der
Konkurrent
🧑💼 What exactly is a Konkurrent?
Der Konkurrent (plural: die Konkurrenten) refers to a person, company, or organization that competes with others for the same goal. This can occur in economic competition (for customers, market shares), in sports (for victory), or in other areas of life (e.g., for a job, attention).
It is a masculine noun. The feminine form is die Konkurrentin.
🚨 Important: The word has a neutral to slightly negative connotation, depending on the context. It implies competition, which doesn't necessarily have to be hostile.
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.
-ent → mostly masculine.
Caution: there are many -ment exceptions (das), such as 'das Dokument'.
🧐 Grammar: Der Konkurrent in Detail
Der Konkurrent is a weak masculine noun (n-declension). This means it takes the ending -(e)n in all cases except the nominative singular.
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Konkurrent |
| Genitive | des | Konkurrenten |
| Dative | dem | Konkurrenten |
| Accusative | den | Konkurrenten |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Konkurrenten |
| Genitive | der | Konkurrenten |
| Dative | den | Konkurrenten |
| Accusative | die | Konkurrenten |
📝 Example Sentences
- Unser größter Konkurrent hat ein neues Produkt auf den Markt gebracht.
(Our biggest competitor launched a new product.) - Im Finale traf sie auf eine starke Konkurrentin.
(In the final, she faced a strong female competitor.) - Die beiden Unternehmen sind erbitterte Konkurrenten.
(The two companies are fierce competitors.) - Er sieht in seinem Kollegen einen Konkurrenten um die Beförderung.
(He sees his colleague as a competitor for the promotion.)
💡 How 'Konkurrent' is Used
The word Konkurrent is frequently used in the following contexts:
- Economy/Business: Companies offering similar products or services (e.g., Marktkonkurrent - market competitor, Wettbewerber - competitor).
- Sports: Opponent in a competition or championship (e.g., Rivale - rival).
- Professional Life: Colleagues competing for the same position or resource.
- General: Someone competing with another for something (e.g., attention, affection).
Compared to Wettbewerber or Mitbewerber (which also mean competitor), Konkurrent can sometimes imply a slightly more direct or intense rivalry, but it's often used synonymously. Rivale (rival) often emphasizes a longer-lasting, sometimes personal, opposition.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
Article Mnemonic: Think of a concurrent event where Derek (a man's name starting with Der-) is your main rival. Masculine names often go with 'der'. Der Konkurrent.
Meaning Mnemonic: Konkurrent sounds a bit like 'conquer-rent'. Your competitor wants to 'conquer' the market and make you pay 'rent' (figuratively!).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Konkurrent
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Wettbewerber: (Competitor) Very similar, often used in business contexts.
- Mitbewerber: (Competitor / Fellow contender) Also similar, emphasizes competing 'together' in the same field.
- Rivale: (Rival) Often more personal or intense, also common in sports.
- Gegner: (Opponent) More general term for someone you compete against (e.g., in a game, fight).
- Kontrahent: (Opponent / Adversary) More formal, often in debates or legal disputes.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
⚠️ Note: Words like Kollege can be neutral or imply a potential competitor depending on the situation.
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Chef seine Mitarbeiter: "Wer von Ihnen glaubt, dass er unersetzlich ist?"
Meldet sich einer: "Ich, Chef!"
Chef: "Gut, Sie sind gefeuert! Ich wollte schon immer mal sehen, wie wir ohne einen unersetzlichen Mitarbeiter auskommen."
Der (Ex-)Mitarbeiter: "Moment, dann war ich ja doch eher ein Konkurrent um den Titel 'unersetzlich'..."
Translation:
The boss asks his employees: "Which of you believes they are irreplaceable?"
One speaks up: "Me, boss!"
Boss: "Good, you're fired! I've always wanted to see how we manage without an irreplaceable employee."
The (ex-)employee: "Wait, then I was more of a competitor for the title 'irreplaceable'..."
✍️ Poem about Competitors
Ein Konkurrent, mal nah, mal fern,
hat oft dasselbe Ziel, den Stern.
Er treibt dich an, gibt keine Ruh,
mal spornt er an, mal schlägt er zu.
Im Business, Sport, wo man auch strebt,
ein Leben ganz ohn' ihn kaum lebt.
Mal fair, mal hart, so ist das Spiel,
der andre will dasselbe Ziel.
Translation:
A competitor, sometimes near, sometimes far,
often has the same goal, the star.
He pushes you, gives no rest,
sometimes spurs you on, sometimes puts you to the test (lit: strikes).
In business, sports, wherever one strives,
a life completely without him hardly thrives.
Sometimes fair, sometimes hard, that's the game,
the other wants the very same aim.
❓ Riddle Time
Ich will dasselbe, was du willst,
sei's Marktanteil, sei's, dass du chillst.
Im Rennen lauf ich neben dir,
mein Sieg ist oft Verlust für dir.
Mal bin ich Firma, mal Person,
wer bin ich? Rate nun, mein Sohn!
... Der Konkurrent
Translation:
I want the same thing that you want,
be it market share, be it that you relax (colloq.).
In the race, I run beside you,
my victory is often a loss for you.
Sometimes I'm a company, sometimes a person,
who am I? Guess now, my son!
... The Competitor (der Konkurrent)
🌐 Other Information
Word Composition & Origin: The word Konkurrent comes from the Latin verb concurrere, meaning 'to run together', 'to meet', but also 'to compete'. The prefix con- means 'with-', 'together-' and currere means 'to run'. So, a Konkurrent is literally someone who 'runs with' or 'runs together' to achieve a goal.
Feminine Form: The explicit feminine form is die Konkurrentin (plural: die Konkurrentinnen).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Konkurrent?
The word Konkurrent is masculine. The correct article is der: der Konkurrent. The feminine form is die Konkurrentin.