die
Single
🧐 What does "die Single" mean?
The word die Single is a loanword from English and has two main meanings in German:
- An unpartnered person 🧍♀️/🧍♂️: This refers to a person who does not have a steady partner, regardless of marital status (single, divorced, widowed). It's often used in the context of dating or lifestyle. The word can refer to both men and women, even though the article 'die' is feminine. When specifically referring to a man, one sometimes says "der Single", but "die Single" as a general term for the person (regardless of gender) or specifically for a woman is very common. Colloquially, 'der Single' is often used for a man and 'die Single' for a woman, but grammatically, 'die Single' is often used as the generic term, or the gender-neutral 'der/die Single'.
- A music single (record or CD) 💿: This refers to a sound recording release, typically containing only one or two songs, often released from an album to promote it.
⚠️ Attention: Although the article 'die' is feminine, meaning 1 can refer to people of any gender, even though 'der Single' also exists for men.
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 Single" in Detail
"Die Single" is a feminine noun (Femininum). It is declined as follows:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Single |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Single |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Single |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Single |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Singles |
| Genitive | der | Singles |
| Dative | den | Singles |
| Accusative | die | Singles |
Example Sentences
- Meaning 1 (Person): Sie ist seit letztem Jahr wieder Single. (She has been single again since last year.)
- Meaning 1 (Person, Plural): In dieser Bar treffen sich viele Singles. (Many singles meet in this bar.)
- Meaning 2 (Music): Die Band hat gerade eine neue Single veröffentlicht. (The band has just released a new single.)
- Meaning 2 (Music, Plural): Er sammelt alte Vinyl-Singles aus den 60ern. (He collects old vinyl singles from the 60s.)
💡 How to use "die Single"?
Usage depends heavily on the meaning:
- As a person: Often used in conversations about relationships, Partnersuche (looking for a partner), dating apps, or lifestyles. ("Als Single hat man mehr Freiheiten, aber manchmal fehlt die Zweisamkeit." - As a single person, you have more freedom, but sometimes miss companionship.) It can be a neutral term or sometimes perceived as slightly stigmatizing, depending on the context. The term "Alleinstehende(r)" is more formal.
- As a music recording: Used in the context of music, Musikcharts (music charts), radio, and the music industry. ("Die neue Single stieg sofort auf Platz 1 der Charts ein." - The new single immediately entered the charts at number 1.) Here, the term is purely descriptive and neutral.
The word is an established Anglicism (loanword from English) in German.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Remembering the Article
Think: DIE (she) is often a Single (meaning 1), or DIE Platte (the record/CD) is a Single (meaning 2). The 'ie' sound in 'die' might remind you of the 'i' sound in Single. Use 'die' for the concept in general or for a female single person.
Remembering the Meaning(s)
A Single is 'einzeln' (single/individual). Either a single person without a partner or a single song release.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Meaning 1: Person
Synonyms:
- Alleinstehende(r) (more formal: person living alone/unpartnered)
- Ungebundene(r) (unattached person)
- Ledige(r) (unmarried person - only if never married)
- Junggeselle (bachelor - dated, male only)
Antonyms:
- Paar (couple)
- Vergebene(r) (person in a relationship)
- Verheiratete(r) (married person)
- Liierte(r) (person in a relationship, slightly formal)
😂 A Little Joke
Warum gehen Singles nie in den Supermarkt?
Weil sie keinen „Partner-Look“ finden! 😄
(Why do single people never go to the supermarket?
Because they can't find a "Partner-Look"! [Partner look = matching outfits for couples; a pun, as they also can't find a partner])
🎵 A Little Poem
Die Single sucht, mal hier, mal dort,
Nach Liebe, Glück, am rechten Ort.
Doch auch allein kann's Leben klingen,
Wie Hits, die neue Singles bringen!
(The single searches, now here, now there,
For love, for luck, the right affair.
But life alone can also sound,
Like hits that new singles bring around!)
🧩 Riddle Time
Ich kann allein durchs Leben gehen,
Oder nur ein Lied verstehen
lassen, kurz und klar.
Mit 'die' steh ich meistens da.
Was bin ich?
I can walk through life alone,
Or make just one song known,
Short and clear, you see.
With 'die', I mostly agree.
What am I?
Solution: die Single
✨ Other Information
Word Origin: The word "Single" comes directly from English, meaning „einzeln“ (individual), „alleinstehend“ (unmarried, unpartnered).
Cultural Context: The term "Single" is firmly established in German and reflects social changes where living alone has become a more common and accepted way of life. The term "Singlehaushalt" describes a household where only one person lives.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Single?
The German word "Single" uses the article die (die Single). It refers to both an unpartnered person (regardless of gender, although 'der Single' is also used for men) and a music release with only a few tracks.