01
der Zehner
tenner
A banknote worth ten units of currency, usually ten euros.
example
Hast du vielleicht einen Zehner für den Kaffeeautomaten?
Do you maybe have a tenner for the coffee machine?
der Zehner
tenner / number ten
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word formation
'Der Zehner' (tenner / number ten) is derived from the number 'zehn' (ten) with the suffix '-er'. This pattern is often used in German to form nouns from numbers, often referring to banknotes or coins.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du mir einen Fünfer und einen Zehner für die Parkuhr geben?
Can you give me a fiver and a tenner for the parking meter?
Context clues
Since 'der Zehner' (tenner / number ten) has many meanings, context is crucial. Watch for signal words: 'bezahlen' (to pay) or 'wechseln' (to change money) point to money, 'Mannschaft' (team) or 'Spielmacher' (playmaker) to football, and 'springen' (to jump) or 'Schwimmbad' (swimming pool) to the diving platform.
EXAMPLE
Der neue Spieler ist ein klassischer Zehner mit viel Übersicht.
The new player is a classic number ten with great vision.
Colloquial usage
In everyday life, 'der Zehner' (the tenner) is a very common colloquial term for a ten-euro note. It is often used when shopping or in a café.
EXAMPLE
Entschuldigung, können Sie mir einen Fünfziger in Zehner wechseln?
Excuse me, can you change a fifty into tens for me?
Context: football
This meaning is used exclusively in a football context. It refers to the position of the playmaker in attacking midfield, who traditionally wears the number 10 jersey.
EXAMPLE
Seit der Starspieler verletzt ist, fehlt der Mannschaft ein echter Zehner.
Since the star player has been injured, the team has been missing a real number ten.
Typical expression
A fixed expression is 'vom Zehner springen' (to jump from the ten-meter platform). This refers to jumping from the 10-meter diving tower at a swimming pool.
EXAMPLE
Nur die mutigsten Kinder trauten sich, vom Zehner zu springen.
Only the bravest children dared to jump from the ten-meter platform.
Compare with
Zehner vs zehn
ten
'zehn' and 'der Zehner' are both connected to the number 10, but they are used differently. 'zehn' is the number itself and comes directly before things you are counting. 'Der Zehner' is a noun and means something that has the value, number, or role of 10, for example a ten-euro note, a bus line with the number 10, or, in football, a player in the number ten position. Learners may confuse the words because they sound similar. But for counting, you say 'zehn', not 'ein Zehner'.
Zehner
Felix gibt dem Verkäufer einen Zehner und bekommt zwei Euro zurück.
Felix gives the salesperson a tenner and gets two euros back.
zehn
Ich brauche zehn Kopien für den Termin am Montag.
I need ten copies for the appointment on Monday.
In real life
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