die
Kleinanzeige
📰 What exactly is a Kleinanzeige?
The German noun die Kleinanzeige (feminine, plural: die Kleinanzeigen) refers to a short, usually private or semi-private advertisement placed in newspapers, magazines, or online portals. It typically serves the purpose of buying or selling used items, or searching for services, apartments, jobs, or contacts.
In contrast to large advertisements (große Werbeanzeigen), it is often text-based and less expensive. The article is always die.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Kleinanzeige
The noun "Kleinanzeige" is feminine. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Kleinanzeige |
| Accusative | die | Kleinanzeige |
| Dative | der | Kleinanzeige |
| Genitive | der | Kleinanzeige |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Kleinanzeigen |
| Accusative | die | Kleinanzeigen |
| Dative | den | Kleinanzeigen |
| Genitive | der | Kleinanzeigen |
Example Sentences
- Ich habe die Kleinanzeige für das Fahrrad in der Zeitung gesehen.
(I saw the classified ad for the bike in the newspaper.) - Er schaltet regelmäßig Kleinanzeigen, um seine alten Bücher zu verkaufen.
(He regularly places classified ads to sell his old books.) - Dank der Kleinanzeige fand sie schnell einen Nachmieter.
(Thanks to the classified ad, she quickly found a new tenant.) - Der Inhalt der Kleinanzeigen ist oft sehr knapp gehalten.
(The content of the classified ads is often kept very brief.)
🗣️ How to Use "Kleinanzeige"
Kleinanzeigen (classified ads) are ubiquitous, both in print and online. Typical use cases include:
- Selling: "Ich habe mein altes Sofa über eine Kleinanzeige verkauft." (I sold my old sofa via a classified ad.)
- Searching: "Sie sucht per Kleinanzeige eine Mitfahrgelegenheit nach Berlin." (She is looking for a ride to Berlin via a classified ad.)
- Services: "Der Gärtner bietet seine Dienste in einer Kleinanzeige an." (The gardener offers his services in a classified ad.)
- Real Estate: "Wir haben unsere Wohnung durch eine Kleinanzeige gefunden." (We found our apartment through a classified ad.)
In the digital age, online platforms like "eBay Kleinanzeigen" (now just "Kleinanzeigen") have become very popular in Germany, further cementing the term. A Kleinanzeige is more specific than a general "Anzeige" (ad) or "Werbung" (advertisement), as it usually implies a private or smaller commercial background and often a specific (smaller) size and lower cost.
💡 Mnemonics for "die Kleinanzeige"
Article Mnemonic: Think of die Anzeige as something you read on die Webseite (website) or in die Zeitung (newspaper). Many media nouns in German are feminine, which helps remember "die".
Meaning Mnemonic: The word is composed of "klein" (small) + "Anzeige" (ad/notice). So, it literally means a small ad.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
⚠️ Note: Not every "Anzeige" is a "Kleinanzeige". The term usually implies a private or semi-professional context and a limited budget/format.
😄 A Little Joke
German:
Frage: Warum hat der Computer eine Kleinanzeige aufgegeben?
Antwort: Er suchte eine neue Maus – seine alte hatte den Geist aufgegeben!
English Translation:
Question: Why did the computer place a classified ad?
Answer: It was looking for a new mouse – its old one had given up the ghost!
✍️ Poem about the Kleinanzeige
German:
Im Netz, ganz klein und fein,
steht eine Anzeige, klar und rein.
"Verkaufe Rad, fast wie neu,"
liest man da, ganz ohne Scheu.
Ein Klick, ein Anruf, schnell gemacht,
hat jemand anders dran gedacht.
So wechselt's den Besitzer flott,
Dank Kleinanzeige, welch ein Spott?
English Translation:
Online, quite small and neat,
Stands an ad, clear and sweet.
"Selling bike, almost like new,"
One reads there, without ado.
A click, a call, quickly done,
Someone else had thought of one.
So it changes owners fast,
Thanks to the classified, what a blast?
❓ Little Riddle
German:
Ich bin kurz, steh oft im Blatt,
manchmal online, in der Stadt.
Ich helfe suchen, biete an,
was man verkaufen oder finden kann.
Meist privat und nicht sehr teuer.
Was bin ich?(Lösung: die Kleinanzeige)
English Translation:
I am short, often in the paper found,
Sometimes online, all around town.
I help to search, offer things too,
What one can sell or find anew.
Mostly private and not too dear.
What am I?
(Answer: the classified ad / die Kleinanzeige)
🧩 More about the Kleinanzeige
Word Composition: The word is a compound noun formed from the adjective "klein" (small) and the noun "die Anzeige" (ad, notice, announcement).
Cultural Significance: Kleinanzeigen often reflect everyday life and people's needs. They represent a microcosm of the local market and social interactions.
Well-known Platforms: In Germany, the portal "Kleinanzeigen" (formerly eBay Kleinanzeigen) is extremely popular and has firmly established the term in common usage.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Kleinanzeige?
The German word "Kleinanzeige" is feminine, so the correct article is "die Kleinanzeige". It translates to "classified ad" or "small ad", typically used for private listings in newspapers or online platforms.