der  Politiker

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/poliˈtiːkɐ/

🏛️ What does "der Politiker" mean?

Der Politiker refers to a male person who is active in politics, especially professionally in a party, government, or parliament. He shapes or influences the politics of a state, region, or community. The direct translation is 'politician'.

• Main meaning: A person who holds or seeks political office and actively participates in political events to make decisions and manage public affairs.

⚠️ Important: The word der Politiker specifically refers to a male person. The female form is die Politikerin (the female politician). The plural die Politiker can refer to a group of men or a mixed-gender group, although the phrase "Politikerinnen und Politiker" is often used for explicit inclusion.

Example: Der Abgeordnete ist ein erfahrener Politiker im Bundestag. (The representative is an experienced politician in the Bundestag.)

Article rules for der, die, and das

📜 Grammar Deep Dive: Declining 'der Politiker'

'Der Politiker' is a masculine noun belonging to the weak declension (n-declension). This means it adds an '-n' ending in all cases except the nominative singular.

Example Sentences

1. Der Politiker hält eine Rede. (The politician gives a speech.)
2. Wir haben den Politikern Fragen gestellt. (We asked the politician questions.)
3. Das Büro des Politikern ist im Rathaus. (The politician's office is in the city hall.)
4. Viele Politiker waren bei der Konferenz anwesend. (Many politicians attended the conference. - Plural)
5. Ich habe mit den Politikern gesprochen. (I spoke with the politicians. - Plural Dative)

🚨 Remember the weak declension! Forgetting the '-n' ending in singular accusative, dative, and genitive is a common mistake for learners. Also note the dative plural adds an 'n' (den Politikern).

🗣️ How to use "Politiker"?

"Der Politiker" is used to talk about male individuals engaged in politics, either professionally or voluntarily.

• Context: News reports, political discussions, elections, government activities, parliamentary debates.
• Job Title: Often used as a general job title for members of parliament (Abgeordnete), ministers (Minister), mayors (Bürgermeister), etc.
• Connotation: Depending on the context, it can be neutral, appreciative (e.g., using related terms like "Staatsmann" - statesman, "erfahrener Politiker" - experienced politician) or critical/negative (e.g., "Berufspolitiker" - career politician, sometimes used pejoratively).

Comparison:

• Politiker vs. Staatsmann: A 'Staatsmann' is often a particularly experienced, respected politician who acts in a non-partisan manner.
• Politiker vs. Aktivist: An 'Aktivist' (activist) campaigns for political goals but doesn't necessarily hold a political office.
• Politiker vs. Beamter: A 'Beamter' (civil servant) works in administration and implements political decisions, whereas the 'Politiker' makes or influences these decisions.

🧠 Mnemonics for "Politiker"

Article Mnemonic: Think of politics often being historically dominated by men (though thankfully changing!). 'He' rules, 'DER' rules. So, it's 'der Politiker' for the male politician.

Meaning Mnemonic: It sounds like 'polite ticker' - maybe imagine a politician needing a 'polite ticker' (heart) to deal with debates, but also keeping an eye on the election 'ticker'. Or simply link 'Politik' (politics) with the '-er' ending common for male professions in German.

N-Declension Mnemonic: Imagine the Politiker needs an extra 'N' (perhaps for 'Nodding' in agreement or saying 'Nein!') in nearly every situation (case) except when he's the main subject (Nominative singular).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Note: Words like 'Beamter' (civil servant) or 'Aktivist' (activist) are not direct antonyms but describe different roles within the political system.

😂 A Little Joke

Auf Deutsch: Fragt ein Bürger einen Politiker: "Ist es schwer, immer die Wahrheit zu sagen?"
Antwortet der Politiker: "Nein, überhaupt nicht. Das Schwierige ist, sich danach noch daran zu erinnern, was man gesagt hat!" 😉

In English: A citizen asks a politician: "Is it hard to always tell the truth?"
The politician replies: "No, not at all. The difficult part is remembering what you said afterwards!" 😉

🎤 Politician Rap

Auf Deutsch:
Yo, hier kommt der Politiker, hört gut zu,
Mit Anzug, Krawatte und manchmal 'nem Schuh,
Der drückt, wenn die Debatte wird hitzig und heiß,
Er kämpft für die Stimmen, zahlt jeden Preis.

Reden halten, Hände schütteln, das ist sein Job,
Mal Top, mal Flop, im Polit-Galopp.
Gesetze beraten, im Plenum sitzen,
Manchmal dabei ganz schön ins Schwitzen.

Von links nach rechts, die Mitte hält Stand,
Er lenkt die Geschicke hier im Land.
Der Politiker, Mann, merk es dir gut,
Er braucht starke Nerven und jede Menge Mut!

In English:
Yo, here comes the politician, listen close now,
With suit and tie, and sometimes a shoe, somehow,
That pinches when debate gets heated and fierce,
He fights for the votes, through the passing years.

Giving speeches, shaking hands, that's his occupation,
Sometimes a hit, sometimes frustration.
Debating laws, in sessions he sits,
Sometimes really breaking out in sweats.

From left to right, the center holds its ground,
He steers the fortunes of the nation 'round.
The politician, man, remember him well,
He needs strong nerves and courage, you can tell!

🧩 Little Riddle

Auf Deutsch:
Ich spreche viel vor großem Haus,
Teile gern Versprechungen aus.
Man wählt mich für 'ne Legislatur,
Ich folge der Parteienspur. Ich trage oft Anzug, selten Hut,
Und brauche für mein Amt viel Mut. Wer bin ich?

Lösung: der Politiker

In English:
I speak a lot before a large house,
I like to hand out promises, like a mouse
Hands out cheese, but mine are words.
I'm elected for a legislative term, heard?
I follow the party line, it's true,
I often wear a suit, rarely a hat, too.
And for my office, I need lots of guts. Who am I?

Answer: the politician (der Politiker)

🌐 More about 'Politiker'

Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung):

The word "Politiker" derives from the word "Politik" (politics). "Politik" itself comes from the Greek word "polis" (πόλις), meaning "city" or "state", and "politikḗ téchnē" (πολιτικὴ τέχνη), meaning the "art of statecraft". Thus, the Politiker is the one who practices this art.

Trivia:

• In Germany, the most common 'prerequisite' for becoming a professional politician is often a university degree, frequently in law, economics, or social sciences, but there's no formal educational requirement. (In Deutschland ist die häufigste "Vorstufe" zum Berufspolitiker oft ein abgeschlossenes Studium, häufig in Rechts-, Wirtschafts- oder Sozialwissenschaften, aber es gibt keine formale Ausbildungspflicht.)
• The term "Politiker" can sometimes be used pejoratively to describe someone who acts very tactically or calculatingly, even outside of actual politics. (Der Begriff "Politiker" kann manchmal auch abwertend verwendet werden, um jemanden zu beschreiben, der sehr taktisch oder berechnend agiert, auch außerhalb der eigentlichen Politik.)