der Spinner
crackpot
A colloquial, derogatory term for a person who is seen as crazy, eccentric, or not to be taken seriously.
EXAMPLE
Hör nicht auf ihn, das ist doch ein totaler Spinner!
Don't listen to him, he's a total crackpot!
der Spinner
crackpot / spinner
der Spinner, die Spinner
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Meanings
der Spinner
spinner
An artificial fishing lure made of one or more rotating metal blades, used to attract predatory fish.
EXAMPLE
Mit einem silbernen Spinner hat er einen großen Hecht gefangen.
He caught a big pike with a silver spinner.
der Spinner
spinner
A person who processes fibers, such as wool, into yarn professionally or as a hobby.
EXAMPLE
Auf dem Mittelaltermarkt zeigte ein Spinner am Spinnrad, wie man Fäden herstellt.
At the medieval market, a spinner demonstrated on a spinning wheel how to make threads.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Spinner, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Spinner |
| genitive | des Spinners |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Spinner | die Spinner |
| accusative | den Spinner | die Spinner |
| dative | dem Spinner | den Spinnern |
| genitive | des Spinners | der Spinner |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Derived from the verb
All meanings of 'der Spinner' are derived from the verb 'spinnen' (to spin; colloquially, to be crazy). This can mean spinning wool, the rotation of a fishing lure, or the figurative meaning 'to be crazy'.
EXAMPLE
Er spinnt doch, wenn er das wirklich glaubt!
He must be crazy if he really believes that!
Context clues
You can only tell which meaning is intended from the context. If it's about fishing, the lure is meant. If it's about crafts, the person is meant. In most other cases, it is the derogatory term for a person.
EXAMPLE
Er kaufte neue Spinner für seinen nächsten Angelausflug.
He bought new spinners for his next fishing trip.
Ich halte ihn für einen Spinner, seine Ideen sind absurd.
I think he's a crackpot; his ideas are absurd.
Register: colloquial
In the meaning 'crazy person', 'Spinner' (crackpot) is a colloquial insult. It is strongly derogatory and should be avoided in formal or polite conversations.
EXAMPLE
Nenn ihn nicht immer einen Spinner, das ist beleidigend.
Don't keep calling him a crackpot; that's insulting.
Context: fishing
This meaning is technical language among anglers. Outside this hobby, the word is hardly understood as referring to a fishing lure.
EXAMPLE
Für Hechte funktionieren oft große, auffällige Spinner am besten.
For pike, large, eye-catching spinners often work best.
Context: crafts
The original meaning of a person who spins wool is rare today. You usually find it in historical contexts or when traditional crafts are being discussed.
EXAMPLE
Die alte Frau war eine erfahrene Spinnerin und kannte sich mit allen Wollsorten aus.
The old woman was an experienced spinner and knew all about every type of wool.
In real life
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