der
Bundesaußenminister
🏛️ What does "Bundesaußenminister" mean?
Der Bundesaußenminister is the German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs. This person heads the Auswärtiges Amt (Federal Foreign Office) and is a member of the Bundesregierung (Federal Government).
The responsibilities include:
- Managing Germany's foreign policy.
- Maintaining diplomatic relations with other countries and international organizations.
- Representing Germany abroad.
It's the official title for a male person holding this office. The female equivalent is die Bundesaußenministerin.
Word breakdown:
- Bund: Refers to the federal level (federal).
- Außen: Means outside or foreign (referring to foreign affairs).
- Minister: Minister.
So, literally: The federal minister for foreign affairs.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Male characters → always masculine.
Caution: Most professions also have their feminine forms (e.g. die Polizistin). Some words can also have two forms: der/die Deutsche, der/die Kranke.
-er → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. almost all -euer nouns are neutral. 3. There are many -er words, we don't list them all.
📜 Grammar in Detail: Der Bundesaußenminister
The noun "Bundesaußenminister" is masculine. It uses the article der.
Declension (Masculine)
Here's how it changes in the different German cases (Kasus):
| Case | Article | Noun | English Equivalent Idea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Nom) | der | Bundesaußenminister | The minister (subject) |
| Genitive (Gen) | des | Bundesaußenministers | Of the minister |
| Dative (Dat) | dem | Bundesaußenminister | To/for the minister |
| Accusative (Acc) | den | Bundesaußenminister | The minister (direct object) |
| Case | Article | Noun | English Equivalent Idea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Nom) | die | Bundesaußenminister | The ministers (subject) |
| Genitive (Gen) | der | Bundesaußenminister | Of the ministers |
| Dative (Dat) | den | Bundesaußenministern | To/for the ministers |
| Accusative (Acc) | die | Bundesaußenminister | The ministers (direct object) |
Examples 🗣️
- Der Bundesaußenminister reist nächste Woche nach Washington.
(The Federal Foreign Minister is traveling to Washington next week.) - Die Rede des Bundesaußenministers wurde live übertragen.
(The speech of the Federal Foreign Minister was broadcast live.) - Man überreichte dem Bundesaußenminister ein Gastgeschenk.
(They presented a gift to the Federal Foreign Minister.) - Die Journalisten befragten den Bundesaußenminister zur aktuellen Lage.
(The journalists asked the Federal Foreign Minister about the current situation.) - Mehrere ehemalige Bundesaußenminister nahmen an der Veranstaltung teil.
(Several former Federal Foreign Ministers attended the event.)
⚠️ Remember: The feminine form "die Bundesaußenministerin" is declined accordingly (e.g., Genitive Singular: der Bundesaußenministerin, Nominative Plural: die Bundesaußenministerinnen).
💼 When to use "Bundesaußenminister"?
The term "Bundesaußenminister" is mainly used in formal contexts:
- Politics and News: In reports about the German government, foreign policy, international relations, and summits. (e.g., reporting by Deutsche Welle, Tagesschau).
- Official Documents: In laws, regulations, and official government communications.
- Formal Occasions: During speeches, addresses, or discussions within the political sphere.
It's quite a formal term. In casual conversation, people might just say "der Außenminister" (the Foreign Minister) or use the person's name.
Compared to just "Außenminister", the term "Bundesaußenminister" emphasizes the federal level responsibility. While foreign policy is primarily a federal matter in Germany, the distinction highlights the structure of the German political system.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic: Think of official titles often being masculine in German (der Minister, der Kanzler, der Präsident). So, it's der Bundesaußenminister. The 'der' sounds a bit like 'dare' - the minister dares to represent the country abroad.
Meaning Mnemonic: Break it down: Bundes (Federal - think federal building), Außen (Outside - think looking outside the country's borders), Minister. He's the federal minister dealing with the 'outside' world.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Außenminister: (Foreign Minister) The common abbreviation, often used interchangeably.
- Chefdiplomat: (Chief Diplomat) Describes the function, not the official title.
- Leiter des Auswärtigen Amtes: (Head of the Federal Foreign Office) A descriptive term for the position.
Antonyms (Conceptual Opposites):
- Bundesinnenminister: (Federal Minister of the Interior) Responsible for domestic affairs.
- Andere Bundesminister: (Other Federal Ministers) e.g., Finanzminister (Finance), Verteidigungsminister (Defense) – responsible for different portfolios.
Similar, but different terms:
- Staatssekretär im Auswärtigen Amt: (State Secretary in the Federal Foreign Office) A high-ranking civil servant subordinate to the Bundesaußenminister.
- Botschafter: (Ambassador) Germany's representative in another country, reporting to the Bundesaußenminister.
😂 A Little Joke
Frage: Warum nimmt der Bundesaußenminister immer einen Koffer voller Landkarten mit auf Reisen?
Antwort: Damit er nie die diplomatischen Grenzen überschreitet!
Question: Why does the German Foreign Minister always take a suitcase full of maps when traveling?
Answer: So he never crosses diplomatic boundaries!
📜 A Poem about the Bundesaußenminister
Der Bundesaußenminister, weit gereist,
Vertritt das Land, wie es ihn heißt.
Mit Diplomatie und klugem Wort,
An manch entferntem, fremdem Ort.
Er spricht für Frieden, Handel, Recht,
Sein Amt ist wichtig, gar nicht schlecht.
Translation:
The Federal Foreign Minister, travelled far,
Represents the country, like a guiding star.
With diplomacy and words so smart,
In many a distant, foreign part.
He speaks for peace, for trade, for right,
His office important, shining bright.
❓ Riddle Time
Ich reise viel, doch nicht zum Spaß,
Ich spreche für Deutschland, über dies und das.
Mein Büro ist in Berlin, doch die Welt mein Feld,
Ich pflege Kontakte, die zählen als Geld.
Ich bin Teil der Regierung, auf Bundesniveau,
Wer bin ich, sag schnell, na sowieso?
Translation & Clues:
I travel a lot, but not for fun,
I speak for Germany, till the day is done.
My office is in Berlin, but the world's my stage,
I foster relations, turning a new page.
I'm part of the government, at the federal height,
Who am I? Tell me quickly, with all your might!
Solution: Der Bundesaußenminister (The Federal Foreign Minister)
💡 Other Interesting Facts
Word Composition:
The word is a compound noun made of three parts:
- Bundes-: Prefix indicating belonging to the federal level of the Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Federal Republic of Germany).
- Außen-: Refers to 'outside', meaning foreign affairs.
- Minister: A minister, head of a government department.
The Auswärtiges Amt:
The Bundesaußenminister is the head of the Auswärtiges Amt (AA), which is the Federal Foreign Office of Germany. Its main seat is in Berlin.
History:
The office of Foreign Minister has a long tradition in Germany, dating back to the 19th century, although the specific title "Bundesaußenminister" is unique to the Federal Republic of Germany (post-WWII).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Bundesaußenminister?
The noun "Bundesaußenminister" refers to the male holder of the office (or the office itself generically) and is masculine. The correct article is der Bundesaußenminister. The female form is "die Bundesaußenministerin".