der
Schatzmeister
💰 What does Schatzmeister mean?
The German word der Schatzmeister refers to a male treasurer, a person responsible for managing the finances (the 'Schatz' or treasure) of an organization, such as a club (Verein), a political party (Partei), or sometimes a company. Their duties typically include handling income and expenses, bookkeeping, and preparing financial reports.
It is a masculine noun, hence the article der.
The female form is die Schatzmeisterin.
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 Schatzmeister
The noun 'Schatzmeister' is masculine. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Schatzmeister |
| Genitive | des | Schatzmeisters |
| Dative | dem | Schatzmeister |
| Accusative | den | Schatzmeister |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Schatzmeister |
| Genitive | der | Schatzmeister |
| Dative | den | Schatzmeistern |
| Accusative | die | Schatzmeister |
Example Sentences
- Der neue Schatzmeister stellte den Finanzbericht vor. (The new treasurer presented the financial report.)
- Die Mitglieder hörten dem Bericht des Schatzmeisters aufmerksam zu. (The members listened attentively to the treasurer's report.)
- Wir müssen uns mit dem Schatzmeister über die Budgetplanung beraten. (We need to consult with the treasurer about budget planning.)
- Der Vorstand wählte ihn zum neuen Schatzmeister. (The board elected him as the new treasurer.)
- Alle Schatzmeister der Bezirksverbände trafen sich zur Konferenz. (All treasurers of the district associations met for the conference.)
💡 How Schatzmeister is used
The term Schatzmeister is primarily used in the context of organizations often managed on a voluntary or part-time basis:
- Clubs (Vereine): Sports clubs, cultural associations, support groups almost always have a Schatzmeister on their board.
- Political Parties (Parteien): At all levels (local, district, state, federal), there are Schatzmeister responsible for party finances.
- Associations and Foundations (Verbände und Stiftungen): The position of Schatzmeister is common here as well.
- Companies (Unternehmen): In companies, the term 'Schatzmeister' is less common. More usual terms include Leiter Finanzwesen (Head of Finance), CFO (Chief Financial Officer), or Kämmerer (especially in public administration). Sometimes, 'Treasurer' is used directly in German for this role in large corporations.
Compared to Kassierer or Kassenwart (cashier, person managing the till), Schatzmeister often sounds more formal and implies greater responsibility and a broader scope of duties than just managing cash.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
Article Mnemonic: Who is the master (der Meister) of the treasure (Schatz)? Der Schatzmeister! Both parts of the word hint at the masculine article 'der'.
Meaning Mnemonic: The Schatzmeister guards the Schatz (treasure/funds) like a Meister (master) of his craft.
🔄 Similar and Contrasting Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Kassenwart / Kassierer: Often used synonymously, but sometimes focuses more on managing the cash box.
- Finanzverwalter: A more general term for someone managing finances.
- Kämmerer: Especially in public administration (e.g., city treasurer).
- Finanzer (colloquial): An informal term.
- Rechnungsführer: Emphasizes the accounting aspect.
Antonyms (Opposite/Other Roles):
There isn't a direct antonym. However, you can mention roles with different responsibilities:
- Präsident / Vorsitzender: President / Chairperson - leads the organization strategically.
- Schriftführer: Secretary - responsible for minutes and correspondence.
- Mitglied (ohne Amt): Member (without office) - has no specific administrative task.
Related Words:
😂 A Little Joke
Der Vorsitzende fragt den Schatzmeister: „Haben wir eigentlich noch genug Geld für die nächste Sitzung?“
Antwortet der Schatzmeister: „Für die Sitzung ja, aber nicht mehr für die Kekse.“
Translation:
The chairman asks the treasurer: "Do we actually have enough money for the next meeting?"
The treasurer replies: "For the meeting, yes, but not for the cookies anymore."
📜 A Poem about the Schatzmeister
Der Schatzmeister, still und schlau,
kennt die Zahlen ganz genau.
Er zählt die Münzen, Schein für Schein,
hält den Verein finanziell rein.
Mit Buch und Stift, stets auf der Wacht,
hat er den Überblick bei Tag und Nacht.
Ein wichtiger Mann, das ist doch klar,
dankt ihm das ganze Vereinsjahr!
Translation:
The treasurer, quiet and clever,
knows the numbers very precisely.
He counts the coins, bill by bill,
keeps the club financially clean.
With book and pen, always on guard,
he has the overview day and night.
An important man, that's clear,
the whole club year thanks him!
❓ A Little Riddle
Ich hüte den „Schatz“, doch Gold hab ich keins,
ich zähle und buche, das ist mein Bereich.
Im Verein oder der Partei bin ich wichtig,
meine Berichte sind stets richtig.
Wer bin ich?
Translation:
I guard the "treasure", but have no gold,
I count and bookkeep, that's my domain.
In the club or the party, I am important,
my reports are always correct.
Who am I?
Solution: Der Schatzmeister (The Treasurer)
✨ Other Interesting Details
Word Composition:
The word „Schatzmeister“ is a compound noun, formed from:
- Schatz: Originally meaning 'treasure' or 'valuable item', here used in the sense of funds, assets, finances.
- Meister: Meaning 'master', denoting a person who has mastered a skill or holds a leading position.
Together, it means 'master of the treasure' or 'master of finances'.
Feminine Form:
The female equivalent is die Schatzmeisterin. It follows the standard German pattern for forming feminine job titles.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Schatzmeister?
The word 'Schatzmeister' is masculine. The correct article is der: der Schatzmeister. The plural is 'die Schatzmeister'.