In German
jener
Meaning: that
Example sentences
JenesHausgehörtmeinemOnkel.
That house belongs to my uncle.
DaswareineandereZeit,injenenTagen.
That was a different time, in those days.
Grammar note
“Jener” (declining like “dieser”: jener/jene/jenes) is the textbook word for “that”, but it sounds formal and literary in modern spoken German. In everyday conversation, Germans overwhelmingly prefer stressed “der/die/das” (“DAS Haus”, with vocal emphasis) or “der/die/das da” to mean “that one”.
Common mistake
Don't use “jener” in casual conversation expecting it to sound natural — it reads as bookish/old-fashioned; everyday spoken German points at “that” with emphasized “der/die/das” instead.
Quick check
Which German word is the formal/literary equivalent of “that”?
More words on this topic
Keep learning German
Practise it in a lesson →Frequently asked questions
Do Germans actually say “jener” in conversation?
Rarely — it's correct but sounds formal/literary. Casual speech uses stressed “der/die/das” or “der/die/das da” instead.
How would you casually say “that house” instead of “jenes Haus”?
“DAS Haus” (with spoken emphasis) or “das Haus da”.