der
Taxifahrer
🚕 What does "der Taxifahrer" mean?
A Taxifahrer is a male person who drives a taxi professionally, transporting people or goods for a fee.
It's a job title. The female form is die Taxifahrerin.
Example: Der freundliche Taxifahrer brachte uns sicher zum Flughafen. (The friendly taxi driver took us safely to the airport.)
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.
Understanding the Grammar of "Taxifahrer"
"Taxifahrer" is a masculine noun and belongs to the weak N-declension. This means it adds an "-n" ending in all cases except the nominative singular.
Declension (Singular)
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Taxifahrer |
| Genitive | des | Taxifahrern |
| Dative | dem | Taxifahrern |
| Accusative | den | Taxifahrern |
Declension (Plural)
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Taxifahrer |
| Genitive | der | Taxifahrer |
| Dative | den | Taxifahrern |
| Accusative | die | Taxifahrer |
⚠️ Attention: The N-declension is important! You say "Ich sehe den Taxifahrern" (Accusative: I see the taxi driver), not "den Taxifahrer". The genitive and dative plural also differ from many other nouns.
Example Sentences
- Der Taxifahrer wartete am Bahnhof. (The taxi driver waited at the station. - Nominative Singular)
- Das Auto des Taxifahrern ist neu. (The taxi driver's car is new. - Genitive Singular)
- Ich gab dem Taxifahrern das Trinkgeld. (I gave the tip to the taxi driver. - Dative Singular)
- Wir haben den Taxifahrern gerufen. (We called the taxi driver. - Accusative Singular)
- Die Taxifahrer streiken heute. (The taxi drivers are on strike today. - Nominative Plural)
- Die Gewerkschaft der Taxifahrer verhandelt. (The taxi drivers' union is negotiating. - Genitive Plural)
- Die neuen Regeln gelten für alle Taxifahrern. (The new rules apply to all taxi drivers. - Dative Plural)
- Man sieht viele Taxifahrer in der Stadt. (You see many taxi drivers in the city. - Accusative Plural)
When and How to Use "Taxifahrer"?
The word "Taxifahrer" is used to refer to the profession or a specific person in that job.
- In everyday life: When ordering a taxi or talking about a taxi ride. "Kannst du bitte einen Taxifahrer rufen?" (Can you please call a taxi driver?)
- Job title: When talking about the profession itself. "Er arbeitet als Taxifahrer." (He works as a taxi driver.)
- Distinction: It differs from "Chauffeur", who is often permanently employed and drives a private or company car, whereas a Taxifahrer is usually self-employed or works for a taxi company and transports passengers on demand.
Colloquially, you might hear "Taxler".
Memory Aids for "der Taxifahrer"
Article Mnemonic
Think of the Man who drives the Taxi - it's der Taxifahrer. Masculine job titles usually take "der".
Meaning Mnemonic
A Taxi + a Fahrer (driver) = Taxifahrer. Quite simple: someone who drives a taxi.
Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Taxler (colloquial, regional)
- Droschkenkutscher (outdated, refers to horse-drawn cabs, but sometimes used humorously for taxi drivers)
- Chauffeur (only partially synonymous, see usage notes)
Similar-sounding words: No direct common confusions known.
A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Fahrgast den Taxifahrer: "Können Sie bitte etwas schneller fahren? Ich habe es eilig!" Antwortet der Taxifahrer: "Kein Problem! Soll ich auch die Augen zumachen?" 😄
English: The passenger asks the taxi driver: "Could you please drive a bit faster? I'm in a hurry!" The taxi driver replies: "No problem! Should I close my eyes too?" 😄
Poem about the Taxi Driver
German:
Durch Nacht und Regen, Stadtgebraus,
Fährt der Taxifahrer, kennt sich aus.
Ein Licht im Dunkeln, gelb und klar,
Bringt dich ans Ziel, Jahr für Jahr.
Ein kurzer Plausch, ein fester Preis,
Auf seiner täglichen, langen Reis'.
English:
Through night and rain, the city's roar,
The taxi driver knows the score.
A light in darkness, yellow, bright,
Takes you to your goal, day and night.
A little chat, a fixed fare's price,
On his daily, long device (journey).
Who am I? A Riddle
German:
Ich fahre ein Auto, doch es ist nicht meins allein.
Ich bringe dich von A nach B, bei Sonne oder Schein.
Ich kenne die Straßen, Gassen und jeden Weg,
Wer bin ich, der dich fährt, ganz ohne Steg?
English:
I drive a car, but it's not mine alone.
I take you from A to B, through sunshine or moonstone.
I know the streets, alleys, and every way,
Who am I, driving you, come what may?
Solution: Der Taxifahrer (The taxi driver)
Interesting Facts about Taxifahrer
Word Composition
The word "Taxifahrer" is a compound noun, composed of:
- Taxi: Short form of Taxameter (taximeter), derived from Medieval Latin 'taxa' (assessment, fee).
- Fahrer: Derived from the verb "fahren" (to drive).
Feminine Form
The feminine form is die Taxifahrerin.
Profession
In Germany, the profession of a Taxifahrer requires a special license (Personenbeförderungsschein) and good local knowledge.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Taxifahrer?
The word "Taxifahrer" refers to a male person who drives a taxi professionally. The correct article is der, and the noun follows the weak N-declension (e.g., des Taxifahrern, dem Taxifahrern, den Taxifahrern in the singular).