die
Note
📚 What does "die Note" actually mean?
The German word die Note (noun, feminine) has several meanings:
- School grade/mark: An evaluation of academic performance (e.g., sehr gut, gut, befriedigend - very good, good, satisfactory). Example: Sie hat eine gute Note in Mathematik bekommen. (She got a good grade in math.)
- Musical note: A symbol in musical notation indicating pitch and duration. Example: Er kann Noten lesen und Klavier spielen. (He can read musical notes and play the piano.)
- Written note/remark: A brief written record or comment. Example: Ich habe mir eine Note dazu gemacht. (I made a note about it.)
- Diplomatic note: An official communication between states. Example: Die Regierung überreichte eine diplomatische Note. (The government delivered a diplomatic note.)
- Banknote/bill: Paper money. Example: Er zahlte mit einer Hunderteuro-Note. (He paid with a hundred-euro bill.) (More commonly: der Geldschein)
- Special characteristic/touch (often plural): A distinctive aspect or nuance, e.g., in wine, perfume, or figuratively. Example: Der Wein hat eine fruchtige Note. (The wine has a fruity note.) Die Rede hatte eine politische Note. (The speech had a political note/undertone.)
🚨 Although all meanings use the article "die", it's important to understand the context to identify the correct meaning.
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 of "die Note" in Detail
Die Note is a feminine noun. Here are the declension tables:
Singular Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Note |
| Genitive | der | Note |
| Dative | der | Note |
| Accusative | die | Note |
Plural Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Noten |
| Genitive | der | Noten |
| Dative | den | Noten |
| Accusative | die | Noten |
Example Sentences
- (School grade) Meine beste Note war eine Eins in Deutsch. (My best grade was an A (lit. 'a one') in German.)
- (Musical note) Kannst du diese hohen Noten singen? (Can you sing these high notes?)
- (Written note) Mach dir bitte eine Note, damit wir es nicht vergessen. (Please make a note so we don't forget.)
- (Diplomacy) Eine scharfe diplomatische Note wurde übergeben. (A sharp diplomatic note was delivered.)
- (Banknote) Ich habe nur noch kleine Noten im Portemonnaie. (I only have small bills left in my wallet.)
- (Characteristic) Dem Essen fehlte die persönliche Note des Kochs. (The food lacked the chef's personal touch.)
💡 How to Use "die Note"?
The usage of die Note heavily depends on the context:
- In education: Here, "Note" almost always refers to the performance evaluation (Zensur). People talk about gute/schlechte Noten (good/bad grades), Noten bekommen (to get grades), Noten geben (to give grades). Similar terms: die Zensur (grade), die Bewertung (evaluation), das Zeugnis (report card, which contains Noten).
- In music: Refers to the symbol for a tone. One liest Noten (reads notes), spielt nach Noten (plays from sheet music), schreibt Noten (writes notes). Similar terms: das Notenblatt (sheet music), die Partitur (score).
- In everyday life/office: As a synonym for a short memo or remark. One macht sich eine Note (makes a note), hinterlässt eine Note (leaves a note). Similar terms: die Notiz (note), der Vermerk (remark), die Anmerkung (comment).
- In diplomacy: Formal communication between governments. Relatively rare in everyday vocabulary.
- In finance: As a synonym for banknote/bill. Here, der Geldschein is more common.
- In descriptions: To describe a characteristic trait or nuance (e.g., Duftnote - scent note, Geschmacksnote - flavor note, persönliche Note - personal touch).
⚠️ Do not confuse die Note with die Not (feminine), which means need, hardship, distress, or emergency (e.g., in Not sein - to be in need).
🧠 Mnemonics for "die Note"
Article Mnemonic (die): Many German nouns ending in -e are feminine, including die Note. Imagine a female teacher (eine Lehrerin - feminine) giving out die Note (the grade).
Meaning Mnemonic: Think of a versatile female secretary (die Sekretärin): She writes Noten (memos) for her boss, gets good Noten (grades/evaluations) for her work, listens to music using Noten (sheet music) during her break, and gets paid with Banknoten (banknotes).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- (School grade): die Zensur, die Bewertung, das Prädikat
- (Musical note): das Musikzeichen
- (Written note): die Notiz, der Vermerk, die Anmerkung, das Memorandum
- (Banknote): der Geldschein, die Banknote
- (Characteristic): die Nuance, der Anklang, der Touch (English loanword)
- (Diplomacy): die Denkschrift, die Verbalnote
😄 A Little Joke
DE: Fragt der Lehrer: "Fritzchen, warum sind deine Noten im Keller?"
Fritzchen: "Sie sagten doch, ich soll mich verbessern und von unten nach oben arbeiten!"
EN: The teacher asks: "Fritzchen, why are your grades in the basement?"
Fritzchen: "But you said I should improve and work my way up from the bottom!"
🎼 A Little Poem about the Note
DE:
Die Note, sie kann vieles sein,
Mal groß, mal mittel, mal ganz klein.
Im Heft als Zensur, oft bang erwartet,
Im Lied als Klang, der Herzen startet.
Als kurzer Zettel, schnell notiert,
Als Schein, mit dem man gern hantiert.
Sie gibt den Ton an, gibt den Wert,
Die Note ist's, die man begehrt.
EN Translation:
The note, it can be many things,
Sometimes large, medium, or tiny brings.
In notebooks a grade, awaited with fear,
In songs a sound, that starts hearts so dear.
As a short memo, quickly penned,
As a bill, that one likes to spend.
It sets the tone, it gives the worth,
The note it is, desired on earth.
🕵️♀️ Who or What am I?
DE:
Ich kann gut oder schlecht sein, man findet mich in der Schule.
Ich klinge schön im Konzertsaal, doch ich bin keine Kule.
Man schreibt mich auf Papier, manchmal bin ich auch Geld.
Welches Wort mit 'die' passt hier in diese Welt?
Lösung: die Note
EN Translation:
I can be good or bad, you find me in school.
I sound nice in the concert hall, though I'm not a ball (Note: Kule is dialect/colloquial, not a perfect rhyme translation).
People write me on paper, sometimes I am also money.
Which word with 'die' fits into this world, honey?
Answer: die Note
💡 More Interesting Facts
Compound Words (Komposita): "Note" is part of many German words:
- Schulnote: School grade
- Musiknote: Musical note
- Fußnote: Footnote
- Kopfnote/Herznote/Basisnote: Top/heart/base note (describing perfume scent phases)
- Banknote: Banknote/bill
- Duftnote/Geschmacksnote: Scent/flavor note
Idioms (Redewendungen):
- jemandem/etwas eine persönliche Note geben: to give something/someone a personal touch
- von etwas Notiz nehmen / etwas zur Kenntnis nehmen: to take note of something / to acknowledge something
Origin (Herkunft): The word "Note" comes from the Latin nota, meaning "mark, sign, comment".
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Note?
The word "Note" is always feminine. The correct article is always die Note (plural: die Noten).