die  Mine

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈmiːnə/

📖 What exactly is a 'Mine'?

The German word die Mine (feminine) has several meanings:

• 💣 Explosive device: An explosive charge buried in the ground or placed in water that explodes on contact or proximity (e.g., Landmine - landmine, Seemine - sea mine).
  Example: Der Soldat trat auf eine Mine. (The soldier stepped on a mine.)
• ⛏️ Mine (for resources): A site for extracting natural resources like coal (Kohle), ore (Erz), or salt (Salz) from underground.
  Example: Viele Kumpel arbeiteten in der Kohlenmine. (Many miners worked in the coal mine.)
• ✏️ Pen/Pencil core: The pigment core inside a pencil (Bleistift) or ballpoint pen (Kugelschreiber).
  Example: Die Mine meines Kugelschreibers ist leer. (The refill/cartridge of my ballpoint pen is empty.)
• 🎭 Facial expression (often 'Miene'): The way someone looks; facial expression (Gesichtsausdruck). ⚠️ Attention: This meaning is more commonly associated with the spelling "die Miene", although "Mine" is also occasionally used. Context is important!
  Example: Er machte eine finstere Mine (Miene). (He put on a grim expression.)

The correct meaning is usually clear from the context.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Under the Microscope: Die Mine

The noun "Mine" is feminine. The article is die.

Declension of "die Mine"

💡 Example Sentences

1. Explosive device: Die Entschärfung der Mine war sehr gefährlich. (The defusal of the mine was very dangerous.)
2. Mine (resources): Früher gab es hier viele Minen. (There used to be many mines here.)
3. Pen/Pencil core: Ich brauche neue Minen für meinen Druckbleistift. (I need new leads for my mechanical pencil.)
4. Facial expression (Miene): Sie zog eine enttäuschte Mine (Miene). (She pulled a disappointed face.)

🌐 How to Use "die Mine"?

• Military/Security: In the context of wars, conflicts, or ordnance disposal, one speaks of Landminen (landmines), Seeminen (sea mines), Panzerminen (anti-tank mines), etc. Here the meaning clearly refers to the explosive device.
• Mining/Industry: When discussing resource extraction (coal, ore, diamonds), "die Mine" refers to the mine shaft or mining operation. Synonyms like Grube (pit) or Zeche (specifically for coal mines) are also used.
• Stationery/Everyday Life: For writing or drawing, "die Mine" refers to the inner core of a writing utensil (Bleistiftmine - pencil lead, Kugelschreibermine - ballpoint refill).
• Facial Expression: Using "Mine" for facial expression ("eine gute Mine zum bösen Spiel machen" - to put a brave face on things) is established, but the spelling "die Miene" is more common and recommended today to avoid confusion.

🚨 Risk of Confusion: Pay attention to the difference between die Mine (primarily explosive, resource mine, pen core) and die Miene (primarily facial expression).

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Mine"

• Article Mnemonic: Think of die Gefahr (the danger - feminine), die Tiefe (the depth - feminine, for the resource mine), or die Spitze (the tip/point - feminine, for the pencil lead). All these feminine nouns fit with die Mine.

• Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine: You're walking through an old resource mine (Mine 1), nearly step on an explosive device (Mine 2), but instead only find the lead of a pencil (Mine 3), which makes you pull a funny face (Mine 4 / Miene).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but different words:

• Mini: Short form for something small (Minirock - miniskirt, Mini-Cooper).
• Minne: (Archaic) courtly love in the Middle Ages.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Bergleute immer einen Bleistift mit in die Mine?

Damit sie Tief-punkte notieren können! 😉

(Why do miners always take a pencil into the mine? – So they can note down the low points! [Pun: Tiefpunkt means low point, both literally and figuratively])

✍️ Poem about Mines

Tief im Berg, die Mine ruht,
Wo Erz und Kohle, altes Gut.
Doch Vorsicht auch, im Feld versteckt,
Die Mine, die den Tod erweckt.
Im Stift ganz klein, zum Schreiben da,
Ist auch die Mine, wunderbar.
Und manchmal zeigt's Gesicht ganz klar,
Die Mine (Miene), die grad finster war.

(Deep in the mountain, the mine rests,
Where ore and coal, old assets.
But caution too, hidden in the field,
The mine, that death has revealed.
In the pen so small, for writing there,
Is also the mine, beyond compare.
And sometimes the face shows very clear,
The mine (expression), that was just grim here.)

❓ Little Riddle

Ich kann explodieren und Schrecken bringen,
Ich kann Schätze aus der Tiefe schwingen,
Ich kann dir helfen, Worte zu malen,
Und manchmal sieht man mich in ernsten Schalen (Gesichtern).

Was bin ich?

(I can explode and bring terror,
I can swing treasures from the depths' error,
I can help you paint words with might,
And sometimes I'm seen in faces serious and tight.

What am I?)

Solution: die Mine

💡 Other Interesting Facts

• Etymology: The word "Mine" comes from the French word "mine", which originally meant "ore vein" or "mine (resource)". The meaning "explosive charge" developed later in a military context (referring to underground tunnels filled with explosives to blow up fortress walls).
• Idiom: "Gute Mine zum bösen Spiel machen" (literally: to make a good face/mine for a bad game) means to put on a brave face or grin and bear it, hiding annoyance or dissatisfaction. While technically referring to Miene (expression), the spelling "Mine" sometimes occurs in this idiom.