der
Staatsbürger
🌍 What exactly is a Staatsbürger?
A Staatsbürger is a male person who possesses the Staatsangehörigkeit (citizenship/nationality) of a particular state. Citizenship usually entails specific rights (e.g., the right to vote, right of residence) and duties (e.g., tax liability, compulsory military service in some countries).
The word is specifically masculine. The feminine form is die Staatsbürgerin.
It's a formal term often used in legal or political contexts.
🚨 Achtung: (Attention:) Not everyone living in a country is automatically its Staatsbürger (e.g., tourists, foreigners with residence permits).
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.
Getting the Grammar Right: der Staatsbürger
The noun „Staatsbürger“ is masculine and follows the weak N-declension (schwache N-Deklination). This means it adds the ending -en in all cases except the nominative singular.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun | (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Staatsbürger | (Who/What?) |
| Genitive | des | Staatsbürgern | (Whose?) |
| Dative | dem | Staatsbürgern | (To/For whom?) |
| Accusative | den | Staatsbürgern | (Whom/What?) |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun | (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Staatsbürger | (Who/What?) |
| Genitive | der | Staatsbürger | (Whose?) |
| Dative | den | Staatsbürgern | (To/For whom?) |
| Accusative | die | Staatsbürger | (Whom/What?) |
⚠️ Note the dative plural ending -n!
Example Sentences 📜
- Als deutscher Staatsbürger hat er das Recht zu wählen.
(As a German citizen, he has the right to vote.) - Die Rechte des Staatsbürgers sind im Grundgesetz verankert.
(The rights of the citizen are enshrined in the constitution.) - Der Beamte half dem Staatsbürger beim Ausfüllen des Antrags.
(The official helped the citizen fill out the application.) - Die Polizei kontrollierte den Staatsbürger nicht, sondern den Touristen.
(The police didn't check the citizen, but the tourist.) - Viele Staatsbürger engagieren sich ehrenamtlich in ihrer Gemeinde.
(Many citizens volunteer in their community.)
Context is Key: Using Staatsbürger Correctly
The term „Staatsbürger“ is primarily used in formal, official, legal, and political contexts.
- Behörden und Verwaltung (Authorities and Administration): In applications, laws, official documents (e.g., ID card - Personalausweis, passport - Reisepass).
- Political Discussions: When discussing rights, duties, integration, or elections.
- News and Media: In reports on international relations, migration, or legal matters.
In everyday language (alltäglicher Sprachgebrauch), the word is less common. People often just say „Deutsche“ (Germans), „Franzosen“ (French people), etc., or use more general terms like „Leute“ (people) or „Einwohner“ (residents), depending on the context.
Distinction from similar terms:
- Bürger: Often used synonymously, but can also more generally mean the inhabitant of a city or municipality (e.g., „die Bürger von Berlin“ - the citizens of Berlin). „Staatsbürger“ emphasizes belonging to the state.
- Einwohner: Simply denotes a person who resides in a certain place, regardless of their nationality.
- Staatsangehöriger: Is a very formal, legal term, often synonymous with Staatsbürger. „Staatsbürger“ sometimes emphasizes the rights and duties associated with citizenship (being a 'citizen') slightly more.
🔑 Memory Aids for der Staatsbürger
Article Mnemonic: A Staatsbürger often ends in 'er' (like a man's pronoun in German) – so it's 'der Staatsbürger'. (Remember the female form is die Staatsbürgerin).
Meaning Mnemonic: Think of the two parts: A Bürger (citizen/person) belonging to the Staat (state) = Staatsbürger. He officially belongs to the state and has his civic rights there.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Staatsangehöriger: Very similar, often interchangeable, emphasizes formal belonging to the state (nationality).
- Bürger: Can be synonymous, but also more general for an inhabitant of a community/city.
- Inländer: A person from the country (domestic), often used in contrast to Ausländer (foreigner); not necessarily a citizen.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Ausländer: Foreigner; a person who does not have the citizenship of the country in question.
- Staatenloser: Stateless person; someone who does not possess any nationality.
- Fremder: Stranger or foreigner (general term).
Be careful with:
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt der Lehrer: „Fritzchen, was ist der Unterschied zwischen einem Einwohner und einem Staatsbürger?“
Fritzchen: „Ganz einfach, Herr Lehrer! Der Einwohner wohnt hier nur, aber der Staatsbürger darf auch wählen, wer als Nächstes die Steuern erhöht!“
(Teacher asks: "Fritzchen, what's the difference between a resident (Einwohner) and a citizen (Staatsbürger)?")
(Fritzchen: "Easy, teacher! The resident just lives here, but the citizen also gets to vote on who raises the taxes next!")
📜 A Short Poem
Im Pass steht's klar, mit Siegel drauf,
Der Staatsbürger nimmt's in Kauf.
Mit Recht und Pflicht, im Staat vereint,
So ist's ihm offiziell bescheint.
Er wählt, zahlt Steuern, hält sich dran,
Ein Teil vom großen, weiten Plan.
(In the passport it's clear, with a seal upon,
The citizen accepts it and carries on.
With rights and duties, in the state united,
So it's officially for him sighted.
He votes, pays taxes, follows the way,
A part of the grand, far-reaching play.)
🕵️♀️ Who or What Am I?
Ich gehöre offiziell zu einem Land,
habe Rechte, Pflichten, festen Stand.
Mein Ausweis zeigt es, schwarz auf weiß,
für meine Heimat zahl' ich jeden Preis (an Steuern meist').
Bin ich nicht hier geboren, kann ich's werden,
um Teil zu sein von Volkes Herden.
Wer bin ich?
(I officially belong to a country,
I have rights, duties, a firm standing boundary.
My ID card shows it, in black and white,
for my homeland, I pay any price (mostly taxes, alright).
If I wasn't born here, I can become it,
to be part of the people's summit.)
(Who am I?)
(Answer: Der Staatsbürger / The (male) citizen)
🧐 Other Interesting Details
Word Composition:
The word „Staatsbürger“ is a compound noun, composed of:
- Staat: (Noun) The state, the political organization of a country.
- Bürger: (Noun) Originally an inhabitant of a castle (Burg) or city (Stadt), today a member of a community (city, state).
Together, the meaning emerges: A citizen (Bürger) belonging to the state (Staat).
Related Terms:
- Staatsbürgerschaft / Staatsangehörigkeit: Citizenship / Nationality - the legal bond between a person and a state.
- Einbürgerung: Naturalization - the process by which a foreigner acquires citizenship.
- Doppelte Staatsbürgerschaft: Dual citizenship - holding the nationality of two states simultaneously.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Staatsbürger?
The word 'Staatsbürger' is masculine, so the correct article is 'der Staatsbürger'. It refers to a male citizen of a state, possessing the full rights and duties associated with that status, and it follows the weak N-declension.