der
Text
📖 What exactly is a "Text"?
Der Text (noun, masculine) refers to a coherent sequence of written or printed linguistic signs that make sense. It can be a short sentence, a paragraph, an article, a book, or any other form of written communication.
- Main meaning: A written or printed sequence of words or characters containing a message or information.
- Broader sense: The wording of a spoken utterance can also be referred to as Text (e.g., der Text eines Liedes - the lyrics of a song, der Text einer Rede - the text of a speech).
- In computing: A character string or data that is not binary.
There is only the masculine article der for "Text". 🚨 Be careful not to accidentally use another article.
🧐 Grammar of "der Text" in Detail
"Text" is a masculine noun and is declined accordingly. It generally follows the weak noun declension pattern in the plural but forms its plural with -e.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Text |
| Genitive | des | Textes / Texts |
| Dative | dem | Text(e) |
| Accusative | den | Text |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Texte |
| Genitive | der | Texte |
| Dative | den | Texten |
| Accusative | die | Texte |
📝 Example Sentences
- Nominative: Der Text ist sehr lang. (The text is very long.)
- Genitive: Die Analyse des Textes dauerte Stunden. (The analysis of the text took hours.)
- Dative: Ich stimme dem Text voll und ganz zu. (I completely agree with the text.)
- Accusative: Bitte lies den Text sorgfältig durch. (Please read the text carefully.)
- Plural: Sie hat viele interessante Texte geschrieben. (She has written many interesting texts.)
✍️ How to Use "der Text"?
"Der Text" is a very common word in German, used in many contexts:
- Literature & Writing: When discussing books, articles, poems, etc. (e.g., "Der Text dieses Romans ist fesselnd." - The text of this novel is captivating.)
- Communication: Often in connection with emails, letters, or messages (e.g., "Hast du den Text der E-Mail verstanden?" - Did you understand the text of the email?)
- Linguistics & Analysis: When examining language and structure (e.g., "Wir analysieren die Kohärenz des Textes." - We analyze the coherence of the text.)
- Music: For song lyrics (e.g., "Der Text des Liedes ist sehr poetisch." - The lyrics of the song are very poetic.)
- Computing: Refers to character strings as opposed to binary data (e.g., "Die Datei enthält nur reinen Text." - The file contains only plain text.)
Comparison: While der Text refers to the written form, die Rede (speech) or der Vortrag (lecture) typically refer to spoken words. Der Inhalt (content) is more general and can also refer to non-written information.
🧠 Mnemonics for "der Text"
Article Mnemonic (der): Think of der Computer, on which you often write a Text. Many German nouns ending in -er are masculine. Although "Text" doesn't end this way, associating it with a typically 'masculine' device like der Computer can help remember der Text.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a Text as a strong (like der often implies strength or masculinity) thread (compare Latin texere = to weave), which weaves thoughts and words together into a whole.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Words):
- Schriftstück: A more formal word for a written document.
- Wortlaut: Refers specifically to the exact wording.
- Inhalt: The content of the text (but can be broader).
- Dokument: Often used in bureaucratic or digital contexts.
- Artikel: A text in a newspaper or magazine.
- Manuskript: A handwritten or unpublished text.
- Passage / Abschnitt: A part of a longer text.
Antonyms (Opposites):
⚠️ Similar but Different Words:
😂 A Little Text Joke
DE: Fragt der Lehrer: "Was ist die kürzeste Form eines Textes?"
Schüler: "Ein Telegramm an einen Geizhals: Alles Gute!"
EN: The teacher asks: "What is the shortest form of a text?"
Student: "A telegram to a miser: All the best!"
📜 Poem about the Text
DE:
Ein Text, mal kurz, mal lang,
Erzählt Geschichten, Klang für Klang.
Gedruckt, geschrieben, digital,
Verbindet Welten, überall.
Der Text bewahrt, was einst gedacht,
Hat Wissen und Ideen gebracht.
EN:
A text, sometimes short, sometimes long,
Tells stories, sound by sound along.
Printed, written, digital bright,
Connects the worlds, with all its might.
The text preserves what once was thought,
Has knowledge and ideas brought.
❓ Riddle Time
DE:
Ich habe Buchstaben, aber keine Stimme.
Ich erzähle Geschichten, doch habe kein Leben.
Man liest mich oft, mal laut, mal leise.
Was bin ich wohl auf diese Weise?
EN:
I have letters, but no voice.
I tell stories, yet have no life.
People often read me, sometimes aloud, sometimes silently.
What might I be, in this way?
Solution: Der Text (The text)
💡 More about the Word "Text"
- Etymology: The word "Text" comes from the Latin word textus, meaning "tissue" or "contexture" (from texere = to weave). This reflects the idea that a text is composed of interwoven words and sentences.
- Compound Words: There are many German compound words (Komposita) with "Text", e.g.:
- Textanalyse (text analysis)
- Textverarbeitung (word processing)
- Textnachricht (text message, SMS)
- Textbuch (libretto)
- Textbaustein (boilerplate text, text module)
- Quelltext (source code in computing)
- Digitalization: The concept of "Text" has gained enormous importance in the digital age through emails, websites, social media, and messaging services.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Text?
The word "Text" is always masculine. The correct form is: der Text. The plural is die Texte.