die
Miete
🏠 What does 'die Miete' mean?
Die Miete (feminine noun) refers to the amount of money paid regularly for the temporary use of something, most commonly an apartment (Wohnung), a house (Haus), or sometimes other items (e.g., a car - Auto).
- Main meaning: The regular payment for rented living space or other rented objects. This is the *rent payment*.
- The contract is called Mietvertrag (rental contract).
- The person paying is the Mieter (male tenant) or Mieterin (female tenant).
- The person renting out is the Vermieter (male landlord) or Vermieterin (female landlord).
🚨 Be careful: Don't confuse 'die Miete' (the rent payment, noun) with the verb 'mieten' (to rent).
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 Corner: Declining 'die Miete'
The word "Miete" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
Declension (Beugung)
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Miete |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Miete |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Miete |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Miete |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Mieten |
| Genitive | der | Mieten |
| Dative | den | Mieten |
| Accusative | die | Mieten |
Example Sentences 📝
- Die Miete für diese Wohnung ist sehr hoch.
(The rent for this apartment is very high.) - Wir müssen die Miete bis zum dritten Werktag des Monats bezahlen.
(We have to pay the rent by the third working day of the month.) - Die Erhöhung der Miete kam unerwartet.
(The rent increase came unexpectedly.) - Viele Menschen können sich die hohen Mieten in der Stadt kaum noch leisten.
(Many people can hardly afford the high rents in the city anymore.)
💡 How and When to Use 'die Miete'
The term "Miete" is primarily used in the context of housing and finances.
- Miete zahlen/überweisen (to pay/transfer rent): The most common use case. Example: Ich überweise die Miete immer am Monatsanfang. (I always transfer the rent at the beginning of the month.)
- Hohe/niedrige Miete (high/low rent): To describe the cost level. Example: In München sind die Mieten besonders hoch. (Rents are particularly high in Munich.)
- Warmmiete vs. Kaltmiete: Kaltmiete ('cold rent') is the basic rent for the space. Warmmiete ('warm rent') includes additional costs (Nebenkosten) like heating, water, etc. ⚠️ This is a crucial distinction in Germany!
- Mieterhöhung (rent increase): The raising of the rent amount by the landlord.
- Miete for other things: Less commonly used for the rental fee of other objects. Example: Die Miete für das Auto war günstig. (The rent for the car was cheap.)
Colloquially, "Miete" can sometimes refer to the rented apartment itself: "Ich suche eine neue Miete." (Meaning: I'm looking for a new rental apartment).
🧠 Mnemonics for 'die Miete'
For the article 'die': Think of paying rent as a *duty* - 'die' sounds like *duty*. Or, imagine a landlady (feminine!) demanding 'die Miete' - notice the 'ie' sounds.
For the meaning 'Rent': 'Miete' sounds a bit like *'meet'* - you have to *meet* the deadline to pay the rent (die Miete).
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Mietzins: A more formal term for rent, often found in contracts.
- Mietpreis: Emphasizes the price aspect ('Preis' = price).
- Nutzungsentgelt: General term for a usage fee ('Nutzung' = usage, 'Entgelt' = fee).
- Pacht/Pachtzins: Similar to rent, but typically for land or businesses, often including the right to profit from it (e.g., farming).
⚠️ Potential Confusion
😂 A Little Joke
DE: Fragt der Vermieter den neuen Mieter: "Haben Sie Kinder?"
Antwortet der Mieter: "Nein, aber ich kann heute Nacht welche machen, wenn das Voraussetzung ist, um die Wohnung zu bekommen!"
EN: The landlord asks the new tenant: "Do you have children?"
The tenant replies: "No, but I can make some tonight if that's a requirement to get the apartment!"
📜 Poem about Rent
DE:
Die Miete kommt, Monat für Monat,
für Wände vier, wo mancher wohnt hat.
Mal hoch, mal tief, ein steter Fluss,
fürs Dach und Herd ein Muss, kein Schuss
ins Blaue, nein, ein fester Pakt,
im Mietvertrag genau betagt.
EN:
The rent arrives, month after month,
for four walls where someone hath dwelt.
Sometimes high, sometimes low, a steady flow,
for roof and hearth a must, not just a throw
into the blue, no, a firm pact,
in the rental contract precisely tracked.
🧩 Who am I? A Riddle
DE:
Ich habe keinen eigenen Wert,
doch ohne mich ist Wohnen schwer.
Man zahlt mich gern, oft auch mit Klagen,
an festgesetzten Monatstagen.
Wer bin ich?
Lösung: die Miete
EN:
I have no intrinsic worth,
but without me, living is dearth.
People pay me gladly, often with sighs,
on fixed days each month before their eyes.
Who am I?
Solution: die Miete (the rent)
🤓 Trivia about 'die Miete'
- Word Origin: The word "Miete" comes from the Middle High German word "miete", which meant wage or pay. It's related to the verb "mieten" (to rent).
- Cultural Significance: In Germany, a relatively large proportion of the population rents their homes (just over 50%) compared to other European countries. Therefore, the topic of rent and rental prices (Mietpreise) is often a subject of public debate.
- Compound Words: There are many compound words formed with Miete: Mietwohnung (rental apartment), Mietwagen (rental car), Mietspiegel (rent index), Mietschulden (rent arrears), Mietminderung (rent reduction), Kaltmiete (basic rent), Warmmiete (rent including utilities), etc.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Miete?
The German word for rent (payment) is feminine: die Miete (plural: die Mieten). It refers to the sum of money paid regularly for using an apartment, house, or other item.