der
Weimarer
🏙️ What does 'der Weimarer' mean?
The word 'der Weimarer' primarily refers to a male inhabitant of the city of Weimar in Thuringia, Germany.
It is a substantivized adjective (an adjective used as a noun) derived from the city name 'Weimar'. It can also refer to things originating from or related to Weimar, but in that case, it's usually used adjectivally (e.g., die Weimarer Klassik - the Weimar Classicism, der Weimarer Zwiebelmarkt - the Weimar Onion Market). If used as a noun for a thing, the article might be neuter or feminine (e.g., das Weimarer as a synonym for something typical from Weimar), but 'der Weimarer' almost exclusively refers to the male person.
⚠️ Important: The female form is 'die Weimarerin'.
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 Explorer: Der Weimarer
'Der Weimarer' is a noun (Substantiv), specifically a substantivized adjective. It declines like an adjective when preceded by an article or pronoun (weak declension) or when standing alone (strong declension). It is capitalized.
Declension (Masculine Singular)
As it usually refers to a person, it's often used in the singular.
| Case | Definite Article (weak) | Indefinite Article (mixed) | No Article (strong) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Weimarer | ein Weimarer | Weimarer |
| Genitive | des Weimarers | eines Weimarers | Weimarers |
| Dative | dem Weimarer | einem Weimarer | Weimarer(m) |
| Accusative | den Weimarer | einen Weimarer | Weimarer(n) |
Note: The endings in parentheses for the strong declension are less common or archaic.
Grammar Examples
- Nominative: Der Weimarer kennt Goethe und Schiller gut. (The man from Weimar knows Goethe and Schiller well.)
- Genitive: Das ist das Fahrrad des Weimarers von nebenan. (That is the bike of the man from Weimar next door.)
- Dative: Ich habe dem Weimarer den Weg zum Bahnhof gezeigt. (I showed the man from Weimar the way to the train station.)
- Accusative: Kennst du den Weimarer, der dort drüben steht? (Do you know the man from Weimar standing over there?)
🧭 How 'der Weimarer' is Used
'Der Weimarer' is used to:
- Name a male resident of the city of Weimar: Er ist gebürtiger Weimarer. (He is a native of Weimar.)
- Refer to a male person closely associated with Weimar (e.g., working or having lived there).
Although derived from a place name, its declension follows adjective declension patterns. It's typically capitalized, even when formally used adjectivally before another noun (a peculiarity of geographical derivatives ending in -er): ein Weimarer Dichter (a Weimar poet) (though ein weimarischer Dichter is also possible but less common). The plural is 'die Weimarer'.
Context: You'll often find the word in reports about Weimar, in historical contexts (e.g., related to Weimarer Klassik or the Weimarer Republik), or simply when discussing a person's origin.
💡 Mnemonics for 'der Weimarer'
For the article 'der': Think of 'der Mann' (the man) from Weimar. 'Weimarer' refers to a person, and if it's the male one, the article is 'der'.
For the meaning: Imagine Goethe (der famous poet) walking through Weimar – he's a famous 'Weimarer' (even though not born there, he worked there significantly).
🔄 Similar & Opposite: Weimarer
Antonyms
- Nicht-Weimarer (Non-Weimar resident)
- Auswärtiger (Outsider, in relation to Weimar)
Related Terms
- die Weimarerin: Female inhabitant of Weimar.
- weimarisch (adjective): Relating to Weimar, but used less frequently than the '-er' form. Example: weimarische Verhältnisse (Weimar conditions).
- Weimar (die Stadt): The city name itself.
🚨 Caution: Don't confuse it with the adjective 'weimarisch', which is written in lower case (unless at the beginning of a sentence).
😂 A Little Joke
Ein Tourist fragt einen Weimarer: "Sagen Sie, ist es wahr, dass Goethe hier wirklich alles wusste?"
Antwortet der Weimarer: "Na ja, alles vielleicht nicht, aber er wusste zumindest immer, wo die nächste Kneipe ist!" 😉
Translation:
A tourist asks a man from Weimar: "Tell me, is it true that Goethe really knew everything here?"
The Weimarer replies: "Well, maybe not everything, but at least he always knew where the nearest pub was!" 😉
📜 A Rhyme about Weimar
In Thüringens Herz, so fein,
lebt der Weimarer, nicht allein.
Mit Dichtern und mit Denkergeist,
die Kultur hier Kreise zieht, ganz leis'.
An Ilm und Park, Geschichte spürt,
wer als Weimarer hier residiert.
Translation:
In Thuringia's heart, so fine,
lives the man from Weimar, not alone.
With poets and with thinking minds,
culture circles here, quite softly.
By Ilm river and park, history is felt,
by who resides here as a Weimar man.
❓ Little Riddle
Ich komm aus der Stadt der Klassik, licht und klar,
Wo Schiller schrieb und Goethe war.
Ich bin ein Mann von diesem Ort,
Trag seinen Namen fort und fort.
Wer bin ich?
Translation:
I come from the city of Classicism, bright and clear,
Where Schiller wrote and Goethe was here.
I am a man from this place,
Carrying its name forth and forth apace.
Who am I?
(Answer: der Weimarer)
🧩 More about Weimarer
Word Formation: The word 'Weimarer' is formed by adding the suffix '-er' to the city name 'Weimar'. This is a very common way to form demonyms (names for inhabitants) or adjectives of belonging from place names in German (compare: Berliner, Hamburger, Kölner).
Historical Significance: The term is inextricably linked to German history, particularly:
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Weimarer?
The word 'Weimarer' referring to a male inhabitant of the city of Weimar is always masculine: der Weimarer. The female form is 'die Weimarerin'.