der Winter
winter
The coldest of the four seasons, which follows autumn and comes before spring.
EXAMPLE
In diesem Winter hat es außergewöhnlich viel geschneit.
This winter, it snowed an unusually large amount.
der Winter
winter
der Winter, die Winter
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Meanings
der Winter
winter
In a figurative sense, a time of stagnation, decline, or old age.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Tod ihres Mannes durchlebte sie einen langen, emotionalen Winter.
After her husband’s death, she went through a long emotional winter.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Winter, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Winter |
| genitive | des Winters |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Winter | die Winter |
| accusative | den Winter | die Winter |
| dative | dem Winter | den Wintern |
| genitive | des Winters | der Winter |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Correct preposition
To indicate a point in time within the season, you use 'im Winter' (in winter). To express a duration over the whole season, you can say 'über den Winter' (over the winter / through the winter).
EXAMPLE
Im Winter fahren wir oft Ski.
In winter, we often go skiing.
Die Zugvögel bleiben über den Winter im Süden.
The migratory birds stay in the south through the winter.
Word family
Other useful words are derived from the noun 'der Winter' (winter), such as the adjective 'winterlich' (wintry, e.g. winterliches Wetter — wintry weather) and the verb 'überwintern' (to spend the winter / overwinter).
EXAMPLE
Die Landschaft sah heute Morgen sehr winterlich aus.
The landscape looked very wintry this morning.
Einige Tiere überwintern in Höhlen.
Some animals spend the winter in caves.
Typical collocations
Common combinations are 'ein kalter/strenger Winter' (a cold/harsh winter) or 'ein milder Winter' (a mild winter). When the cold season begins, people often say 'der Winter kommt' (winter is coming) or 'der Winter bricht herein' (winter sets in).
EXAMPLE
Wir hatten dieses Jahr einen sehr milden Winter.
We had a very mild winter this year.
Der erste Schnee kündigt an, dass der Winter bald kommt.
The first snow announces that winter is coming soon.
Context clue
You can recognize the figurative meaning from the context. When 'Winter' (winter) is connected with emotional or abstract terms like 'politisch' (political), 'wirtschaftlich' (economic), or 'Winter des Lebens' (winter of life), it does not refer to the season.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Firmenpleite begann für die Mitarbeiter ein wirtschaftlicher Winter.
After the company went bankrupt, an economic winter began for the employees.
Compare with
Winter vs Herbst
autumn / fall
Winter and Herbst can both be used figuratively to refer to old age. Herbst is more suited to the later stage of life when maturity and the onset of aging are the focus. Winter suggests more strongly a period of stagnation, decline, or very advanced age.
Winter
Im Winter seines Lebens zog er sich immer mehr aus dem öffentlichen Leben zurück.
In the winter of his life, he withdrew more and more from public life.
Herbst
Im Herbst seines Lebens blickte sie zufrieden auf ihre Arbeit zurück.
In the autumn of her life, she looked back on her work with satisfaction.
In real life
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