die  Null

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/nʊl/

🔢 What does 'die Null' mean?

The word die Null primarily has two meanings in German:

• The number 0: The most basic meaning is the digit zero (0), the value representing nothing. It stands between positive and negative numbers.
• An insignificant person (colloquial, derogatory): Someone can be called a 'Null' to express that they are incompetent, unimportant, or a failure. Example: "Er ist eine totale Null in Mathe." (He's a complete zero/failure in math.) ⚠️ This usage is derogatory and should be used with caution.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of 'die Null'

Die Null is a feminine noun.

Declension

While the number itself ('null') is often used indeclinably, the noun 'die Null' is declined as follows:

💡 Examples

1. Die Temperatur fiel auf null Grad Celsius.
   (The temperature fell to zero degrees Celsius.) - Here 'null' is often treated as an indeclinable numeral.
2. Schreibe eine Null hinter die Eins, um zehn zu erhalten.
   (Write a zero after the one to get ten.) - Here used as a noun.
3. Auf der Skala von eins bis zehn ist er eine glatte Null.
   (On the scale from one to ten, he's a complete zero.) - Derogatory use.
4. Das Ergebnis des Spiels war drei zu null.
   (The result of the game was three-nil / three to zero.)
5. Viele Nullen schmückten sein schlechtes Zeugnis.
   (Many zeros adorned his bad report card.)

❓ How to use 'die Null'?

• Mathematics & Numbers: Used as a numeral (often lowercase and undeclined: 'null') or as a noun ('die Null') to denote the value 0. Example: "Das Ergebnis ist null." (The result is zero.) vs. "Die Zahl ist eine Null." (The number is a zero.)
• Temperature: Common in temperature specifications: "Es sind null Grad." (It's zero degrees.)
• Ratings/Scales: Can mark the lowest point on a scale.
• Colloquial (derogatory): Calling a person a 'Null' is highly negative and expresses contempt. Context: Mostly informal, often insulting.
• Idioms:
  • bei null anfangen: to start from scratch.
  • von null auf hundert: very quickly (e.g., accelerating, getting angry).
  • null Bock haben: to not be in the mood / not feel like doing something (slang).
  • eine schwarze Null: a balanced budget with no new debt (economics/politics).

🧠 Mnemonics for 'Null'

Article Mnemonic: Think of "the number" - "die Zahl" is feminine in German. Many numbers are feminine (die Eins, die Zwei...). Die Null fits this pattern.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a big, round 'O' – like a hole, representing 'nothing'. That's die Null. For the derogatory meaning: A person who amounts to 'nothing' might unfortunately be called a 'Null'.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words

• Nulllinie: Refers to a reference line (e.g., on a coordinate system), not directly the number itself. (Zero line)
• Annullieren: Verb meaning 'to cancel' or 'to void', but shares the same root.

😂 A little joke

Was sagt die 8 zur 0? – „Netter Gürtel!“ 😄
(What does the 8 say to the 0? – "Nice belt!")

📜 Poem about Zero

Die Null, so rund und leer, (The Zero, so round and empty,)
Steht oft am Anfang, bitte sehr. (Often stands at the beginning, if you please.)
Manchmal bedeutet sie auch nichts, (Sometimes it also means nothing,)
Doch ohne sie fehlt viel des Lichts. (But without it, much light is missing.)
Im Zehnersystem unentbehrlich, (Indispensable in the decimal system,)
Als Wert für sich ganz ungefährlich. (As a value in itself, quite harmless.)
Doch sagst du's zu 'nem Menschen bloß, (But if you just say it to a person,)
Wird dessen Ärger riesengroß. (Their anger becomes immense.)

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin eine Zahl, doch zähl' ich nicht viel,
(I am a number, but I don't count for much,)
Allein bin ich wertlos, das ist kein Spiel.
(Alone I am worthless, this is no game.)
Doch stell mich geschickt hinter andre an,
(But place me cleverly behind others,)
Verzehnfacht sich deren Wert sodann.
(Their value then increases tenfold.)
Manchmal werd' ich auch zu Leuten gesagt,
(Sometimes I'm also said to people,)
Wenn jemand als Versager verzagt.
(When someone despairs as a failure.)

Wer bin ich? (Who am I?) Solution: die Null (zero)

✨ Other Info about 'Null'

• Etymology: The word "Null" comes from Italian "nulla", meaning "nothing", ultimately derived from Latin "nullus" (none).
• Die 'schwarze Null' (The 'black zero'): A term from fiscal policy describing a balanced government budget with no new debt.
• 'Null Toleranz' ('Zero tolerance'): A policy where no violations whatsoever are tolerated.
• Nullserie (Pilot series / Zero series): A small batch of products manufactured before actual mass production to conduct tests.