Guten Tag! If you’re looking to expand your German vocabulary, one essential word to know is “thousand.” Whether you want to express the number or discuss quantities, this guide will cover both formal and informal ways to say “thousand” in German. So, without further ado, let’s dive into it!
Table of Contents
Formal Ways to Say Thousand
When speaking formally or in more official contexts, Germans use the term “tausend” to refer to the number one thousand. This is the standard translation of “thousand” in Germany and is commonly used in both written and spoken German. Some examples of its usage are:
Es gibt tausend verschiedene Arten von Vögeln in Deutschland. (There are a thousand different types of birds in Germany.)
Das Haus kostet zwanzigtausend Euro. (The house costs twenty thousand euros.)
As you can see, “tausend” is a straightforward and commonly used term in Germany.
Informal Ways to Say Thousand
Informally, Germans often use a truncated version of “tausend” and simply say “taus” or “T.” This abbreviation is especially common in spoken language and is considered more casual. Here are a few examples of its usage:
- Ich habe schon taus Sachen erledigt. (I have already done a thousand things.)
- Das Konzert hat taus Zuschauer angezogen. (The concert attracted a thousand viewers.)
When interacting with friends, family, or in relaxed settings, you’ll encounter “taus” or “T” more frequently.
Regional Variations
While “tausend” is the standard translation throughout Germany, there are some regional variations of the word “thousand” in certain dialects. Let’s take a quick look at a couple of examples:
1. Bayerisch (Bavarian)
In Bavarian dialects, you might come across the term “dousand” or “dausend.” Here’s an example of how it can be used:
Ming Oma is scho a dausend Johr alt. (My grandmother is already a thousand years old.)
2. Schwäbisch (Swabian)
In Swabian dialects, you may hear the variation “dusend” or “duzend.” Here’s how it can be used:
Des Auto koscht fufzenddusend Euro. (The car costs fifty thousand euros.)
While it’s fascinating to learn about these regional variations, keep in mind that they aren’t widely used outside of their respective dialect-speaking regions.
Tips for Proper Usage
Now that you know how to express “thousand” in German, here are a few additional tips to ensure you use the term correctly:
- Plural Agreement: Remember that “tausend” follows the same plural rules as other German nouns. For example, “ein tausend” (one thousand) requires the singular article “ein,” while “zwei tausend” (two thousand) needs the plural “zwei.”
- Number Separators: In German, the decimal separator is a comma, while the thousands separator is a period. Therefore, instead of writing 1,000, Germans commonly write 1.000.
- Ordinal Numbers: When expressing “thousandth” as an ordinal number, Germans use the word “tausendste.” For instance, “der tausendste Tag” means “the thousandth day.”
By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll be able to use “thousand” accurately in various contexts.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve now learned how to say “thousand” in German. Remember, in formal settings, use “tausend,” while in informal situations, go for “taus” or “T.” Additionally, be aware of regional variations such as the Bavarian “dousand” or the Swabian “dusend.” Whether you’re discussing quantities or numbers, using “thousand” correctly is a valuable skill when speaking German. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be counting to thousands with ease!
