der  Trailer

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈtʁeɪ̯lɐ/

🎬🚛 What exactly is a "Trailer"?

The word der Trailer is an Anglicism (a loanword from English) and has two main meanings in German:

1. Film preview 🎬: A short promotional film showing excerpts from an upcoming movie or TV show to arouse the audience's interest. Synonyms for this are die Vorschau or der Teaser.
2. Vehicle trailer 🚛: A vehicle without its own engine, pulled by another vehicle (usually a truck or car). Synonyms here are der Anhänger or der Hänger (colloquial).

🚨 As it's a loanword, it's sometimes used with the English plural "Trailers", although the German plural "die Trailer" is correct and more common.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "der Trailer" in Detail

The noun "Trailer" is masculine. Here is its declension:

Singular

Plural

💡 Example Sentences

• Film preview: Hast du schon den Trailer für den neuen Superheldenfilm gesehen? (Have you already seen the trailer for the new superhero movie?)
• Film preview: Der Trailer hat mich neugierig gemacht, aber der Film war enttäuschend. (The trailer made me curious, but the movie was disappointing.)
• Vehicle trailer: Der LKW zog einen langen Trailer mit Baumaterialien. (The truck pulled a long trailer with building materials.)
• Vehicle trailer: Vorsicht beim Überholen, wenn ein Auto einen Trailer zieht! (Be careful when overtaking if a car is pulling a trailer!)

🗣️ How to use "Trailer"?

Usage clearly depends on the context:

• In the context of film and media, "der Trailer" unambiguously refers to the preview. One talks about seeing, editing, or releasing a trailer (einen Trailer sehen, schneiden, veröffentlichen).
• In the context of transport and logistics, "der Trailer" means the vehicle trailer, especially for trucks (articulated lorry / semi-trailer). One talks about coupling, parking, or loading a trailer (einen Trailer ankuppeln, abstellen, beladen).

Confusion is rare, as the context is usually clear. You wouldn't say "Ich habe mir gestern einen spannenden Anhänger im Kino angesehen." (Yesterday I watched an exciting vehicle trailer at the cinema.)

Compared to Vorschau, Trailer sounds more modern and international, especially in the film context. Compared to Anhänger, Trailer is often used more specifically for large truck trailers (semi-trailers), while Anhänger is more general (also for cars).

🧠 Mnemonics for "der Trailer"

Article Mnemonic: Imagine a strong man (der) pulling a huge truck trailer OR a man sitting excitedly in the cinema (der Kinosaal) waiting for the (den) movie trailer. Both require "masculine" strength or focus – hence der Trailer.

Meaning Mnemonic: A film trailer trails (pulls) you into the cinema. A truck trailer is trailed (pulled) by the truck. The English word "trail" is key to both meanings.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar words: Be careful with der Trainer – that's a person who trains someone (coach, trainer).

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Regisseur den Cutter: "Ist der Trailer schon fertig?"
Antwortet der Cutter: "Nein, ich hänge noch dran!"

(Translation: The director asks the editor: "Is the trailer ready yet?"
The editor replies: "No, I'm still attached to it!" / "No, I'm still working on it!" - The joke plays on "dran hängen", which can mean both "to be attached to something physically" like a trailer to a truck, and "to be working on something / lagging behind".)

📜 Poem about the Trailer

Der Kino-Trailer

Kurz und knapp, ein Lockruf hell,
zeigt Action, Drama, blitzesschnell.
Der Trailer flimmert, macht gespannt,
auf das, was kommt ins Filmland.
Man sieht Helden, Schurken, groß und klein,
und denkt: "Den Film, den muss ich seh'n!"

(Translation: The Cinema Trailer

Short and sweet, a bright lure,
shows action, drama, quick and sure.
The trailer flickers, builds suspense,
for what's to come to the movie fence.
You see heroes, villains, big and small,
and think: "This movie, I must see it all!")

Der LKW-Trailer

Lang und schwer, an Stahl gekoppelt,
durchs Land er tapfer hoppelt.
Der Trailer folgt der Zugmaschin',
Fracht zu bringen, ist sein Sinn.
Von A nach B, bei Tag und Nacht,
hat er die Waren mitgebracht.

(Translation: The Truck Trailer

Long and heavy, coupled to steel,
across the land, it bravely reels.
The trailer follows the tractor's lead,
to bring the freight, that is its creed.
From A to B, by day and night,
it has brought the goods alright.)

❓ Riddle Time

Ich zeige dir Bilder, bevor der Hauptakt beginnt,
mache dich neugierig, geschwind, geschwind.
Mal bin ich laut, mal spannend, mal heiter,
ich bin der kurze Film-Wegbereiter.

Oder:

Ich habe keinen Motor, doch reise weit,
bin an ein stärkeres Fahrzeug gekettet allezeit.
Ich trage Lasten, groß und schwer,
auf Straßen hin und auf Straßen her.

Was bin ich?
(Translation:
I show you pictures before the main act starts,
making you curious, very fast.
Sometimes I'm loud, exciting, or cheerful,
I am the short film's pioneer.

Or:

I have no engine, yet I travel far,
always chained to a stronger car (or truck).
I carry loads, both large and heavy,
on roads back and forth, steady.

What am I?)
(Solution: Der Trailer)

🌐 Other Information

Word Origin (Etymology):

The word "Trailer" comes directly from English. "To trail" means "to pull behind", "to drag", or "to follow a track".

• The meaning "vehicle trailer" (Anhänger) comes from the fact that it is trailed behind the towing vehicle.
• The meaning "film preview" (Filmvorschau) originated because these promotional films were initially shown after the main feature film (they trailed the main feature). Only later was their advertising potential recognized, and they were moved to before the main film, but the name stuck.