noun
thunder
B1
Donner: masculine noun meaning 'thunder', the sound during a storm. Plural often identical 'Donner' (no change) though forms like 'Donnern' exist regionally. Regular declension otherwise; genitive 'des Donners'. Common collocations: 'Donner und Blitz' or 'es donnert' (verb 'donnert'). Used primarily in meteorological contexts and phrases.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.EXAMPLES
Der Donner war in der Nacht laut und beängstigend.
The thunder was loud and frightening during the night.
Die Kinder hörten den Donner, als der Sturm über das Dorf zog.
The children heard the thunder as the storm moved over the village.
Ich höre Donner.
I hear thunder.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.DETAILS_LABEL
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.MNEMONICS
Imagine a dark cloud hitting a drum that makes a loud boom.
Donner roughly resembles the English sound 'dun-ner'—think of the booming 'dun'.
der Donner — imagine a man named Donner making a loud noise ('der' = masculine).
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.NOTES
Donner is used for the sound of thunder; commonly paired with 'Blitz' (lightning): 'Donner und Blitz'. Plural is uncommon but can be 'Donner' or 'Donner' with plural article.