die
Marke
🏷️ What does "die Marke" actually mean?
The word die Marke has several meanings in German:
- Brand/Trademark: This is the most common meaning. It refers to an identifier (name, logo, symbol) that distinguishes the goods or services of one company from those of others, often associated with a specific image or promise of quality. Example: Diese Automarke ist für ihre Zuverlässigkeit bekannt. (This car brand is known for its reliability.)
- Mark/Sign: A marking, stamp, or other sign used for identification, labeling, or proof. Example: Der Förster machte eine Marke an den Baum, der gefällt werden soll. (The forester made a mark on the tree that is to be felled.)
- Token/Stamp/Voucher: A small, often self-adhesive piece of paper with a specific value, used as a means of payment for certain services (e.g., postage) or as an admission ticket. Example: Klebe noch eine Marke auf den Brief, bevor du ihn abschickst. (Put another stamp on the letter before you send it.) Sometimes also used for deposit tokens or similar items.
- Level/Benchmark/Record: A specific height, level, or limit, often in a sporting or statistical context. Example: Der Läufer unterbot die magische Marke von 10 Sekunden. (The runner broke the magic 10-second mark.) Der Wasserstand erreichte eine kritische Marke. (The water level reached a critical mark.)
🚨 Important: Although there are different meanings, 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 Marke
The noun "Marke" is feminine. The plural is "die Marken".
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Marke |
| Genitive | der | Marke |
| Dative | der | Marke |
| Accusative | die | Marke |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Marken |
| Genitive | der | Marken |
| Dative | den | Marken |
| Accusative | die | Marken |
📝 Example Sentences
- Nominative: Die Marke ist sehr beliebt. (The brand is very popular.)
- Genitive: Der Wert der Marke steigt kontinuierlich. (The value of the brand is continuously increasing.)
- Dative: Ich vertraue der Marke seit Jahren. (I have trusted the brand for years.)
- Accusative: Erkennst du die Marke auf dem Produkt? (Do you recognize the mark on the product?)
- Plural: Er sammelt alte Briefmarken. (He collects old stamps.)
- Plural: Viele neue Marken drängen auf den Markt. (Many new brands are entering the market.)
- Plural: Die Athleten erreichten neue Marken. (The athletes achieved new records/marks.)
💡 How "die Marke" is Used
- In Marketing & Business: Here, it almost always means 'brand'. People talk about Markenaufbau (brand building), Markenimage (brand image), Markenwert (brand value), or Markenkleidung (branded clothing).
- In Everyday Life (Marking): When marking something or making a sign. E.g., a Marke (mark) in a book as a bookmark, a Marke (notch) in wood.
- In Everyday Life (Token/Stamp): When buying Briefmarken (stamps), Pfandmarken (deposit tokens), or Essensmarken (food vouchers).
- In Sports & Statistics: When talking about records, limits, or levels (e.g., the 100-meter-Marke, the high-water Marke).
Distinction:
- das Zeichen (sign): Is more general than 'Marke'. Every Marke is a Zeichen, but not every Zeichen is a Marke (e.g., a traffic sign).
- das Symbol (symbol): Often has a deeper, figurative meaning, whereas 'Marke' (as a marking) is often more practical.
- das Logo (logo): Is specifically the graphic element of a Marke (brand).
🧠 Mnemonics for "die Marke"
-
Article Mnemonic: Think of things often associated with brands that are feminine in German: die Qualität (quality), die Werbung (advertising). The word itself ends in '-e', which is a very common ending for feminine nouns like die Marke.
-
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a supermarket selling many famous marks (brands). You pay using tokens (another meaning of Marke), and they stamp (mark) your receipt. This links 'brand', 'token', and 'mark'.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
- For Brand/Trademark: das Warenzeichen (trademark), das Gütezeichen (quality seal), der Brand (brand, less common, loanword), das Label, der Name (name)
- For Mark/Sign: das Zeichen (sign), die Kennzeichnung (labeling, identification), die Markierung (marking), der Stempel (stamp)
- For Token/Stamp: die Briefmarke (postage stamp), der Coupon, der Jeton (token), die Wertmarke (token, voucher)
- For Level/Benchmark: das Niveau (level), die Grenze (limit), der Pegel (level, gauge), der Rekord (record), der Richtwert (benchmark)
⚠️ Similar Words:
- der Markt: Refers to the marketplace or the entire economic system (e.g., der Finanzmarkt - the financial market). Don't confuse!
- das Mark: The former German currency or bone marrow.
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt der Lehrer: "Nennt mir eine bekannte italienische Automarke!"
Fritzchen meldet sich: "Gerne, Herr Lehrer: Spag(h)etti!"
Lehrer: "Aber Fritzchen, das ist doch keine Automarke!"
Fritzchen: "Wieso? Mein Vater fährt jeden Tag einen Teller davon an die Wand!"
Teacher asks: "Name a famous Italian car brand!"
Little Fritz raises his hand: "Sure, teacher: Spag(h)etti!"
Teacher: "But Fritzchen, that's not a car brand!"
Fritzchen: "Why not? My dad crashes a plate of it against the wall every day!"
(Okay, the joke plays more with "Marke" in the sense of 'something well-known', but it's close!)
📜 Poem about "die Marke"
Die Marke, strahlend, klar und rein,
soll für Qualität ein Bürge sein.
Ein Name, der Vertrauen schafft,
mit Werbekraft und Wissensmacht.
Ob auf dem Brief, als kleiner Wert,
ob als Rekord, der hoch geehrt,
ob tief im Holz als Kerbe klein –
die Marke prägt sich tief uns ein.
---
The Brand, shining, clear and pure,
should vouch for quality, secure.
A name that builds up trust and might,
with advertising's knowing light.
Whether on letters, value shown,
or as a record, highly known,
or in the wood, a notch so small –
the brand impresses one and all.
🧩 Riddle
Ich bin ein Zeichen, groß und klein,
prang' auf Produkten, edel, fein.
Ich kleb' auf Briefen für die Post,
zeig' auch im Sport, was Leistung kost'.
Ich hab' nur einen Artikel, merk's dir gut,
bin feminin mit Mut.
Wer bin ich? (Lösung: die Marke)
---
I am a sign, both large and small,
on products seen, standing tall.
I stick on letters for the mail,
show sporting feats that never fail.
I have one article, remember well,
I'm feminine, the stories tell.
What am I? (Answer: die Marke)
🤓 More about "die Marke"
- Etymology: The word "Marke" comes from the Old High German word "marcha", which originally meant "border" or "borderland". From this, the meaning "border marker" developed, and later more generally "sign" or "identifier". The connection to 'border' can still be seen in words like "Grenzmarke" (border mark) or the meaning 'level/limit'.
- Trademark Law (Markenrecht): Protecting brands (Marken) is an important area of commercial law. A registered trademark (eingetragene Marke) gives the owner exclusive rights of use.
- Compounds (Wortzusammensetzungen): There are countless compound words with "Marke", e.g.: Markenartikel (branded article), Markenbewusstsein (brand awareness), Markenbutter (branded butter), Markenfälschung (counterfeit brand), Markentreue (brand loyalty), Briefmarke (postage stamp), Höchstmarke (record high), Schallmarke (sound barrier/mark), Schutzmarke (trademark), Wasserstandsmarke (water level mark), Zeitmarke (time stamp/mark).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Marke?
The German word Marke is always feminine, so the correct article is die Marke. It has several meanings, including brand/trademark, mark/sign, token/stamp, or level/benchmark.