die  Minute

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/miˈnuːtə/

⏳ What exactly is a 'Minute'?

The word die Minute (noun, feminine) primarily refers to a unit of time. It corresponds to one-sixtieth of an hour (60 seconds).

• Main meaning: Unit of measurement for time (symbol: min).
• Figurative meaning: A very short period of time, a moment. Example: "Warte mal eine Minute!" (Wait a minute!)

There are no common pitfalls, as the word is clearly feminine (*die*) and mostly used in the context of time.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧭 Grammar Compass: Declining 'die Minute'

The noun "Minute" is feminine and takes the article "die". Here are the declension tables:

Example Sentences

1. Der Film dauert noch zwanzig Minuten.
   (The movie still has twenty minutes left.)
2. Gib mir bitte eine Minute Zeit.
   (Please give me a minute of time.)
3. In letzter Minute hat er das Tor geschossen.
   (He scored the goal at the last minute.)
4. Wir treffen uns in fünf Minuten.
   (We'll meet in five minutes.)

⏱️ How to use 'Minute' in everyday life?

'Minute' is a very common word. Here are some typical contexts:

• Telling time: "Es ist fünf Minuten nach drei." (It's five minutes past three.) / "Der Zug fährt in zehn Minuten." (The train leaves in ten minutes.)
• Duration: "Das Kochen dauert 30 Minuten." (Cooking takes 30 minutes.) / "Eine Unterrichtsstunde hat 45 Minuten." (A lesson lasts 45 minutes.)
• Short period (often exaggerated): "Ich bin in einer Minute zurück." (Often means: soon) / "Hast du mal eine Minute?" (Do you have a minute? / Do you have a moment?)
• Idioms: "in letzter Minute" (at the last minute), "minutiös" (meticulous, very detailed - derived from Minute).

Compared to *Sekunde* (second - shorter) and *Stunde* (hour - longer), *Minute* denotes a medium, easily graspable unit of time in daily life.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'die Minute'

• Remembering the article: Think of time as something that *dies* away or passes. Time is feminine in many concepts -> *die* Zeit, *die* Stunde, *die* Minute.
• Remembering the meaning: Think of a "minute" detail, something small. A *Minute* is a small part of an hour.

Time flies, and maybe she (*die*) takes a *Minute* with her.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

⚠️ Note: Although *Moment* and *Augenblick* are similar, *Minute* is the precise unit of measurement.

😄 A Little Joke About Time

German: Fragt der Lehrer: "Wer kann mir sagen, was eine Lichtminute ist?" Meldet sich Fritzchen: "Das ist die Zeit, die man braucht, um den Lichtschalter zu finden!"

English: The teacher asks: "Who can tell me what a light minute is?" Little Fritz answers: "That's the time it takes to find the light switch!"

📜 Poem about the Minute

German:
Sechzig Sekunden, schnell vorbei,
Die Minute, eins, zwei, drei.
Mal kurz, mal lang, je nach Gefühl,
Ein kleiner Teil vom großen Spiel.
Nutze sie weise, Tag für Tag,
Was die Zeit wohl bringen mag?

English Translation:
Sixty seconds, quickly past,
The minute, one, two, three, so fast.
Sometimes short, sometimes long, by feel,
A small part of the greater wheel.
Use it wisely, day by day,
What might time bring along the way?

❓ Little Time Riddle

German:
Ich habe sechzig kleine Brüder,
doch selbst bin ich nur ein Glied einer größeren Kette.
Auf jeder Uhr findest du mich wieder.
Was bin ich?

English Translation:
I have sixty little brothers,
but I myself am just one link in a larger chain.
You find me again on every clock and watch's face.
What am I?

Solution: die Minute (the minute)

💡 More about 'die Minute'

• Etymology: The word "Minute" comes from the Latin phrase "pars minuta prima", meaning "first diminished part" (of the hour). Similarly, "Sekunde" (second) comes from "pars minuta secunda" (second diminished part).
• Geometry/Geography: A minute can also be a unit of angle (arcminute), one-sixtieth of a degree (symbol: '). This is used, for example, in coordinate specifications (e.g., latitude and longitude).