Depending on how it’s used this German word may refer to a sports match, a song or a person.
When you first hear a ‘single’ in German, pronounced like this, you may assume it's referring to either a singular item or an unmarried person – as it often does in English.
But ‘single’ is actually a great example of a homonym, or a word that has multiple meanings, both in German and English.
So here are the different ways you can use ‘single’ auf Deutsche.
Der / die / das
As any beginning German student can tell you, learning the language’s three articles (‘der’, ‘die’ and ‘das’) and to which words each one applies, is among the trickier bits about getting started.
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Like it or not, knowing and using the right article can actually be important to expressing yourself properly.
In the case of the word ‘single’, for example, the article used actually determines the meaning.
The three meanings of ‘Single’
With the masculine article applied, der Single refers to a single (or unmarried) person.
If you were romantically interested in someone you had just met, for example, you could ask one of their friends, “Ist er/sir Single?”
Of course there are other, perhaps more purely German words, that you could use here – such as alleinstehend (which translates to unattached) or ledig. Note that when you are filling out official forms, such as your next residence permit application, ledig (which translates best to unmarried) is typically the answer that would be used.
When the feminine article is attached, die Single means a track or a song.
In English, single can also be used this way. For example, ‘Have you heard the latest single by German rapper Nina Chuba?’
Finally, when you apply the gender neutral article, das Single refers specifically to a one on one tennis match.
It’s all context
Just to make it a little more complicated, the article (whether it’s ‘der’, ‘die’ or ‘das’) will usually be left out of the sentence when speaking.
So you’ll have to know what someone is talking about at the time – be it their personal relationships, their favourite music or tennis – to know what ‘single’ means when you hear it.
Use it like this:
Sie ist so witzig und hübsch, wie kann sie noch Single sein?
She’s so funny and pretty, how is she still single?
Haben Sie schon den neuesten Single von Peter Fox gehört?
Have you heard the latest track by Peter Fox?
Spielen Sie Tennis? Freitags spiele ich gerne Singles.
Do you play tennis? I like to play singles on Fridays.
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