four / group of four
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four
The digit or number four, often in reference to something marked with this number, such as a school grade, a bus line, or a playing card.
In Mathe habe ich leider nur einen Vierer geschrieben, aber ich habe bestanden.
Unfortunately, I only got a four in math, but I passed.
group of four
A group consisting of four people or things, especially in sports.
Beim Rudern ist der Vierer ohne Steuermann eine olympische Disziplin.
In rowing, the coxless four is an Olympic discipline.
four-number win
Colloquial term for a lottery win in which you picked four correct numbers.
Ich hatte letzte Woche einen Vierer im Lotto und habe 50 Euro gewonnen.
I had a four-number win in the lottery last week and won 50 euros.
The word is formed from the number 'vier' (four) and the ending '-er'. This pattern is used for many numbers to create a noun that refers to the number, for example 'der Fünfer' (a five) or 'der Zehner' (a ten).
Kannst du mir einen Fünfer für den Automaten wechseln?
Can you change a five for me for the machine?
The exact meaning of 'Vierer' always becomes clear from the context. Words like 'Schule' (school) or 'Note' (grade) point to the school grade, 'Lotto' to the lottery win, and 'Sport' or 'Boot' to a group.
Welche Note hast du? – Ich habe einen Vierer, also gerade noch bestanden.
What grade did you get? – I got a four, so I just barely passed.
In the German school system, a 'Vier' (four) is the lowest grade with which you still pass an exam. 'Einen Vierer schreiben' or 'einen Vierer haben' is therefore a very common expression among students.
Hauptsache, ich schreibe keinen Fünfer, ein Vierer reicht mir schon.
The main thing is that I don't get a five; a four is enough for me.
Colloquially, people speak of a 'Dreier', 'Vierer', or 'Fünfer' to refer to a lottery win with three, four, or five correct numbers.
Mit einem Vierer gewinnt man nicht viel, aber es ist besser als nichts.
With a four-number win, you don't win much, but it's better than nothing.
four
Both words can refer to the number four, including a school grade. In Germany, people usually say „eine Vier“ for this grade, while „ein Vierer“ is common in Austria. The appropriate form therefore mainly depends on regional usage in this case.
In Österreich bekam sie in Mathe einen Vierer.
In Austria, she got a four in math.
In Deutschland bekam sie in Mathe eine Vier.
In Germany, she got a grade of four in math.
