der
Oberbürgermeister
🏛️ What does 'der Oberbürgermeister' mean?
Der Oberbürgermeister (often abbreviated as OB) is the German title for the chief executive and highest representative of a city, particularly a larger city or an independent city (kreisfreie Stadt). He or she heads the city administration and chairs the city council (Stadtrat or Magistrat, depending on the federal state).
It's an elected political office. The specific duties and powers can vary depending on the German federal state (Bundesland).
The feminine form is die Oberbürgermeisterin.
🚨 Note: Not every city has an Oberbürgermeister. Smaller towns or municipalities usually have a Bürgermeister (Mayor).
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 Deep Dive: Der Oberbürgermeister
The word "Oberbürgermeister" is a masculine noun. It uses the article der. It follows the weak declension pattern (n-declension).
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Oberbürgermeister |
| Genitive | des | Oberbürgermeisters |
| Dative | dem | Oberbürgermeister |
| Accusative | den | Oberbürgermeister |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Oberbürgermeister |
| Genitive | der | Oberbürgermeister |
| Dative | den | Oberbürgermeistern |
| Accusative | die | Oberbürgermeister |
Example Sentences
- Der Oberbürgermeister begrüßte die Gäste im Rathaus. (The Lord Mayor welcomed the guests in the city hall. - Nominative Singular)
- Die Rede des Oberbürgermeisters wurde im Fernsehen übertragen. (The Lord Mayor's speech was broadcast on TV. - Genitive Singular)
- Wir danken dem Oberbürgermeister für seine Unterstützung. (We thank the Lord Mayor for his support. - Dative Singular)
- Die Bürger haben den Oberbürgermeister direkt gewählt. (The citizens elected the Lord Mayor directly. - Accusative Singular)
- Die Oberbürgermeister der Nachbarstädte trafen sich zur Konferenz. (The Lord Mayors of the neighboring cities met for the conference. - Nominative Plural)
- Die Aufgaben der Oberbürgermeister sind vielfältig. (The duties of the Lord Mayors are diverse. - Genitive Plural)
- Man muss es den Oberbürgermeistern nicht immer leicht machen. (One doesn't always have to make it easy for the Lord Mayors. - Dative Plural)
- Die Presse interviewte die Oberbürgermeister nach der Sitzung. (The press interviewed the Lord Mayors after the meeting. - Accusative Plural)
🗣️ How 'der Oberbürgermeister' is Used
The term "Oberbürgermeister" is specifically used for the highest administrative office in larger German cities.
- Formal Context: Used in official documents, news reports, political discussions.
- Distinction: It's important to differentiate between Oberbürgermeister (large/independent cities) and Bürgermeister (smaller municipalities, often also the deputy of the Oberbürgermeister). The exact title and structure (e.g., with or without deputies called Beigeordnete) depend on the municipal code (Gemeindeordnung) of the respective federal state.
- Address: The correct form of address is “Herr Oberbürgermeister” or “Frau Oberbürgermeisterin”.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Remembering the Article: Think: The OVERALL BOSS is the MASTER of the city – and 'master' often implies a male role traditionally, fitting der (masculine article). So: der Oberbürgermeister.
Remembering the Meaning: Break down the word: Ober- (superior, chief) + Bürger (citizen) + Meister (master). He is the 'chief master of the citizens' of his city, i.e., the head official.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Stadtoberhaupt: A more general term for the head of a city.
- Erster Bürgermeister: In some cities/states, this is the title for the OB or their direct deputy.
- (Figuratively, informal): Stadtchef (city chief), Rathauschef (city hall chief)
Antonyms (opposites):
- Bürger / Einwohner: Citizen / resident; the people represented by the Oberbürgermeister.
- Untergeordneter Beamter / Angestellter der Stadtverwaltung: Subordinate official / employee of the city administration.
⚠️ Similar Terms:
- Bürgermeister: Mayor of a smaller municipality or town, or sometimes the deputy of the Oberbürgermeister in larger cities.
- Landrat: Head of the administration of a rural district (Landkreis).
- Ministerpräsident: Minister-President, the head of government of a German federal state.
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt ein Bürger den Oberbürgermeister: "Herr Oberbürgermeister, was halten Sie eigentlich von den vielen Baustellen in unserer Stadt?" Antwortet der Oberbürgermeister: "Ich stehe voll dahinter! Sonst würde ich ja im Stau stehen."
Translation: A citizen asks the Lord Mayor: "Mr. Lord Mayor, what do you think about all the construction sites in our city?" The Lord Mayor replies: "I fully support them! Otherwise, I'd be stuck in traffic." (The German phrase "dahinter stehen" means both "to stand behind/support" and literally "to stand behind".)
📜 A Poem about the Oberbürgermeister
Der Oberbürgermeister wacht,
über seiner großen Stadt bei Tag und Nacht.
Leitet Sitzung, hält die Reden,
löst Probleme, hier und jeden.
Im Rathaus sitzt er, plant und schafft,
mit viel Verantwortung und Kraft.
Für Straßen, Schulen, Bürgerwohl,
spielt er die wichtigste Roll'.
Translation:
The Lord Mayor watches,
over his large city day and night.
Leads meetings, gives the speeches,
solves problems, each and every.
In the city hall he sits, plans and works,
with much responsibility and strength.
For streets, schools, citizens' welfare,
he plays the most important role.
❓ Riddle Time
Ich trage eine Amtskette, doch bin kein Juwelier.
Ich leite eine Stadt, bin ihr höchstes Tier (im Amt).
Man wählt mich für Jahre, ich sitz' im Rathaus vorn.
Wer bin ich, gewählt von Bürgern, hier geboren?
Translation:
I wear a chain of office, but I'm not a jeweler.
I lead a city, I'm its highest animal (in office).
I'm elected for years, I sit at the front in the city hall.
Who am I, chosen by citizens, born here?
Solution: Der Oberbürgermeister (The Lord Mayor)
🧩 Other Information
Word Composition
The word "Oberbürgermeister" is a compound noun, made up of three parts:
- Ober-: Prefix indicating a higher position or rank (like in Oberarzt - chief physician, Oberkellner - head waiter).
- Bürger: Means citizen, resident of a city or state with certain rights and duties.
- Meister: Originally a master craftsman, used here in the sense of head, leader, or someone who masters something (here: the administration).
Together, the meaning is: The highest ('Ober-') leader ('-meister') serving the citizens ('Bürger-') of a city.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Oberbürgermeister?
The word "Oberbürgermeister" is masculine. The correct article is der. It refers to the elected head of administration of a large city in Germany (Lord Mayor / Chief Mayor).