Meaning & use
Berliners
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“Berliners” is a form of “Berliner”.
Meanings
nounplural
People who were born in or live in Berlin, the capital of Germany.
Grammar: Plural of Berliner: many Berliners ride bikes.
Patterns
- Berliners from somewhere
Many Berliners cycle to work each morning.
Berliners gathered in the square to celebrate.
The cafe is popular with young Berliners.
nounpluralregional
Round, sweet doughnuts without a hole, filled with jam, popular in Germany.
Grammar: Plural of Berliner in the doughnut sense; uses are regional.
The bakery sells fresh Berliners every morning.
We shared two Berliners at the winter market.
Berliners are often dusted with sugar.
Word forms
| singular | Berliner |
|---|
Common combinations
- native Berliners
- Native Berliners often speak with a local accent.
- young Berliners
- Young Berliners fill the clubs at night.
- typical Berliners
- Typical Berliners are known for their blunt humor.
- fresh Berliners
- Fresh Berliners sell out by noon.
Synonyms and how they differ
- residents of Berlin
- Residents of Berlin is a neutral, wordier phrase, while Berliners sounds friendlier.
- city dwellers
- City dwellers refers to any urban people, not specifically Berlin.
- Germans
- Germans is broader and covers the whole country, not just Berlin.
Word family
- Berliner noun
- one person from Berlin
- Berlin proper noun
- the capital city of Germany
Commonly confused: Berliners or Berliner Weisse?
Berliners vs Berliner Weisse
This is a sour beer from Berlin, not a person.
Practice
The cafe was full of ______ enjoying the sun by the river.
Choose one answer.
Berliners live in Berlin, which fits the context of Berlin's river. The other city demonyms refer to other places.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Berliners”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.