die Niete
loser
A person who is very bad at something or achieves nothing; colloquially, also a term for someone who is unsuccessful.
EXAMPLE
In Mathe ist er eine echte Niete.
He's absolutely hopeless at math.
die Niete
loser / rivet / blank
die Niete, die Nieten
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Meanings
die Niete
rivet
A small metal pin used to permanently join two or more parts, usually by deforming its end.
EXAMPLE
Der Handwerker befestigte die Metallplatte mit einer Niete.
The worker attached the metal plate with a rivet.
die Niete
blank
A ticket or number that does not win a prize in a raffle or lottery.
EXAMPLE
Leider war mein Los eine Niete.
Unfortunately, my ticket was a blank.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Niete, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Nieten |
| genitive | der Niete |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Niete | die Nieten |
| accusative | die Niete | die Nieten |
| dative | der Niete | den Nieten |
| genitive | der Niete | der Nieten |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Context clue
With „die Niete“ (loser / rivet / blank), the context shows which meaning is intended: When referring to a person, a subject or performance is often mentioned; with a metal part, verbs such as „befestigen“ (to attach) or „verbinden“ (to join) are common; and in a raffle, words such as „Los“ (ticket) or „Gewinn“ (prize) appear.
EXAMPLE
Beim Einparken ist mein Bruder eine totale Niete.
My brother is totally hopeless at parking.
Die Niete verbindet die beiden Metallteile.
The rivet joins the two metal parts.
Bei der Tombola habe ich eine Niete gezogen.
I drew a blank at the raffle.
Colloquial expression
The meaning referring to a person is colloquial and sounds derogatory. „Niete“ (loser) is often used with „sein“ (to be) and an area in which someone is not very capable.
EXAMPLE
Er ist eine Niete im Reparieren von Fahrrädern.
He's hopeless at repairing bicycles.
Typical collocations
In its technical meaning, „Niete“ (rivet) often appears in phrases such as „mit Nieten befestigen“ (to attach with rivets) and „mit Nieten verbinden“ (to join with rivets). The parts being joined can be „vernieten“ (riveted together).
EXAMPLE
Die Metallteile wurden mit mehreren Nieten befestigt.
The metal parts were attached with several rivets.
Raffle vocabulary
In a raffle, „Niete“ (blank) refers to a ticket with no prize. The typical phrase is „eine Niete ziehen“ (to draw a blank); „Das Los ist eine Niete“ (The ticket is a blank) is also possible.
EXAMPLE
Von den zehn Losen war nur eine Niete dabei.
Only one of the ten tickets was a blank.
In real life
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