der
Weber
🧶 What does "der Weber" mean?
The German word der Weber primarily has two meanings:
- Profession: A Weber is a person (traditionally male) who practices the craft of weaving (weben), meaning someone who produces fabrics or textiles on a loom (Webstuhl). 🧑🔧
- Surname: Weber is one of the most common German surnames. It originates from the occupational name. 👨👩👧👦
Since the provided article is "der", the primary meaning refers to the male person practicing the profession, or a person with this surname. The female form of the profession is "die Weberin".
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 of "der Weber"
The noun "der Weber" is masculine. Here are the declension tables:
Declension (Singular)
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Weber |
| Genitive | des | Webers |
| Dative | dem | Weber |
| Accusative | den | Weber |
Declension (Plural)
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Weber |
| Genitive | der | Weber |
| Dative | den | Webern |
| Accusative | die | Weber |
Example Sentences
- Der Weber saß geduldig an seinem Webstuhl. (The weaver sat patiently at his loom. - Profession)
- Das ist Herr Weber, unser neuer Nachbar. (That is Mr. Weber, our new neighbour. - Surname)
- Die Arbeit des Webers erfordert viel Geschick. (The weaver's work requires much skill. - Profession)
- Wir haben den Webern bei ihrer Demonstration zugesehen. (We watched the weavers during their demonstration. - Profession, Plural)
🧐 How is "der Weber" used?
Usage depends on the context:
- In historical or craft-related contexts: Refers to the profession. Example: "Im Mittelalter war der Beruf des Webers weit verbreitet." (In the Middle Ages, the weaver profession was widespread.)
- In everyday contexts: Often used as a surname. Example: "Ich habe heute Morgen mit Herrn Weber gesprochen." (I spoke with Mr. Weber this morning.)
Important Note: Although "Weber" can also be part of the name for a harvestman spider (der Weberknecht) or a medical test (Weber-Test), these do not refer to "der Weber" as a noun for a person. The harvestman is masculine ("der Weberknecht") but represents a different meaning.
Sometimes "Weber" is used metaphorically, e.g., "der Weber des Schicksals" (the weaver of fate), but this is more literary.
🧠 Mnemonics for "der Weber"
Article Mnemonic
Think of the man sitting at the loom: Der Mann ist der Weber. This helps remember the masculine article "der".
Meaning Mnemonic
Imagine a spider's web. The spider "weaves" (webt) its net. A person who professionally creates fabric is a Weber. The connection to the verb "weben" (to weave) is key.
🔄 Synonyms & Similar Words for "der Weber"
Synonyms (for profession)
- Tuchmacher: (Cloth maker) Often used synonymously, though slight differences might exist (specializing in cloth).
- Gewebeproduzent: (Fabric producer) More modern, technical term.
- (obsolete) Leineweber (linen weaver), Zeugmacher (stuff maker)
Antonyms
Direct antonyms don't really exist. One could name professions that do the opposite (e.g., destroyer), but that's not very meaningful.
Similar, potentially confusing words
😄 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Weber seinen Job gekündigt? – Er hatte einfach keinen Faden mehr zu seinem Chef!
(Why did the weaver quit his job? – He simply lost the thread with his boss! / He had no more connection/rapport with his boss! - "den Faden verlieren" means losing the thread/track, and "Faden" means thread.)
📜 A Poem about the Weaver
Der Weber sitzt am Webstuhl sein,
Schafft Muster, bunt und fein.
Faden um Faden, Schlag um Schlag,
Entsteht ein Tuch, Tag für Tag.
Sein Name klingt in Stadt und Land,
Ein Handwerk alt, mit stolzer Hand.
(The weaver sits at his loom, / Creates patterns, colorful and fine. / Thread by thread, beat by beat, / A cloth emerges, day by day. / His name resonates in town and country, / An ancient craft, with a proud hand.)
❓ Riddle
Ich sitze oft an großem Rahmen,
verbinde Fäden ohne Namen.
Aus Wolle, Seide, Leinen klar,
mach' ich Gewebe, Jahr für Jahr.
Mein Name ist auch weit bekannt,
als Nachname in deutschem Land.
Wer bin ich? (I often sit at a large frame, / connecting threads without names. / From wool, silk, linen clear, / I make fabric, year after year. / My name is also widely known, / as a surname in German land. / Who am I?)
Answer: Der Weber (The Weaver)
💡 Other Information & Trivia
- Etymology: The word "Weber" derives directly from the Old High German verb "weban" (to weave, to create).
- Famous Bearers of the Name: Carl Maria von Weber (composer), Max Weber (sociologist). This highlights the frequency of the surname.
- Cultural Significance: The craft of weaving has a long history and was often central to the economic development of regions (e.g., the Silesian Weavers' Uprising). Gerhart Hauptmann's play "Die Weber" (The Weavers) addresses this theme.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Weber?
The word "Weber" uses the article der. It refers to the masculine occupational title (someone who weaves) or a common German surname. The female form of the profession is "die Weberin", and the plural is "die Weber".