der  Besitzer

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/bəˈzɪtsɐ/

🤔 What does "der Besitzer" mean?

Der Besitzer (noun, masculine) refers to a person who has actual physical control or possession of an object, regardless of whether they are the legal owner. It primarily relates to physical possession or control.

There is a feminine form: die Besitzerin (female owner/possessor).

Example: Der Mieter ist der Besitzer der Wohnung, während der Vermieter der Eigentümer ist. (The tenant is the possessor of the apartment, while the landlord is the owner.)

🚨 Important Difference: Often, Besitzer is confused with Eigentümer (legal owner). The Eigentümer holds the legal title to something (e.g., is listed in the land register), while the Besitzer currently holds or uses the item (e.g., someone renting a car).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Der Besitzer

The word "Besitzer" is a masculine noun. The article is der.

Declension of "der Besitzer"

Nouns in German change their form (or the form of their article) depending on their grammatical case (Nominativ, Genitiv, Dativ, Akkusativ) and number (Singular, Plural).

Example Sentences

• Der Besitzer des Hundes ist für ihn verantwortlich.
  (The owner of the dog is responsible for it.) (Nominative Singular)
• Das ist das Auto des neuen Besitzers.
  (That is the car of the new owner.) (Genitive Singular)
• Ich habe dem Besitzer die Fundsache zurückgegeben.
  (I returned the lost item to the owner.) (Dative Singular)
• Die Polizei sucht den Besitzer des Wagens.
  (The police are looking for the owner of the car.) (Accusative Singular)
• Die Besitzer der angrenzenden Grundstücke wurden informiert.
  (The owners of the adjacent properties were informed.) (Nominative Plural)
• Die Rechte der Besitzer wurden diskutiert.
  (The rights of the owners were discussed.) (Genitive Plural)
• Die Schlüssel wurden den neuen Besitzern übergeben.
  (The keys were handed over to the new owners.) (Dative Plural)
• Wir kennen die Besitzer des Restaurants nicht persönlich.
  (We don't know the owners of the restaurant personally.) (Accusative Plural)

💡 How to use "Besitzer"?

"Besitzer" is used to describe the person who currently has something in their physical control or use.

• Everyday Language: Often used synonymously with "Eigentümer" (legal owner), although there's a legal distinction. People talk about the Hundebesitzer (dog owner), Autobesitzer (car owner), Wohnungsbesitzer (often meaning the tenant in this context).
• Legal Language: Here, the distinction from "Eigentümer" is crucial. The Besitzer has actual control (e.g., tenant, borrower), while the Eigentümer holds the legal title (e.g., landlord, lender).
• Contexts: Lost-and-found offices (Fundbüros) look for the Besitzer of a lost item. One might speak of the stolze Besitzer (proud owner) of a new gadget.

Comparison:

• Besitzer: Has physical possession.
• Eigentümer: Has legal ownership. (You can be an Eigentümer without being a Besitzer, and vice versa).
• Inhaber: Similar to Besitzer, often used for businesses or rights (Geschäftsinhaber - shop owner, Inhaber eines Patents - patent holder).
• Halter: Specifically for vehicles or animals, the person legally responsible for the vehicle/animal and its costs (doesn't have to be the Eigentümer or the driver/Besitzer).

🧠 Memory Aids for "Besitzer"

1. For the article "der":

   Think of a man (der Mann) who sits (sitzt) on a chair, holding something – he is der Be-sitzer. The masculine connection helps remember 'der'.

2. For the meaning "Owner/Possessor":

   Someone who possesses (besitzt) something often sits (sitzt) on it or keeps it close. They are the Besitzer. The 'sit' part links to possession.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Note: The precise meaning depends heavily on the context, especially the distinction between Besitzer and Eigentümer in legal contexts.

😂 A Little Joke

Richter zum Angeklagten: "Sind Sie der Besitzer des gestohlenen Fernsehers?"
Angeklagter: "Nein, Herr Richter, ich bin nur der neue Besitzer. Den alten kenne ich nicht!"

Translation:
Judge to the defendant: "Are you the owner of the stolen television?"
Defendant: "No, Your Honor, I'm just the new owner. I don't know the old one!"

📜 Poem about the Besitzer

Ein Schlüsselbund, ein altes Haus,
der Besitzer schaut zum Fenster raus.
Er hält es fest, hat's in der Hand,
sein kleines Stückchen eignes Land.
Ob 's ihm gehört, wer weiß das schon?
Er sitzt grad drauf, auf seinem Thron.

Translation:
A bunch of keys, an old house there,
the possessor looks out through the air.
He holds it tight, within his hand,
his little piece of his own land.
If it's his own, who knows for sure?
He's sitting on it, on his throne secure.

🧩 Riddle

Ich habe etwas, doch 's gehört nicht mir,
ich nutz' es nur, das sage ich dir.
Der Brief im Kasten, das gemietete Rad,
wer hat die Sache grade parat?

Translation:
I have something, but it doesn't belong to me,
I only use it, I tell you with glee.
The letter in the box, the rented bike's seat,
who has the item readily at their feet?

(Solution: Der Besitzer / The possessor)

Fodder for the Curious: More about "Besitzer"

Word Composition

The word "Besitzer" derives from the verb "besitzen" (to possess, to own). The suffix "-er" typically denotes a person performing an action or having a characteristic (compare Lehrer - teacher, Bäcker - baker).

• be-: Prefix, often intensifying or referring to something.
• sitz(en): Core of the word, related to "sitzen" (to sit). Originally, "besitzen" meant something like "to sit upon something", implying actual control.
• -er: Suffix forming masculine nouns (person designation).

Legal Nuances

In German law (§ 854 BGB - German Civil Code), Besitz (possession) is defined as having actual physical control over a thing. A further distinction is made between unmittelbarer Besitzer (direct possessor - holds the thing directly) and mittelbarer Besitzer (indirect possessor - possesses the thing through another person, e.g., a landlord via a tenant).