die Goldmine
gold mine
A mine where gold is extracted.
EXAMPLE
In der Goldmine werden täglich mehrere Tonnen goldhaltiges Gestein abgebaut.
Several tons of gold-bearing rock are extracted from the gold mine every day.
die Goldmine
gold mine
die Goldmine, die Goldminen
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Meanings
die Goldmine
gold mine
Figuratively: a source of substantial profits or a business that can generate a great deal of money.
EXAMPLE
Die neue App erwies sich für das Unternehmen als wahre Goldmine.
The new app proved to be a real gold mine for the company.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Goldmine, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Goldminen |
| genitive | der Goldmine |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Goldmine | die Goldminen |
| accusative | die Goldmine | die Goldminen |
| dative | der Goldmine | den Goldminen |
| genitive | der Goldmine | der Goldminen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Compound word
'Goldmine' is made up of 'Gold' (gold) and 'Mine' (mine). Literally, it means a mine where gold is extracted; this also gave rise to the figurative meaning of a particularly profitable source.
EXAMPLE
Die Goldmine liegt in einem abgelegenen Tal.
The gold mine is located in a remote valley.
Mining context
In its literal meaning, 'Goldmine' often occurs with mining verbs, for example 'Gold aus einer Goldmine fördern' (to extract gold from a gold mine) or 'in einer Goldmine arbeiten' (to work in a gold mine). It refers to a specific place above or below ground.
EXAMPLE
Viele Menschen arbeiteten früher in der Goldmine unter schwierigen Bedingungen.
Many people used to work in the gold mine under difficult conditions.
Figurative use
The figurative meaning can often be recognized by words such as 'wahre' (real), 'lukrative' (lucrative), or 'unerwartete' (unexpected), as well as by verbs such as 'sich als Goldmine erweisen' (to prove to be a gold mine). In this sense, 'Goldmine' refers to a business, area, or source that generates particularly high profits.
EXAMPLE
Das alte Filmarchiv wurde für den Verlag zu einer unerwarteten Goldmine.
The old film archive became an unexpected gold mine for the publisher.
In real life
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