der
Tabellenplatz
📊 What does 'der Tabellenplatz' mean?
Der Tabellenplatz refers to the position or rank that someone or something (usually a sports team) holds in a Tabelle (table) or ranking. It reflects the order based on specific criteria (e.g., points, goals).
The word is specifically masculine (maskulin) and always used with the article der.
Example: Nach dem Sieg steht die Mannschaft auf dem ersten Tabellenplatz. (After the victory, the team is in first place in the table.)
Article rules for der, die, and das
-tz → almost always masculine.
🧐 Grammar: Declension of 'der Tabellenplatz'
The noun 'Tabellenplatz' is masculine. Here are the declension tables:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (1st case) | der | Tabellenplatz |
| Genitive (2nd case) | des | Tabellenplatzes |
| Dative (3rd case) | dem | Tabellenplatz / Tabellenplatze (rare) |
| Accusative (4th case) | den | Tabellenplatz |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Tabellenplätze |
| Genitive | der | Tabellenplätze |
| Dative | den | Tabellenplätzen |
| Accusative | die | Tabellenplätze |
📝 Example Sentences
- Der aktuelle Tabellenplatz der Mannschaft ist enttäuschend.
(The team's current league position is disappointing.) - Mit diesem Sieg verbesserten sie sich um zwei Tabellenplätze.
(With this victory, they moved up two places in the table.) - Der Kampf um die vorderen Tabellenplätze ist sehr spannend.
(The fight for the top spots in the table is very exciting.) - Welchen Tabellenplatz belegt dein Lieblingsteam?
(What league position does your favorite team hold?)
🎯 Everyday Usage
The term Tabellenplatz is almost exclusively used in the context of sports leagues (Fußball, Handball, Basketball, etc.). It describes the ranking of participating teams based on their performance over a season or tournament.
- Typical verbs: einen Tabellenplatz belegen (to occupy a league position), innehaben (to hold), verteidigen (to defend), verbessern (to improve), verlieren (to lose).
- Context: Sports reporting, discussions among fans, analysis of match results.
- Distinction: While 'Rang' (rank) or 'Position' (position) are more general, 'Tabellenplatz' is very specific to a ranking presented in a table format, usually in sports.
💡 Mnemonics to Remember
Article Mnemonic: Think of der Platz (the place, the spot). A Tabellenplatz is also a specific 'place' in the table. Since 'Platz' is masculine (der Platz), der Tabellenplatz is also masculine.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a sports Tabelle (table) where each team has its own Platz (place/spot). The Tabellenplatz is precisely this rank or place in the table.
🔄 Synonyms & Contrasting Concepts
Same Meaning (Synonyms)
Contrasting Concepts
There isn't a direct antonym, but related contrasting terms include:
- Das Schlusslicht: Means 'tail light', refers to the last place in the table.
- Der Tabellenkeller: Colloquial for the 'table cellar', meaning the bottom positions.
- Die Tabellenspitze: The 'top of the table', the highest positions.
⚠️ Note: 'Platz' alone can also simply mean 'place' or 'square' and is not always synonymous with Tabellenplatz.
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt der Trainer den neuen Spieler: "Auf welchem Tabellenplatz siehst du dich in unserer Mannschaft?"
Antwortet der Spieler: "Direkt hinter dem Stürmerstar – auf der Bank!"
Translation:
The coach asks the new player: "What position (lit: table place) do you see yourself in on our team?"
The player replies: "Right behind the star striker – on the bench!"
📜 Poem about the 'Tabellenplatz'
Spieltag ist, die Spannung steigt,
Wer heute wohl nach oben zeigt?
Ein jeder Punkt, ein jedes Tor,
Bringt dich im Tabellenplatz empor.
Mal geht es rauf, mal geht es runter,
Die Liga macht das Leben bunter.
Am Ende zählt, wo man wird steh'n,
Den besten Platz will jeder seh'n.
Translation:
Matchday comes, excitement grows,
Who today upwards shows?
Every point, every goal scored,
Lifts you on the league table board.
Sometimes up, sometimes down you slide,
The league makes life a colorful ride.
In the end, it counts where you will stand,
The best position, everyone planned.
🧩 Little Riddle
Ich zeige dir, wer oben thront,
Und wer im Keller unten wohnt.
Im Sport bin ich ganz wichtig,
Mal bin ich gut, mal bin ich nichtig.
Nach Punkten werd' ich oft sortiert,
Damit man sieht, wer triumphiert.
Was bin ich?
Translation:
I show you who sits enthroned on high,
And who lives down in the cellar, nigh.
In sports, I am very key,
Sometimes I'm good, sometimes debris.
By points, I'm often sorted out,
So you can see who wins the bout.
What am I?
Solution: Der Tabellenplatz (The league position/rank)
ℹ️ Additional Info
Word Composition:
The term 'Tabellenplatz' is a compound noun (Kompositum), formed from:
Although 'Tabelle' is feminine (die), the gender of a German compound noun is determined by the last component ('Platz', masculine). Therefore, the compound word is masculine: der Tabellenplatz.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Tabellenplatz?
The German word Tabellenplatz is masculine. The correct article is der Tabellenplatz. It refers to the rank or position in a table, typically used in sports contexts.