Dieser

Dieser is a German demonstrative determiner and pronoun meaning "this" or "these." It is used to indicate a specific item or group that is close to the speaker or already established in the discourse. Diectionally, it accompanies a noun (dieser Mann, diese Frau, dieses Kind) or can stand alone as a pronoun (dieser, diese, dieses, diese).

Declension

Diesel declines like a der-word. Singular masculine: Nom dieser Mann; Gen dieses Mannes; Dat diesem Mann; Acc diesen Mann. Feminine singular: Nom diese Frau; Gen dieser Frau; Dat dieser Frau; Acc diese Frau. Neuter singular: Nom dieses Kind; Gen dieses Kindes; Dat diesem Kind; Acc dieses Kind. Plural (all genders): Nom diese Männer; Gen dieser Männer; Dat diesen Männern; Acc diese Männer.

Usage notes

Dies is used to specify one item or a subset within a larger set, often contrasted with other items (jener, welcher). In everyday speech it frequently appears with hier or da to emphasize proximity or familiarity (dieser hier, dieser da). As a standalone pronoun, it can mean "this one" or "these," with forms matching the singular or plural noun they replace (Dieser ist neu; Diese sind neu).

Related terms

Dies kann be compared with jener (that/that one) and welcher (which), which are used for different degrees of distance or specification.

Etymology

Dies is derived from a Proto-Germanic demonstrative root related to the English "this" and the German "dies-" prefix, forming a core part of the German demonstrative system.