der Durchschnitt
average
Definition & meaning
Der Durchschnitt means the average or the mean: a value that represents the typical or central level of a group of numbers, people, or results.
-
Mathematical average:
The sum of several values divided by their number.- Der Durchschnitt von av 2, 4 und 6 ist 4. — “The average of 2, 4, and 6 is 4.”
-
Typical or ordinary level:
It can describe something that is neither especially good nor especially bad, or a typical person or result.- Er liegt im Durchschnitt. — “He is average.”
- Das Ergebnis entspricht dem Durchschnitt. — “The result is average.”
The plural is die Durchschnitte.
Grammar & word origin
- Gender: masculine
- Article: der
- Plural: die Durchschnitte
- Compound: durch “through” + der Schnitt “cut” or “cutting”
Literally, der Durchschnitt means something like “a cut through” or “a cross-section.” Its meaning developed into the mathematical concept of an average.
Related adjectives include durchschnittlich — “average” or “typical,” and überdurchschnittlich — “above average.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- der Mittelwert — “mean” or “average”; mainly used in mathematics and statistics. It is more precise and technical than der Durchschnitt.
- das Mittel — “the mean” or “middle value”; a shorter, somewhat more formal alternative.
- das Mittelmaß — “mediocrity” or “average quality”; unlike der Durchschnitt, it often has a negative implication.
- der Durchschnittswert — “average value”; a more explicit technical compound.
Antonyms and contrasts
There is no single exact antonym in every context. Common contrasting expressions are:
- die Ausnahme — “the exception”; something that differs from the average or usual case.
- überdurchschnittlich — “above average.”
- unterdurchschnittlich — “below average.”
- außergewöhnlich — “exceptional” or “unusual”; stronger than simply being above average.
Common phrases & collocations
- der Durchschnitt von ... — “the average of ...”
- im Durchschnitt — “on average”
- durchschnittlich — “average,” “ordinary,” or “on average”
- über dem Durchschnitt liegen — “to be above average”
- unter dem Durchschnitt liegen — “to be below average”
- dem Durchschnitt entsprechen — “to correspond to the average”
- der deutsche Durchschnitt — “the German average,” often used when discussing statistics or typical living conditions
Make “der Durchschnitt” part of your vocabulary.
Build your German vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.
Examples
Seine Leistungen liegen deutlich über dem Durchschnitt.other
His performance is significantly above the average.
Keep exploring German
Learn words from the content you love.
Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).
Scan for iPhone & iPad