der
Zöllner
👮♂️ What does "Zöllner" mean?
Der Zöllner is a male person who works for the customs authority (der Zoll). His main task is to check goods and people at borders (Grenzen - national borders, airports, ports) to ensure compliance with customs and import regulations and to collect duties (Zölle) or taxes (Steuern).
Historically, der Zöllner could also refer to a tax collector or publican (known from the Bible, e.g., der Zöllner Zachäus).
The female form is die Zöllnerin.
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.
-ner → almost always masculine.
Compare with the category '-er'.
-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 Zöllner
The noun Zöllner is masculine, used with the article der. It belongs to the weak N-declension.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Zöllner |
| Genitive | des | Zöllners / Zöllnern ⚠️ |
| Dative | dem | Zöllnern |
| Accusative | den | Zöllnern |
⚠️ Note on Genitive Singular: Although Zöllner technically belongs to the weak declension (genitive ending in -n), the strong form with -s (des Zöllners) is often used in modern German, especially when there's no article or adjective. The form des Zöllnern is considered standard for N-declension but might sound unusual to some speakers.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Zöllner |
| Genitive | der | Zöllner |
| Dative | den | Zöllnern |
| Accusative | die | Zöllner |
📝 Example Sentences
- Der Zöllner kontrollierte die Pässe am Grenzübergang.
(The customs officer checked the passports at the border crossing.) - Die Reisenden mussten dem Zöllnern ihre Koffer öffnen.
(The travellers had to open their suitcases for the customs officer.) - Die Aufgaben des Zöllners (oder: des Zöllnern) sind vielfältig.
(The duties of the customs officer are diverse.) - Wir haben den freundlichen Zöllnern am Flughafen getroffen.
(We met the friendly customs officer at the airport.) - Viele Zöllner arbeiten im Schichtdienst.
(Many customs officers work in shifts.)
🌐 When to use "Zöllner"?
The term Zöllner is primarily used in the context of border controls (Grenzkontrollen), customs clearance (Zollabfertigung), and the collection of import duties (Erhebung von Einfuhrabgaben).
- Typical locations: Airports (Flughäfen), seaports (Seehäfen), border crossings (Grenzübergänge), customs offices (Zollämter).
- Function: Checking goods (Waren) (preventing smuggling - Schmuggelprävention, ensuring compliance with prohibitions - Einhaltung von Verboten), passenger traffic (Personenverkehr), and collecting duties and taxes (e.g., import turnover tax - Einfuhrumsatzsteuer).
- Distinction: While Zöllner refers to the person, der Zoll is the authority or system. Zollbeamter is a synonymous, slightly more formal term. Grenzer is colloquial and can also refer to border police who don't primarily perform customs duties.
- Historical meaning: In older texts or religious contexts (Bible), Zöllner often refers to a tax collector or publican, which is no longer the main meaning today.
🧠 Mnemonics for Zöllner
Remembering the article (der): Der Zöllner is a man doing a job. Most masculine job titles in German use der.
Remembering the meaning: A Zöllner collects tolls (Zoll means duty/toll) from people crossing the border. Imagine him saying "Pay the toll, Sir!" which sounds a bit like "Zöllner".
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Zollbeamter / Zollbeamtin: More formal term for the same job (customs official).
- Grenzer / Grenzerin (coll.): Colloquial, often broader term (can also mean border guard).
- Douanier (dated, from French): Outdated term.
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Schmuggler / Schmugglerin: Smuggler; person who illegally brings goods across the border to evade customs.
- Reisender / Passagier: Traveller / Passenger; the person being checked by the customs officer.
⚠️ Similar but different terms:
- Polizist / Polizistin: Police officer; responsible for general security and law enforcement, not primarily customs matters (though there can be overlaps, e.g., Federal Police - Bundespolizei).
- Steuerfahnder / Steuerfahnderin: Tax investigator; investigates tax evasion within the country, not primarily at the border.
😄 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Zöllner den Autofahrer: „Haben Sie etwas zu verzollen?“ Sagt der Autofahrer: „Nein, gar nichts.“ Der Zöllner: „Und was ist mit den sechs Kästen Bier auf dem Rücksitz?“ Der Autofahrer: „Ach das? Das ist nur mein persönlicher Notvorrat für die Heimfahrt!“
English Translation: The customs officer asks the driver: "Anything to declare?" The driver says: "No, nothing at all." The customs officer: "And what about the six crates of beer on the back seat?" The driver: "Oh that? That's just my personal emergency supply for the drive home!"
📜 Poem about the Zöllner
German:
An der Grenze, streng und klar,
Steht der Zöllner, Jahr für Jahr.
Prüft die Koffer, groß und klein,
Lässt nicht jeden einfach rein.
Ob Kaffee, Schnaps, ob Tabak neu,
Er achtet auf die Abgabentreu'.
Ein Wächter für des Landes Kasse,
Findet Schmuggelgut in jeder Masse.
English Translation:
At the border, strict and clear,
Stands the customs man, year after year.
Checks the suitcases, large and small,
Doesn't simply let everyone through the wall.
Whether coffee, liquor, or tobacco new,
He ensures the duties paid are true.
A guardian for the country's treasure chest,
Finds smuggled goods put to the test.
❓ Riddle Time
German:
Ich trage Uniform, doch bin kein Soldat,
Steh' oft am Schlagbaum oder am Flughafengrad.
Ich frage nach Waren, nach dem, was du bringst,
Und schau', dass du ehrlich die Abgaben entringst.
Wer bin ich?
English Translation:
I wear a uniform, but I'm not a soldier,
Often stand at the barrier or the airport border.
I ask about goods, about what you convey,
And ensure you honestly the duties pay.
Who am I?
Solution: Der Zöllner (The customs officer)
💡 Other Information
Word Composition: The word Zöllner derives from Zoll (duty, toll, originally a cut piece of wood for measurement) and the suffix -ner (denoting a person associated with something).
Historical Figure: The publican (Zöllner) Matthew is a well-known figure from the New Testament who became one of the twelve apostles of Jesus.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Zöllner?
The word "Zöllner" is masculine. The correct article is der: der Zöllner. It refers to a male customs officer.