die Mille
million
A colloquial expression for one million, usually referring to a unit of currency such as euros.
EXAMPLE
Für die Villa verlangt der Verkäufer glatt eine Mille.
The seller wants a cool million for the villa.
die Mille
million / thousand
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Meanings
die Mille
thousand
Colloquially, more rarely and often by analogy with Italian or Latin, used for the number one thousand.
EXAMPLE
Das kostet zwei Mille, also zweitausend Euro.
That costs two thousand, so two thousand euros.
Usage tips
Register: colloquial
'Mille' is a colloquial expression used almost exclusively in informal conversations about money. In formal or written contexts, you should avoid the word.
EXAMPLE
Das Auto hat mich fünf Mille gekostet.
The car cost me five grand.
Context clue
In today's colloquial language, 'eine Mille' almost always means 'eine Million' (one million). The older meaning 'tausend' (thousand) has become very rare. If someone is talking about prices for houses, cars, or high salaries, it always means one million.
EXAMPLE
Er will sein Startup für zwei Mille verkaufen.
He wants to sell his startup for two million.
Origin of the word
The rarer meaning 'tausend' (thousand) comes directly from Latin or Italian, where 'mille' means thousand. This origin explains why the word has this second, now confusing meaning at all.
EXAMPLE
Für den alten Roller will er noch 'ne halbe Mille haben.
He still wants half a grand for the old scooter.
Compare with
Mille vs tausend
thousand
Tausend is the neutral, standard-language term for the number 1,000. Mille can also mean 1,000, but in this usage it is colloquial, less common, and often influenced by Italian or Latin. Normally, use tausend; Mille is appropriate only in a corresponding informal or special style of speech.
Mille
In dem alten Bericht ist von einer Mille Soldaten die Rede.
The old report mentions a thousand soldiers.
tausend
Bei dem Lauf starteten genau tausend Teilnehmer.
Exactly one thousand participants started the race.
In real life
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