der
Mitbegründer
🚀 What does "der Mitbegründer" mean?
The term der Mitbegründer refers to a male person who, together with others, founds or establishes an organization, company, movement, or institution. He is one of several founders.
It is a specifically masculine form. The feminine form is die Mitbegründerin (the female co-founder).
Example: Steve Wozniak war der Mitbegründer von Apple neben Steve Jobs. (Steve Wozniak was the co-founder of Apple alongside Steve Jobs.)
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 Mitbegründer
The noun "Mitbegründer" is masculine. It follows the n-declension in the plural (and often also in the genitive, dative, accusative singular, although weak declension without -n can occur here too, but is less common).
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Mitbegründer |
| Genitive | des | Mitbegründers |
| Dative | dem | Mitbegründer |
| Accusative | den | Mitbegründer |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Mitbegründer |
| Genitive | der | Mitbegründer |
| Dative | den | Mitbegründern |
| Accusative | die | Mitbegründer |
📝 Example Sentences
- Der Mitbegründer stellte die neue Strategie vor. (The co-founder presented the new strategy. - Nominative Singular)
- Das Büro des Mitbegründers ist im obersten Stockwerk. (The co-founder's office is on the top floor. - Genitive Singular)
- Ich habe dem Mitbegründer meine Idee präsentiert. (I presented my idea to the co-founder. - Dative Singular)
- Wir ehren den Mitbegründer für seine Vision. (We honor the co-founder for his vision. - Accusative Singular)
- Die Mitbegründer trafen sich zur Besprechung. (The co-founders met for the meeting. - Nominative Plural)
- Die Entscheidung der Mitbegründer war einstimmig. (The co-founders' decision was unanimous. - Genitive Plural)
- Das Unternehmen dankt den Mitbegründern. (The company thanks the co-founders. - Dative Plural)
- Man kennt die Mitbegründer weltweit. (The co-founders are known worldwide. - Accusative Plural)
💡 Using "Mitbegründer"
"Der Mitbegründer" is mainly used in the context of company foundations, start-ups, but also for the founding of associations (Vereine), foundations (Stiftungen), or initiatives (Initiativen).
- Business: Often found in reports about successful companies or start-ups. (e.g., Einer der Mitbegründer verließ das Unternehmen nach zwei Jahren. - One of the co-founders left the company after two years.)
- History/Society: When describing the emergence of movements or organizations. (e.g., Er gilt als Mitbegründer der modernen Soziologie. - He is considered a co-founder of modern sociology.)
- Technology: Frequently used in connection with tech companies. (e.g., Der Mitbegründer des Software-Unternehmens gab ein Interview. - The co-founder of the software company gave an interview.)
It's important to note that "Mitbegründer" implies there was at least one other person involved in the founding. A person who founds something alone is a Gründer (founder) or Alleingründer (sole founder).
🧠 Mnemonics
Article Mnemonic: Think of 'der Mann' (the man). Since Mitbegründer refers to a male co-founder, the article is der.
Meaning Mnemonic: Break it down: Mit- means 'with' or 'co-', and Begründer means 'founder'. So, someone who is a founder with others -> co-founder.
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Mitgründer: Very common synonym, almost interchangeable.
- Partner: Can fit if the founding is based on a partnership, but is more general.
- Teilhaber (Shareholder/Partner): Refers more to ownership stake, not necessarily the founding initiative.
- Initiator (Initiator) / Mitinitiator (Co-initiator): Emphasizes the impulse or idea more than the formal act of founding.
Antonyms (opposites) / Related Terms:
- Alleingründer (Sole founder): Person who founds alone.
- Nachfolger (Successor): Person who takes over leadership but didn't found the entity.
- Investor: Person who provides capital but doesn't necessarily found or operate.
- Angestellter (Employee): Works in the company but did not found it.
⚠️ Caution: Not every Partner or Teilhaber is automatically a Mitbegründer.
😄 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der eine Mitbegründer den anderen: "Was ist unser größtes Kapital?" Sagt der andere: "Unsere Fähigkeit, uns gegenseitig daran zu erinnern, warum wir das überhaupt angefangen haben!"
English: One co-founder asks the other: "What's our greatest asset?" The other replies: "Our ability to remind each other why we started this in the first place!"
✍️ Poem about Co-founders
German:
Ein Plan, 'ne Vision, nicht allein,
Zwei Köpfe, die sich mutig weih'n.
Der Mitbegründer, Hand in Hand,
Baut Neues auf in diesem Land.
Mit Schweiß und Geist, durch Nacht und Tag,
Entsteht, was keiner je zu hoffen wag'.
English Translation:
A plan, a vision, not alone,
Two minds that bravely make it known.
The co-founder, hand-in-hand,
Builds something new throughout the land.
With sweat and spirit, through night and day,
What none dared hope for comes to stay.
❓ Riddle
German:
Ich steh' am Anfang, doch nie allein,
Teile die Idee, den ersten Stein.
Für Firma, Club, für großes Werk,
Bin ich dabei, der andre Zwerg?
Nein, mit Verstand und Tatkraft hier,
Wer bin ich, sag es mir!
English:
I stand at the start, but never alone,
I share the idea, the very first stone.
For company, club, for a great deed's sake,
Am I involved, the other dwarf to make?
No, with reason and action I appear,
Who am I, tell me clear!
Solution: Der Mitbegründer (The co-founder)
🤓 Trivia
Word Composition: The word is composed of the prefix "mit-" (meaning 'with' or 'co-') and the noun "Begründer" (meaning 'founder').
Feminine Form: As mentioned, the feminine form is "die Mitbegründerin". In texts referring to mixed groups, the masculine plural form ("die Mitbegründer") or gender-neutral phrasing (e.g., "das Gründungsteam" - the founding team, "die Gründenden" - the founding individuals) is often used.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Mitbegründer?
The word "Mitbegründer" is masculine. The correct article is der Mitbegründer (singular) and die Mitbegründer (plural). It refers to a male person who founds something together with others.