der  Termin

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/tɛrˈmiːn/

🗓️ What exactly is a "Termin"?

Der Termin is a very common German noun (masculine) with several related meanings, all revolving around a fixed point in time:

• Appointment/Meeting: An agreed-upon time to meet someone (e.g., Arzttermin - doctor's appointment, Geschäftstermin - business meeting, a date). Example: Ich habe morgen um 10 Uhr einen Termin beim Zahnarzt. (I have an appointment with the dentist tomorrow at 10 am.)
• Deadline/Due Date: A set time by which something must be completed (e.g., Abgabetermin - submission deadline, Zahlungstermin - payment deadline). Example: Der Termin für die Einreichung der Steuererklärung ist der 31. Juli. (The deadline for submitting the tax return is July 31st.)
• Time Slot/Date: A specific, often booked, period of time for an activity. Example: Wir müssen noch einen Termin für die Besprechung finden. (We still need to find a date/time slot for the meeting.)

It always refers to a specific, fixed point or period in time, unlike a general time reference.

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Der Termin

The word "Termin" is a masculine noun. The article is always der.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

📝 Example Sentences

1. Hast du den Termin für das Meeting bestätigt? (Have you confirmed the appointment for the meeting? - Accusative Singular)
2. Wegen des wichtigen Termins musste er früher gehen. (Because of the important appointment, he had to leave early. - Genitive Singular)
3. Wir haben nächste Woche viele Termine. (We have many appointments next week. - Nominative/Accusative Plural)
4. Kannst du mir bei meinen Terminen helfen? (Can you help me with my appointments? - Dative Plural)
5. Der Termin wurde auf nächste Woche verschoben. (The appointment was postponed to next week. - Nominative Singular)

💡 How to Use "der Termin" Correctly

"Der Termin" is a key word in German daily and professional life. Here are typical contexts:

• Professional: Geschäftstermine (business appointments), Besprechungstermine (meeting dates), Projekttermine (project deadlines), Abgabetermine (submission deadlines).
• Private: Arzttermine (doctor's appointments), Friseurtermine (hairdresser appointments), Verabredungen (appointments/dates with friends), Behördentermine (appointments with authorities).
• Planning: People often talk about einen Termin vereinbaren (arranging an appointment), verschieben (postponing), absagen (cancelling), wahrnehmen (keeping/attending), or einhalten (meeting/keeping to a deadline).

⚠️ Caution: Termin vs. Datum

Don't confuse "der Termin" with "das Datum".

• Der Termin: A specific time for an event or a deadline (e.g., Der Termin ist am Montag um 14 Uhr - The appointment is on Monday at 2 PM).
• Das Datum: The calendar date (e.g., Welches Datum haben wir heute? Heute ist der 15. Mai - What's the date today? Today is May 15th).

An appointment (Termin) usually has a date (Datum) and a time (Uhrzeit), whereas a date (Datum) is just the calendar day.

Typical Collocations

• einen Termin haben: to have an appointment
• einen Termin vereinbaren/machen/ausmachen: to make/arrange an appointment
• einen Termin verschieben/verlegen: to postpone/reschedule an appointment
• einen Termin absagen: to cancel an appointment
• einen Termin wahrnehmen/einhalten: to keep/attend an appointment / to meet a deadline
• im Terminplan/Terminkalender stehen: to be in the schedule/diary

🧠 Mnemonics for "der Termin"

Remembering the Article "der":

Think of a determined man (masculine -> der) looking at his schedule. He is determined to keep his Termin. The 'der' sound is somewhat present in 'determined'.

Remembering the Meaning:

"Termin" sounds like the English word "term" (as in a fixed period or deadline) or related to "terminate" (meaning to end). An appointment or deadline marks a specific point in time, often the end of a waiting period or the point something needs to end/be done.

🔄 Synonyms and Related Words

Synonyms (Words with similar meaning):

• Die Verabredung: (Appointment/Date) More common for private meetings.
• Die Besprechung: (Meeting) Usually for business discussions.
• Die Frist / Der Stichtag: (Deadline / Due Date) Specifically refers to an end point in time.
• Der Zeitpunkt: (Point in time) More general, not necessarily pre-arranged.
• Das Treffen: (Meeting/Gathering) General term for getting together.

Antonyms (Opposites):

Direct antonyms are tricky. Consider concepts like:

• Die Flexibilität / Die Spontaneität: (Flexibility / Spontaneity) The opposite of fixed schedules.
• Unbestimmte Zeit: (Indefinite time) No fixed point in time.

Similar but Different Words:

• Das Datum: (The date) Only the calendar day (see usage notes).
• Die Uhrzeit: (The time) Only the time on the clock (e.g., 14:00). An appointment (Termin) often has a time (Uhrzeit), but is more than just the time itself.

😂 A Little Joke

Deutsch: Warum nehmen Skelette keine Termine wahr?
Weil sie keinen Körper haben, um hinzugehen! 😄

English: Why don't skeletons keep appointments?
Because they have no body to go with! 😄

✒️ Poem about Appointments

Deutsch:
Der Wecker klingelt, grell und laut,
Ein neuer Tag, kaum angetraut.
Der Kalender spricht ein klares Wort:
Der Termin, er ruft, ich muss schnell fort.

Beim Arzt, im Amt, beim Chef, beim Sport,
Ein fester Zeitpunkt, hier und dort.
Man hetzt und plant, vergisst die Zeit,
Der Termin regiert die Welt, so weit.

English Translation:
The alarm clock rings, harsh and loud,
A new day starts, barely allowed.
The calendar speaks a clear command:
The appointment calls, quick out of hand.

At the doctor's, office, boss's place, or sport,
A fixed time awaits, of every sort.
We rush and plan, forget the day's length,
The appointment rules the world, in all its strength.

🧩 Riddle

Deutsch:
Ich habe kein Gesicht, doch sag dir wann und wo.
Ich bin mal eine Frist, mal ein Treffen – sowieso.
Man macht mich aus, man hält mich ein, verschiebt mich spät und früh.
Im Kalender steh' ich drin, vergiss mich ja nur nie!

Was bin ich?

Lösung: Der Termin

English Translation:
I have no face, but tell you when and where.
Sometimes a deadline, sometimes a meeting – I'm always there.
You arrange me, you keep me, postpone me late and soon.
I'm written in the calendar, beneath the sun and moon!

What am I?

Solution: Der Termin (The appointment/deadline)

✨ More about "Termin"

Word Origin (Etymology)

The word "Termin" comes from the Latin word terminus, meaning "border", "end point", or "goal". This reflects the meaning of a fixed (end) point in time.

Compound Words (Wortzusammensetzungen)

"Termin" is often combined with other nouns to specify the type of appointment or deadline:

• Arzttermin (Doctor's appointment)
• Geschäftstermin (Business appointment)
• Abgabetermin (Submission deadline)
• Wunschtermin (Preferred/desired appointment date)
• Termindruck (Pressure due to appointments/deadlines)
• Terminplanung (Scheduling)
• Online-Termin (Online appointment)