shouts, "That's unfair!",)
macht allen den Spaß unendlich schwer.
(Makes fun infinitely difficult for everyone.)
Er nörgelt und schmollt, ist nie zufrieden,
(He complains and sulks, is never satisfied,)
der Spielverderber, von allen gemieden.
(The spoilsport, avoided by all.)
❓ Riddle Time
Ich komme oft uneingeladen,
(I often come uninvited,)
wenn Freude herrscht und Spiele laden.
(When joy prevails and games invite.)
Ich meckre gern, bin schlecht gelaunt,
(I like to complain, am in a bad mood,)
hab' oft den Spaß komplett versaut.
(Have often completely ruined the fun.)
Wer bin ich? / Who am I?
Lösung / Solution: Der Spielverderber
🧩 Word Composition
The word "Spielverderber" is a compound noun, composed of:
- Spiel: Refers to the game, activity, or fun.
- verderben: Means to spoil, ruin, make bad.
- -er: Suffix indicating a person performing the action (similar to teacher - Lehrer, baker - Bäcker).
So, a Spielverderber is literally someone who spoils the game.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Spielverderber?
The German word "Spielverderber" is masculine. The correct article is der Spielverderber. It refers to a person who spoils the fun for others, often called a spoilsport or wet blanket in English.