der
Torjäger
🎯 What does "der Torjäger" mean?
The term der Torjäger refers to a person, typically a player in team sports like Fußball (football/soccer), Handball, or Eishockey (ice hockey), who is particularly successful at scoring goals. It is a masculine noun.
So, a Torjäger is someone who often hits the opponent's goal and is known as a 'goalgetter' or 'striker' renowned for scoring. The feminine form is die Torjägerin.
There is only this one article and this one meaning for the word. ⚠️ Don't confuse it with Jäger (hunter) in the general sense, although it is derived from it.
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 in Detail: Der Torjäger
"Torjäger" is a masculine noun. It does not follow the N-declension but is declined regularly.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Torjäger |
| Genitive | des | Torjägers |
| Dative | dem | Torjäger |
| Accusative | den | Torjäger |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Torjäger |
| Genitive | der | Torjäger |
| Dative | den | Torjägern |
| Accusative | die | Torjäger |
Example Sentences
- Robert Lewandowski ist ein weltbekannter Torjäger.
(Robert Lewandowski is a world-famous goalscorer.) - Der Trainer setzt große Hoffnungen in seinen neuen Torjäger.
(The coach places great hopes in his new goalscorer.) - Die Mannschaft feierte ihren Torjäger nach dem entscheidenden Treffer.
(The team celebrated their goalscorer after the decisive goal.) - Die Statistiken der besten Torjäger der Liga sind beeindruckend.
(The statistics of the league's best goalscorers are impressive.)
🗣️ How to use "Torjäger" correctly
"Der Torjäger" is used almost exclusively in a sporting context, especially in ball sports where goals are scored.
- Fußball (Football/Soccer): This is where the term is most common. It describes strikers or other players who score many goals (e.g., "Der Torjäger der Bundesliga" - The top scorer of the Bundesliga).
- Handball/Eishockey (Ice Hockey): The term is also used here for players with a high scoring rate.
- Figurative Meaning: Very rarely, it can be used metaphorically for someone who successfully "hits the mark" or achieves goals in another field, but this is uncommon.
The word has a positive connotation, implying success, assertiveness, and importance to the team. It's more specific than "Stürmer" (striker/forward, who doesn't necessarily score many goals) or "Spieler" (player).
🧠 Mnemonics for "Torjäger"
Article Mnemonic: Remember that a Torjäger is usually a man (masculine) who 'hunts' (jagt) goals (Tore). Masculine nouns in German often take 'der'. Der man hunts goals.
Meaning Mnemonic: Break down the word: Tor (goal) + Jäger (hunter). A Jäger hunts animals; a Torjäger hunts goals. Picture a football player stalking the goal like a hunter.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Words
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Der Goalgetter: Very common synonym, borrowed from English.
- Der Kanonier: (Cannoneer) More figurative, emphasizes shooting power.
- Der Stürmer: (Striker/Forward) General term for an attacking position; not every Stürmer is a Torjäger.
- Der Knipser: (colloquial: one who 'snips' or scores reliably) Informal term for a player who scores reliably, often from close range.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Der Abwehrspieler / Verteidiger: (Defender) Prevents goals.
- Der Torwart / Torhüter: (Goalkeeper) The direct opponent of the Torjäger, who saves goals.
- Der Chancentod (ugs.): (lit. 'chance death') A player who misses many scoring opportunities (not a true antonym, but an opposite characteristic).
Potential Confusion:
- Der Jäger: Refers to a hunter (of animals).
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Trainer seinen Stürmer: "Warum schießt du heute keine Tore?"
Antwortet der Torjäger: "Trainer, der Ball ist einfach zu rund heute!"
Translation:
The coach asks his striker: "Why aren't you scoring any goals today?"
The goalscorer replies: "Coach, the ball is just too round today!"
📜 Poem about the Torjäger
Der Rasen grün, der Ball rollt schnell,
Ein Mann im Sturm, er ist zur Stell'.
Sein Blick aufs Netz, fest und klar,
Der Torjäger, der Star!
Ein Schuss, ein Jubel, laut und rein,
So soll es immer sein!
Translation:
The pitch is green, the ball rolls fast,
A man in attack, he's there at last.
His gaze on the net, steady and clear,
The Goalscorer, the star held dear!
A shot, a cheer, loud and clean,
May it always be this scene!
❓ Riddle Time
Ich jage nicht im Wald nach Wild,
mein Ziel ist's, dass der Ball oft zappelt im Schild.
Im Stadion bin ich oft der Held,
wer bin ich, in der Fußballwelt?
Translation:
I don't hunt game in the wood so wide,
My aim's the net where the ball should reside.
In the stadium, I'm often the hero they've hailed,
Who am I, in the football world unveiled?
Solution: Der Torjäger (The Goalscorer)
💡 More to Know
Word Composition: The word "Torjäger" is a compound noun, composed of:
Cultural Note: In the German Fußball-Bundesliga (Federal Football League), the season's top scorer is awarded the "Torjägerkanone" (literally 'goalscorer cannon'), a trophy shaped like a small cannon.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Torjäger?
The word "Torjäger" is always masculine. The correct article is der: der Torjäger (nominative), des Torjägers (genitive), dem Torjäger (dative), den Torjäger (accusative).
