der
Richter
⚖️ What does "der Richter" mean?
Der Richter refers to a male person whose profession is to administer justice and pass judgments. Richter (judges) work at courts (Gerichte) and preside over legal proceedings. Their task is to decide on legal disputes based on laws and evidence.
It is a masculine noun representing a job title. The feminine form is "die Richterin" (the female judge).
⚠️ Attention: The word "Richter" specifically refers to the person, not the court itself (that is das Gericht).
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 Spotlight: Der Richter
"Der Richter" is a masculine noun. It follows the weak N-declension in the plural.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | der | Richter |
| Genitive (Possessive) | des | Richters |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | dem | Richter |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | den | Richter |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Richter |
| Genitive | der | Richter |
| Dative | den | Richtern |
| Accusative | die | Richter |
Example Sentences
- Der Richter verkündete das Urteil. (The judge announced the verdict.)
- Die Argumente des Anwalts überzeugten den Richter nicht. (The lawyer's arguments did not convince the judge.)
- Die Richter berieten lange über den Fall. (The judges deliberated on the case for a long time.)
- Man muss den Anweisungen der Richtern folgen. (One must follow the instructions of the judges.)
🗣️ How "der Richter" is used
The term "Richter" is mainly used in a legal context when discussing court proceedings (Gerichtsverfahren), judgments (Urteile), or the legal system (Rechtssystem).
- Formal: In official documents, news reports, and legal texts. (e.g., Der Richter am Bundesgerichtshof... - The judge at the Federal Court of Justice...)
- Everyday language: Also used in general conversation when reporting on court cases or referring to a judge's decision. (e.g., Mal sehen, was der Richter dazu sagt. - Let's see what the judge says about that.)
- Distinction: "Der Richter" is the person, "das Gericht" is the institution or building, and "das Urteil" is the judge's decision.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Remembering the Article "der"
Think of a judge as a traditionally male role (masculine), so it's "der" Richter. Picture a figure of authority often depicted as male.
Remembering the Meaning
A Richter decides what is 'right' (in the sense of the law). "Richter" sounds similar to "right". He aligns himself with (richtet sich nach) the law and passes judgment (richtet) on the case.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Richter
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Vorsitzender (Richter): Presiding (judge); person chairing the court session.
- Jurist: Jurist/Lawyer; general term for people with legal training (judges are Juristen).
- Amtsrichter, Landrichter, Bundesrichter: Specific types of judges depending on the court level (e.g., district judge, regional judge, federal judge).
Antonyms (opposites in context):
- Angeklagter / Beklagter: Defendant / Accused.
- Kläger: Plaintiff / Claimant.
- Staatsanwalt: Public prosecutor.
- Rechtsanwalt / Verteidiger: Lawyer / Defense attorney.
Similar but different terms:
- Schiedsrichter: Referee (in sports), arbitrator. Decides in sports competitions, not court cases.
- Gutachter: Expert witness / Appraiser. Provides an expert opinion but doesn't pass judgment.
😂 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten: "Wollen Sie die Wahrheit sagen, die reine Wahrheit und nichts als die Wahrheit?" Antwortet der Angeklagte: "Nein, Herr Richter, ich wollte eigentlich nur kurz 'Hallo' sagen."
English: The judge asks the defendant: "Do you want to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?" The defendant replies: "No, Your Honor, I actually just wanted to quickly say 'Hello'."
📜 Poem about the Judge
German:
Im Saale sitzt er, ernst und schlicht,
Der Richter, prüfend das Gewicht
Von Schuld und Unschuld, Wort und Tat,
Folgt streng des Paragraphen Pfad.
Er hört die Zeugen, Anklägers Stimm',
Des Anwalts Rede, leis und schlimm.
Dann fällt das Urteil, klar und fest,
Das Recht gibt Antwort auf den Test.
English Translation:
In the hall he sits, serious and plain,
The judge, examining the weight
Of guilt and innocence, word and deed,
Strictly following the paragraph's path.
He hears the witnesses, the prosecutor's voice,
The lawyer's speech, quiet and grim.
Then the verdict falls, clear and firm,
Justice provides the answer to the test.
❓ A Little Riddle
German:
Ich trage eine Robe, doch bin kein König.
Ich spreche Recht, mal streng, mal gnädig.
Mein Hammer fällt, ein Urteil klingt.
Wer bin ich, der Ordnung bringt?
Lösung: Der Richter
English Translation:
I wear a robe, but am no king.
I administer justice, sometimes strict, sometimes lenient.
My hammer falls, a judgment sounds.
Who am I, the one who brings order?
Solution: The Judge (Der Richter)
💡 Other Information
- Feminine Form: The female equivalent is "die Richterin".
- Compound Words: Richter appears in many compound words specifying the type or location of the judge, e.g.: Amtsrichter (district judge), Berufsrichter (professional judge), Bundesrichter (federal judge), Laienrichter (lay judge), Schiedsrichter (referee/arbitrator), Friedensrichter (justice of the peace).
- Etymology: The word "Richter" derives from the Old High German "rihtāri", meaning "one who orders, leader, ruler", related to the verb "richten" (to straighten, to arrange, to judge).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Richter?
The word "Richter" is always masculine. The correct article is der Richter. It refers to a male person who administers justice (a judge). The feminine form is die Richterin, and the plural is die Richter.