der  Aktionär

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/akˈt͡si̯oːnɛːɐ̯/

💰 What Exactly is "der Aktionär"?

An Aktionär is a person or organization that owns one or more Aktien (shares/stocks) of a company. In other words: An Aktionär is a co-owner of a specific type of German corporation called an Aktiengesellschaft (AG) (stock corporation).

As co-owners, Aktionäre (shareholders) have certain rights, such as:

• The right to a Dividende (dividend - profit share), if the company distributes profits.
• The Stimmrecht (voting right) at the Hauptversammlung (general meeting of shareholders) to participate in important company decisions.
• The right to information about the company's business development.

The feminine form is die Aktionärin.

🚨 Caution: Don't confuse the Aktionär (specific to an AG) with a Gesellschafter (partner/shareholder in other types of companies, e.g., a GmbH - limited liability company), even though both hold shares in a company. The legal form of the company matters.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📈 Grammar Compass for "der Aktionär"

The word "Aktionär" is a masculine noun. It generally follows the weak declension pattern (N-declension), except for the Genitive Singular, which is usually formed strongly (with an -s).

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

Example Sentences

1. Der Aktionär freut sich über die hohe Dividende.
   (The shareholder is happy about the high dividend.)
2. Die Rechte des Aktionärs sind im Aktiengesetz festgelegt.
   (The rights of the shareholder are defined in the Stock Corporation Act.)
3. Der Vorstandsvorsitzende dankt dem Aktionär für sein Vertrauen.
   (The CEO thanks the shareholder for his trust.)
4. Auf der Hauptversammlung trifft man den Aktionär persönlich.
   (At the general meeting, one meets the shareholder personally.)
5. Die Aktionäre stimmten über den neuen Vorstand ab.
   (The shareholders voted on the new board of directors.)

🏢 When to Use "Aktionär"

The term Aktionär is primarily used in the context of business, finance, and the stock market.

• Contexts: Discussions about Corporate Governance, stock markets (Aktienmärkte), investments (Investitionen), general meetings (Hauptversammlungen), dividend policy (Dividendenpolitik).
• Typical Verbs: Aktionäre besitzen (own) shares, erhalten (receive) dividends, nehmen teil an (participate in) general meetings, stimmen ab (vote), klagen (sue - sometimes), profitieren von (profit from) price increases.
• Distinction: As mentioned, an Aktionär is specific to an AG. For a GmbH (limited liability company), you use Gesellschafter. For a Kommanditgesellschaft (KG) (limited partnership), you have Kommanditisten (limited partners) and Komplementäre (general partners). A general term for someone holding shares can be Anteilseigner (share owner) or Kapitalgeber (capital provider).

A distinction is often made between Großaktionäre (major shareholders with many shares and often significant influence) and Kleinaktionäre (small/retail shareholders with few shares).

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Article Mnemonic (der): Think of der Mann (the man), der Chef (the boss), der Investor. Many important economic roles are grammatically masculine in German. The Aktionär takes action by investing.

Meaning Mnemonic: An Aktionär owns Aktion (which sounds like shares/Aktien and also means action). They are 'active' (have voting rights, expect dividends) rather than just passive owners.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

⚠️ Watch out for these!

• Gesellschafter: Shareholder/partner in a GmbH or partnership.
• Obligationär/Anleihegläubiger: Bondholder - owns bonds (debt), not stocks. Is a creditor, not an owner.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt ein Kleinaktionär den Vorstandsvorsitzenden auf der Hauptversammlung: "Sagen Sie mal, steigt Ihre Aktie eigentlich auch mal, oder ist die nur zum Dividenden-Sammeln da?" Antwortet der Vorstand: "Geduld, mein lieber Aktionär, Geduld! Auch ein Wolkenkratzer wurde nicht an einem Tag erbaut – obwohl unsere Baukosten manchmal so aussehen..."

Translation: A small shareholder asks the CEO at the general meeting: "Tell me, does your stock ever actually go up, or is it just for collecting dividends?" The CEO replies: "Patience, my dear shareholder, patience! Even a skyscraper wasn't built in a day – although sometimes our construction costs look like it was..."

📜 Poem about the Aktionär

Der Aktionär, mit scharfem Blick,
verfolgt der Kurse Auf und Zick.
Mal Freudensprünge, mal ein Graus,
die Dividende gleicht es aus?
Er hofft auf Wachstum, Jahr für Jahr,
ist Teil vom Ganzen, wunderbar.
Mit Stimmrecht in der großen Rund',
macht er dem Vorstand manchmal kund,
was ihm gefällt und was ihn stört,
damit sein Einfluss wird gehört.

Translation: The shareholder, with a keen eye,
\Follows the shares' up and down zig-zag.
\Sometimes leaps of joy, sometimes dread,
\Does the dividend make up for it instead?
\He hopes for growth, year after year,
\Is part of the whole, wonderfully clear.
\With voting rights in the big round,
\He sometimes lets the board astound,
\With what he likes and what annoys,
\So that his influence deploys.

🧩 Who am I?

Ich kaufe einen Teil von einem großen Haus,
doch wohne selbst nicht drin, das macht nichts aus.
Ich hoffe auf Gewinn und habe ein Stimmrecht,
bin aber nicht der Chef, das wär' nicht recht.
Manchmal treff' ich mich mit vielen meinesgleichen,
um über Zahlen und die Zukunft zu streichen.

Wer bin ich?
... Der Aktionär

Translation: I buy a part of a big house,
\But don't live in it myself, that's no cause for grouse.
\I hope for profit and have a right to vote,
\But I'm not the boss, that wouldn't float.
\Sometimes I meet with many of my kind,
\To talk about numbers and the future we find.

Who am I?
... The Shareholder (der Aktionär)

🌐 More about the Word

Etymology

The word "Aktionär" derives directly from the word Aktie (share/stock), which in turn comes from the Dutch "actie" (share, claim) and ultimately traces back to the Latin "actio" (action, lawsuit, claim).

Cultural Notes

The image of the Aktionär has evolved. Once often depicted as a wealthy capitalist, share ownership (Aktionärstum) is more widespread today through funds and broader stock investments, although Germany is often considered a country of 'stock market sceptics' (Aktienmuffel) in international comparison.