zanter

Since and for: Zanter

Level 2

Zanter means since or for: Ech wunnen zanter zwee Joer zu Lëtzebuerg. (I have been living in Luxembourg for two years.)

How It Works

Since and for
English needs two words, but Luxembourgish uses zanter for both:

  • a starting point: zanter dem Summer (since the summer), zanter 2019, zanter leschter Woch
  • a length of time: zanter zwee Joer (for two years), zanter enger Stonn (for an hour)

Zanter and zënter are two spellings of the same word. The dictionary LOD lists zënter as the headword, and both are correct.

Present tense
When the situation is still going on, use the present: Ech wunnen zanter zwee Joer hei. English says I have been living, but the Luxembourgish perfect would describe something that is over.

Dative
Zanter is one of the dative prepositions: zanter dem Summer, zanter enger Woch. After a number, time words often stay singular: zanter zwee Joer, see measure nouns after numbers.

Asking
Zanter wéini? means since when?: Zanter wéini léiers du Lëtzebuergesch? See wéini.

Zanter or virun?
Zanter is for something still going on. virun (ago) points to a moment in the past: Ech si virun zwee Joer komm, an ech wunnen zanter zwee Joer hei.

Examples (6)

  1. Ech wunnen zanter zwee Joer zu Lëtzebuerg.

    I have been living in Luxembourg for two years.

    Word by Word: I live since two year in Luxembourg.

    The present tense wunnen shows that I still live there.

  2. Hie schafft hei zanter dem Summer.

    He has been working here since the summer.

    Word by Word: He works here since the summer.

    Zanter takes the dative, so den Summer becomes dem Summer.

  3. Zanter leschter Woch hunn ech Congé.

    I have been on leave since last week.

    Word by Word: Since last week have I leave.

    Woch is feminine, so the dative adjective ending is -er: leschter Woch.

  4. Ech hunn zanter dräi Deeg Kappwéi.

    I have had a headache for three days.

    Word by Word: I have since three days headache.

    Zanter with a number of days gives a length of time.

  5. Zanter enger Stonn waarden ech op de Bus.

    I have been waiting for the bus for an hour.

    Word by Word: Since an hour wait I on the bus.

    Stonn is feminine, so the dative article is enger.

  6. Zanter wéini léiers du Lëtzebuergesch?

    How long have you been learning Luxembourgish?

    Word by Word: Since when learn you Luxembourgish?

    Zanter wéini asks since when, and the answer also uses the present tense.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the perfect for something that is still going on.

    Ech hunn zanter zwee Joer hei gewunnt.
    Ech wunnen zanter zwee Joer hei.

    The intended meaning is that I still live here. For an ongoing situation Luxembourgish uses the present tense, not the perfect.

  • Using the accusative after zanter.

    Hie schafft hei zanter de Summer.
    Hie schafft hei zanter dem Summer.

    Zanter always takes the dative, so the masculine article is dem.

  • Translating English for with fir.

    Ech wunne fir zwee Joer hei.
    Ech wunnen zanter zwee Joer hei.

    The intended meaning is that I have lived here for two years until now. Fir zwee Joer means a planned period of two years. For something that has been going on until now, use zanter.

How It Connects

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zanterLevel 2Since and for: Zanter

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Before Since and For: Zanter, learn Dative Articles.

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Words in This Pattern

zënter