der Dino
dino
Colloquial short form of dinosaur, an extinct reptile from the Mesozoic Era.
EXAMPLE
Mein kleiner Neffe spielt am liebsten mit seinen Dino-Figuren.
My little nephew loves playing with his dino figures most of all.
der Dino
dino
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
der Dino
dinosaur
A colloquial, often derogatory term for a person or thing that is very old, outdated, or old-fashioned.
EXAMPLE
Mit seinem 20 Jahre alten Handy ist er in der Firma ein echter Dino.
With his 20-year-old mobile phone, he is a real dinosaur at the company.
Usage tips
Short form
'Dino' is the colloquial short form of the word 'Dinosaurier' (dinosaur) and is much more common in everyday language.
EXAMPLE
Im Naturkundemuseum gibt es ein riesiges Dino-Skelett zu sehen.
At the natural history museum, there is a huge dino skeleton to see.
Colloquial style
The word 'Dino' is used mainly in colloquial language in both meanings. In a formal or scientific text, you would write 'Dinosaurier' (dinosaur).
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder lieben es, Geschichten über Dinos zu hören.
Children love listening to stories about dinos.
Figurative meaning
The term 'Dino' for a person or thing is meant figuratively. It compares someone or something to an extinct animal in order to express that he, she, or it is no longer up to date.
EXAMPLE
Manche nennen klassische Autos ohne moderne Technik liebevoll 'Dinos der Straße'.
Some people affectionately call classic cars without modern technology 'dinos of the road.'
Context clue
The figurative meaning for an outdated person or thing is clear from the context. If people are talking about technology, work, or old-fashioned habits, this second meaning is often meant.
EXAMPLE
Sein Kollege, der immer noch kein Smartphone benutzt, ist der Dino der Abteilung.
His colleague, who still doesn't use a smartphone, is the dinosaur of the department.
Compare with
Dino vs fossil
fossil
Dino and fossil can both describe a person or thing as old or no longer up to date. Dino tends to emphasize that someone seems outdated, while fossil usually sounds more derogatory and also suggests advanced age. Use the milder term Dino and the sharper criticism fossil.
Dino
Unser Abteilungsleiter gilt als Dino, weil er moderne Arbeitsmethoden ablehnt.
Our department head is considered a dinosaur because he rejects modern working methods.
fossil
Seine fossilen Ansichten über die Arbeit sorgten im Team für Ärger.
His outdated views on work caused trouble in the team.
In real life
Loading video examples...