die  Nationalmannschaft

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/nat͡si̯oˈnaːlˌmanʃaft/

⚽ What does 'die Nationalmannschaft' mean?

The German word die Nationalmannschaft (noun, feminine) refers to a sports team that represents a country in international competitions. It consists of the best players of a particular sport from that country.

The term is most commonly used in the context of popular team sports like Fußball (football/soccer), Handball, Basketball, or Eishockey (ice hockey).

⚠️ Important: The word only takes the feminine article die.

Article rules for der, die, and das

Grammar Corner: Die Nationalmannschaft 🧐

The noun 'Nationalmannschaft' is feminine. Therefore, the definite article in the nominative singular is 'die'.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

Example Sentences 📜

• Die deutsche Nationalmannschaft hat das Spiel gewonnen. (The German national team won the game.)
• Der Trainer nominierte die Spieler für die Nationalmannschaft. (The coach nominated the players for the national team.)
• Wir unterstützen unsere Nationalmannschaft bei der Weltmeisterschaft. (We support our national team at the World Cup.)
• Viele Nationalmannschaften nahmen am Turnier teil. (Many national teams participated in the tournament.)

Usage Notes: Putting 'die Nationalmannschaft' in Context 🌍

The term 'die Nationalmannschaft' is almost exclusively used in a sports context. It's very common in news reports, sports commentary, and conversations about international competitions.

You can be more specific, e.g., 'die deutsche Fußballnationalmannschaft' (the German national football team) or 'die Frauen-Nationalmannschaft' (the women's national team). Often, the term is shortened if the context is clear (e.g., 'Die Mannschaft spielt heute Abend.' - 'The team is playing tonight.').

Figurative use is rare, perhaps only ironically for a group representing a nation in a non-sporting competition.

Memory Hooks 🧠

Here are a couple of ways to remember the article and meaning:

• Article Aid: Words ending in '-schaft' in German are almost always feminine (die Mannschaft - the team, die Freundschaft - friendship, die Gesellschaft - society). So, remember: die Nationalmannschaft. Think of the 'ship' (-schaft sounds a bit like 'shaft' or 'ship') carrying the nation's hopes - 'she' (die) is carrying the hopes.
• Meaning Aid: Think of a team (Mannschaft) representing the whole Nation. A team (Mannschaft) is 'die' in German. So, die Mannschaft -> die Nationalmannschaft. Picture the Queen (symbolizing 'die Nation') cheering for the team ('die Mannschaft').

Word Field: Similar & Different 🔄

Potential Confusion? 🤔

• Nation: The country or people itself (die Nation).
• Mannschaft: A team in general, not necessarily national (die Mannschaft).

A Little Joke 😄

German: Warum spielt die deutsche Nationalmannschaft manchmal in grünen Trikots?
Damit sie nach einer Niederlage direkt im Gras verschwinden kann! 😉

English: Why does the German national team sometimes play in green jerseys?
So they can disappear directly into the grass after a defeat! 😉

A Little Poem about the Nationalmannschaft 🏆

German:
Die Mannschaft, stolz und stark,
vertritt das Land im großen Park.
Von Sieg zu Sieg, so soll es sein,
die Besten aus dem Heimatverein.

In Farben, die das Land vereint,
wird auf dem Feld kein Feind gefeint.
Ein Team, ein Ziel, ein großer Traum,
die Nationalmannschaft – man glaubt es kaum!

English Translation:
The team, proud and strong,
Represents the country in the big park (stadium).
From victory to victory, so it should be,
The best from the home association.

In colors that unite the land,
No enemy is defied on the field.
One team, one goal, one big dream,
The national team – one can hardly believe!

Who or What Am I? 🤔

German:
Ich trage die Farben meines Landes mit Stolz,
bestehe aus Spielern, nicht aus Holz.
Gegen andere Länder trete ich an,
mal verliere ich, mal gewinn' ich dann.

Im Fußball, Handball oder Eis,
kämpf' ich um den Siegerpreis.
Ich bin die Auswahl, die Beste im Sport,
an manch internationalem Ort.

Wer bin ich?

Lösung: die Nationalmannschaft

English Translation:
I wear my country's colors with pride,
Consist of players, not of wood inside.
Against other countries, I compete,
Sometimes I lose, sometimes winning's sweet.

In football, handball, or on ice,
I fight for the winner's prize.
I am the selection, the best in sport,
At many an international court (venue).

Who am I?

Solution: the Nationalmannschaft (national team)

Interesting Tidbits 🤓

Word Composition

The word 'Nationalmannschaft' is a compound noun, made up of:

• National (adjective, relating to the nation)
• Mannschaft (feminine noun, meaning team or squad)

Trivia

• The first official German men's national football team played its first international match in 1908 against Switzerland.
• The women's national football team was officially founded much later and has already won multiple European and World Championships.
• Common nicknames for the German national football team include simply 'Die Mannschaft' or historically 'DFB-Elf' (DFB eleven).