Questions & Answers about Er ist ein guter Kumpel.
Why is the adjective guter instead of just gut or gute?
Kumpel is a masculine noun (der Kumpel) and this sentence is in the nominative case (the base case used after the verb sein). Because the indefinite article ein doesn't show the masculine gender here, the adjective has to step up and take the strong masculine ending -er.
What exactly does Kumpel mean and is it formal or informal?
Kumpel translates closely to mate, buddy, or pal in English. It is a colloquial, friendly word for a male friend. It is extremely common in everyday speech, but you would avoid using it in formal situations or professional writing.
How would I say 'They are good mates'? Does Kumpel change in the plural?
You would say Sie sind gute Kumpel. The noun Kumpel does not change in the plural. Like many German nouns ending in -el, -en, or -er, the singular (der Kumpel) and plural (die Kumpel) forms are exactly the same.
I've heard Kumpel used in another context. Does it have an older meaning?
Yes, historically Kumpel was the specific word for a coal miner. The strong sense of brotherhood and solidarity among miners eventually led to the word becoming a general term across Germany for a close buddy or mate.
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