der
Polizist
👮 Meaning of "der Polizist"
Der Polizist is the German word for a male police officer or policeman. He is an official whose job it is to maintain public safety and order, prevent or prosecute crimes, and regulate traffic.
This is the masculine form. The feminine form is die Polizistin (policewoman).
There is only one article, der, for this word because it refers to a male profession.
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.
📊 Grammar Insights: Der Polizist
The noun der Polizist is a masculine noun. It belongs to the weak N-declension (schwache N-Deklination). This means it adds the ending "-en" in all cases except for the nominative singular.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Polizist |
| Genitive | des | Polizisten |
| Dative | dem | Polizisten |
| Accusative | den | Polizisten |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Polizisten |
| Genitive | der | Polizisten |
| Dative | den | Polizisten |
| Accusative | die | Polizisten |
Example Sentences
- Der Polizist regelt den Verkehr. (The policeman directs the traffic. - Nominative Singular)
- Die Aussage des Polizisten war entscheidend. (The policeman's statement was crucial. - Genitive Singular)
- Ich habe dem Polizisten meinen Führerschein gezeigt. (I showed the policeman my driver's license. - Dative Singular)
- Siehst du den Polizisten dort drüben? (Do you see the policeman over there? - Accusative Singular)
- Die Polizisten sicherten den Tatort ab. (The police officers secured the crime scene. - Nominative Plural)
🗣️ How to Use "Polizist"
Der Polizist is used in everyday language to refer to a male police officer. It's the neutral and official term.
- Formal Context: In news reports, official documents, or when speaking with authorities, Polizist is the standard term.
- Informal Context: Colloquially, other terms exist, such as Schutzmann (literally 'protection man', somewhat dated but respectful) or Bulle (⚠️ literally 'bull', often derogatory or provocative, should be avoided). The English loanword Cop is also sometimes used informally.
- Distinction: It's important to distinguish the masculine form der Polizist from the feminine form die Polizistin (policewoman).
Example: "Ein Polizist nahm den Unfall auf." (A policeman recorded the accident.) vs. "Die Polizistin befragte die Zeugen." (The policewoman questioned the witnesses.)
🧠 Mnemonics for Polizist
For the Article: Der Polizist is a man, often an official (Beamter). Masculine job titles in German usually take "der". Think of DER guy in uniform.
For the Meaning: The word comes from Polizei (police). The suffix "-ist" often denotes a person performing an action or profession (like Tourist, Journalist). So, a Poliz-ist is someone from the Polizei.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Schutzmann: Slightly dated, but respectful term ('protection man').
- Beamter (im Polizeidienst): More general ('official in police service'), but correct.
- Ordnungshüter: Emphasizes the function of maintaining order ('guardian of order').
- Gesetzeshüter: Emphasizes the function of enforcing laws ('guardian of the law').
- Colloquial/dated: Wachtmeister (sergeant/watch master)
- Colloquial/derogatory: Bulle ('bull'), Cop (from English)
Antonyms (Conceptual Opposites):
There's no direct antonym, but conceptual opposites include:
- Verbrecher / Straftäter: Criminal / offender – people who break the laws the policeman enforces.
- Zivilist: Civilian – a person not part of the police or military.
Important: Always use the feminine form die Polizistin when referring to women!
😂 A Little Joke
DE: Fragt ein Polizist den anderen: "Warum tragen wir eigentlich immer Uniform?" Sagt der andere: "Damit wir im Dienst nicht immer überlegen müssen, was wir anziehen sollen!"
EN: One policeman asks another: "Why do we always wear uniforms?" The other says: "So that when we're on duty, we don't always have to think about what to wear!"
✍️ Poem about the Policeman
DE:
Der Polizist, mit ernstem Blick,
achtet auf Recht und auf Geschick.
Er regelt den Verkehr im Nu,
hilft Bürgern, lässt sie nicht in Ruh',
wenn Unrecht irgendwo geschieht,
ein Freund und Helfer, wie man sieht.
EN:
The policeman, with a serious gaze,
watches over rights and skillful ways.
He directs traffic in a flash,
helps citizens, won't let them crash,
when injustice happens anywhere,
a friend and helper, beyond compare (as one sees).
🕵️♀️ A Little Riddle
DE:
Ich trage Uniform, mal blau, mal grün,
und sorge dafür, dass Gesetze blühn.
Ich helfe bei Not, bei Tag und bei Nacht,
hab auf die Ordnung stets gut Acht.
Wer bin ich?
EN:
I wear a uniform, sometimes blue, sometimes green, Der Polizist (The policeman)
and ensure that laws flourish and are seen.
I help in emergencies, by day and by night,
I always keep a close watch on order and right.
Who am I?
Answer
💡 Other Information
- Word Origin: The word Polizist derives from Polizei (police), which in turn goes back to the Greek "politeia" (state administration, citizenship) and the Latin "politia" (state administration).
- Compound Words: There are many compound words specifying the area of activity, e.g.:
- der Verkehrspolizist (traffic policeman)
- der Kriminalpolizist (detective, criminal investigation policeman)
- der Bereitschaftspolizist (riot policeman)
- der Streifenpolizist (patrolman)
- Feminine Form: The explicit feminine form is die Polizistin. The plural die Polizisten can refer to male officers or a mixed group, although for clarity, Germans often use "Polizistinnen und Polizisten" (policewomen and policemen).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Polizist?
The word "Polizist" refers to a male police officer and is always masculine. Therefore, the correct article is exclusively der: der Polizist.