der
Unterstützer
🤝 What does "der Unterstützer" mean?
Der Unterstützer refers to a male person who provides help, assistance, or support to someone or something. This support can be material, ideological, or practical.
Supporters (Unterstützer) often commit themselves to a cause, a person, an organization, or an idea they believe in. The English equivalents are typically supporter, backer, promoter, or advocate.
There is also a feminine form: die Unterstützerin (female supporter).
Examples of Unterstützer:
- A financial Unterstützer of a start-up (backer, investor).
- A political Unterstützer of a party or candidate (supporter, advocate).
- A moral Unterstützer of a friend during a difficult time (supporter).
- A volunteer Unterstützer of a non-profit organization (supporter, helper).
The word derives from the verb unterstützen, which means to support, to help, to back, or to promote.
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 of "Unterstützer" in Detail
Der Unterstützer is a masculine noun. It follows the strong declension pattern.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | der | Unterstützer |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | den | Unterstützer |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | dem | Unterstützer |
| Genitive (Possessive) | des | Unterstützers |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Unterstützer |
| Accusative | die | Unterstützer |
| Dative | den | Unterstützern |
| Genitive | der | Unterstützer |
📝 Example Sentences
- Der Unterstützer spendete großzügig für das Projekt. (The supporter donated generously to the project.)
- Wir danken dem Unterstützer für seine Treue. (We thank the supporter for his loyalty.)
- Die Namen aller Unterstützer wurden veröffentlicht. (The names of all supporters were published.)
- Die Partei sucht neue Unterstützer. (The party is looking for new supporters.)
- Ohne die Hilfe der Unterstützer wäre das Festival nicht möglich gewesen. (Without the help of the supporters, the festival would not have been possible.)
💡 How to use "der Unterstützer"?
The term Unterstützer is used in many contexts:
- Politics: Individuals who endorse and promote a political party, candidate, or movement (e.g., Wahlkampfhelfer - campaign helpers, Spender - donors).
- Business/Finance: Individuals or institutions providing financial resources (e.g., Investoren - investors, Sponsoren - sponsors, Mäzene - patrons, Förderer - promoters).
- Sports: Fans, sponsors, or patrons of a club or athlete.
- Social/Non-profit: People who advocate for a social cause, a charity, or a non-profit initiative (through donations, volunteer work, etc.).
- Personal Sphere: Someone who provides support to a friend, family member, or colleague.
Important: The term has a positive connotation and implies active engagement or a favorable attitude towards the person or cause being supported.
Comparison with similar words:
- Helfer (helper): Often more direct and hands-on, less focused on financial or ideological support.
- Förderer/Sponsor/Mäzen (promoter/sponsor/patron): Emphasizes financial or material support more strongly, often in culture, science, or sports.
- Befürworter (advocate/proponent): Highlights ideological agreement and advocacy for a cause or idea.
🧠 Mnemonics for "Unterstützer"
Here are some memory aids for remembering der Unterstützer:
For the article "der": Think of "der" as sounding a bit like "the dear" supporter. A supporter is often a dear person offering help. Or link it to the masculine aspect: der is the masculine article, and Unterstützer often refers to a man (though the concept applies to all genders, the word itself is grammatically masculine).
For the meaning: Break it down: "Unter-stützer". Imagine someone standing "unter" (under) a heavy burden. Someone else comes and places a "Stütze" (support, prop) underneath. That person is an "Unter-stützer" – someone who places support under something/someone.
↔️ Antonyms & Similar Words
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Förderer: Promoter, backer (emphasizes active promotion, often financial or ideological).
- Befürworter: Advocate, proponent (highlights agreement and speaking out for an idea/cause).
- Gönner/Mäzen: Patron (often in culture/science, emphasizes generous financial support).
- Helfer: Helper (general term for someone providing assistance, often practical).
- Anhänger: Follower, adherent (person who follows and approves of an idea, movement, or person).
- Sponsor: Sponsor (usually supports financially in exchange for advertising/visibility).
Antonyms (opposites):
- Gegner: Opponent, adversary (person actively against something/someone).
- Widersacher: Adversary, antagonist (stronger than Gegner, often in conflict).
- Kritiker: Critic (person who judges or finds fault with something/someone).
- Feind: Enemy (person in strong opposition or hostility).
- Gegenspieler: Counterpart, antagonist (person with opposing interests or goals).
⚠️ Similar-sounding, but different words:
- Untersetzer: (der) Coaster (a small mat placed under glasses or cups to protect the table). Sounds similar, but has a completely different meaning!
😂 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Chef seinen neuen Mitarbeiter: „Sind Sie ein Unterstützer von harter Arbeit?“ Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: „Auf jeden Fall! Ich kann stundenlang zusehen, wie andere hart arbeiten!“
English Translation: The boss asks his new employee: "Are you a supporter of hard work?" The employee replies: "Absolutely! I can watch others work hard for hours!"
📜 Poem about the Supporter
German:
Ein Fels in schwerer, stürm'scher Zeit,
Der Unterstützer, stets bereit.
Mit Rat, mit Tat, mit gutem Wort,
Trägt er die Last an manchem Ort.
Ob Geld, ob Zuspruch, Hand in Hand,
Er knüpft ein festes, starkes Band.
Für eine Sache, groß und klein,
Setzt er sich voller Hoffnung ein.
English Translation:
A rock in heavy, stormy times,
The supporter, always finds
The way with counsel, deed, kind word,
Carries the burden, unheard.
With money, comfort, hand in hand,
He ties a firm and sturdy band.
For a cause, both large and small,
He gives his hope, standing tall.
🧩 Who am I? A Riddle
German:
Ich stehe dir bei, wenn's schwierig wird,
Hab' oft ein offenes Ohr und Herz am Herd.
Ich fördere Pläne, glaube an dich,
Finanziell, ideell, ganz sicherlich.
Ich bin kein Gegner, biete dir Halt,
Mein Engagement ist vielfält'ger Gestalt.
Mein Artikel ist „der“, ich helfe gern weiter.
Wer bin ich, der treue Begleiter?
Lösung: Der Unterstützer
English Translation:
I stand by you when things get tough,
Have often an open ear, a heart warm enough.
I back your plans, believe in you,
Financially, ideally, it's certainly true.
I am no opponent, offer you hold,
My commitment takes forms manifold.
My article is "der," I gladly help onward.
Who am I, the loyal companion and forward?
Answer: Der Unterstützer (The supporter)
🌐 More Information
Word Composition:
The word Unterstützer is derived from the verb unterstützen (to support). It consists of:
- Prefix unter- (under)
- Stem stütz (from stützen - to prop, support)
- Suffix -er (forms masculine nouns from verbs, denoting a person performing the action)
Feminine Form:
The feminine form is die Unterstützerin (plural: die Unterstützerinnen), meaning female supporter.
Cultural Significance:
In many societies, the concept of support (Unterstützung) is highly valued, whether in the form of solidarity (Solidarität), philanthropy (Philanthropie), or community help (Gemeinschaftshilfe). Supporters (Unterstützer) play a crucial role in the social fabric, often enabling the success of projects and initiatives.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Unterstützer?
The noun "Unterstützer" is masculine. The correct article is der. The feminine form is "die Unterstützerin".