der  Kandidat

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/kandiˈdaːt/

🗳️ What does "der Kandidat" mean?

Der Kandidat (noun, masculine) refers to a male person who is applying for something, is nominated for an office, or is taking an exam.

• Applicant/Candidate (Job, etc.): A person applying for a job, a place at university, or similar. (Example: Er ist ein vielversprechender Kandidat für die Position. - He is a promising candidate for the position.)
• Examinee/Candidate (Exam): A person taking an exam. (Example: Die Kandidaten warteten nervös vor dem Prüfungsraum. - The candidates waited nervously outside the examination room.)
• Candidate (Politics): A person running for political office or an election. (Example: Der Kandidat hielt eine Wahlkampfrede. - The candidate gave a campaign speech.)

The feminine form is die Kandidatin.

🚨 Attention: In the plural and in all cases except nominative singular, the word takes an additional "-en" ending (weak noun declension).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "Kandidat" in Detail

"Der Kandidat" is a masculine noun belonging to the weak noun declension (n-Deklination). This means it adds the ending "-en" in all cases except for the nominative singular.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Nominative Sg.: Der Kandidat stellt sich vor. (The candidate introduces himself.)
2. Genitive Sg.: Die Unterlagen des Kandidaten sind vollständig. (The candidate's documents are complete.)
3. Dative Sg.: Wir wünschen dem Kandidaten viel Erfolg. (We wish the candidate much success.)
4. Akkusativ Sg.: Ich habe den Kandidaten gestern getroffen. (I met the candidate yesterday.)
5. Nominative Pl.: Die Kandidaten warten auf das Ergebnis. (The candidates are waiting for the result.)
6. Dative Pl.: Der Prüfer gab den Kandidaten Anweisungen. (The examiner gave instructions to the candidates.)

🗣️ How "Kandidat" is used

"Kandidat" is a somewhat formal word used in various contexts:

• Work & Applications: When someone applies for a job. (Synonym: Bewerber)
• Politics & Elections: People running for office. (Synonyms: Bewerber, Anwärter)
• Education & Exams: People taking an exam. (Synonyms: Prüfling, Examinand)
• Medicine: It is sometimes used to describe a person eligible for a specific treatment or study. (Example: Er ist ein Kandidat für die neue Therapie. - He is a candidate for the new therapy.)

Compared to "Bewerber", "Kandidat" is often slightly more formal or used when a selection process or examination is involved. "Prüfling" is specific to examination contexts.

💡 Mnemonics for "der Kandidat"

Article Mnemonic: Think of a typical male politician or job applicant - he is der Kandidat. The masculine article "der" fits this image.

Meaning Mnemonic: "Kandidat" sounds very similar to the English word "candidate". Both refer to someone who is being considered for a position, election, or test.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words

• Kandieren: (Verb: to candy fruit - completely unrelated to Kandidat!)

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Personaler den Kandidaten: "Was sind Ihre Stärken?"
The HR manager asks the candidate: "What are your strengths?"

Kandidat: "Ich bin sehr hartnäckig!"
Candidate: "I am very persistent!"

Personaler: "Danke, wir melden uns bei Ihnen."
HR manager: "Thank you, we'll get back to you."

Kandidat: "Ich warte hier."
Candidate: "I'll wait here."

📜 Poem about the Candidate

Der Kandidat, nervös und blass,
The candidate, nervous and pale,
hofft auf Erfolg, gibt richtig Gas.
Hopes for success, really steps on the gas.
Ob Prüfung, Job, ob Wahl im Land,
Whether exam, job, or election in the land,
hält er sein Schicksal in der Hand.
He holds his fate in his hand.
Mit Lebenslauf und gutem Plan,
With resume and a good plan,
tritt er zur Auswahl mutig an.
He bravely enters the selection.
Der Kandidat, voll Zuversicht,
The candidate, full of confidence,
erfüllt hoffentlich die Pflicht.
Hopefully fulfills the duty.

❓ Riddle: Who am I?

Ich will gewählt sein, oder eingestellt,
I want to be elected, or hired,
manchmal sitz' ich auch im Prüfungszelt.
Sometimes I also sit in the exam tent (hall).
Ich trete an, stell mich zur Schau,
I compete, put myself on display,
ob ich gewinne? Weiß nicht genau.
Will I win? I don't know exactly.
Mein Name klingt fast wie 'bereit',
My name sounds almost like 'ready' (bereit -> Kandidat - a stretch, but works for a riddle),
für Amt, Examen oder Arbeit.
For office, exam, or work.

Who am I?

Solution: Der Kandidat

🌐 Other Information

Word Origin: The word "Kandidat" comes from the Latin candidatus. In ancient Rome, applicants for public office wore a toga bleached white (toga candida) to symbolize their purity and integrity. Candidus means "white", "shining", "pure".

Feminine Form: The feminine form is die Kandidatin (plural: die Kandidatinnen).

Compound Words: There are many compound words with Kandidat, e.g., Spitzenkandidat (leading candidate), Präsidentschaftskandidat (presidential candidate), Gegenkandidat (opposing candidate), Kanzlerkandidat (chancellor candidate), Kandidatenliste (list of candidates).