die  Außenministerin

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈaʊsn̩ˌmɪnistɐɪn/

🌍 What exactly is an *Außenministerin*?

The German word die Außenministerin refers to a female politician who heads the ministry responsible for foreign affairs in a government. She is essentially the country's top diplomat and represents it abroad.

It is the feminine form of the word der Außenminister (the male foreign minister).

The word is composed of:

• Außen: Relating to the outside, abroad.
• Ministerin: The feminine form of *Minister*, a high government office.

Since it's a feminine job title, the article is always 'die'.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📚 Grammar Compass: Declension of *die Außenministerin*

The noun '*Außenministerin*' is feminine and takes the article '*die*'. Here is its declension:

Singular

Plural

Example Sentences

1. Die Außenministerin reist morgen nach Brüssel.
   (The Foreign Minister (f.) is travelling to Brussels tomorrow.)
2. Das Büro der Außenministerin befindet sich im Auswärtigen Amt.
   (The office of the Foreign Minister (f.) is located in the Foreign Office.)
3. Der Botschafter überreichte der Außenministerin ein Gastgeschenk.
   (The ambassador presented a gift to the Foreign Minister (f.).)
4. Man sah die Außenministerin im Fernsehen.
   (They saw the Foreign Minister (f.) on television.)
5. Die Außenministerinnen der EU-Staaten trafen sich zu Beratungen.
   (The Foreign Ministers (f.) of the EU countries met for consultations.)

🗣️ How to use *die Außenministerin*

The term Außenministerin is primarily used in political and journalistic contexts. It refers to the specific office and the woman holding it.

• Context: *Government, diplomacy, international relations, news.*
• Usage: Always used when referring to the female person heading the foreign ministry.
• Contrast: The masculine form is der Außenminister. The ministry itself is called *das Außenministerium* or *das Auswärtiges Amt*.
• Formality: The word belongs to formal language* but is also common in everyday news reporting.

Sometimes the term *Chefdiplomatin* (chief female diplomat) is used synonymously, but this is less official.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article 'die': Easy! Ministerin ends in '-in', which is typical for feminine job titles in German. Feminine nouns usually take the article 'die'. Think: *die Frau* (the woman) -> *die Ministerin*.

Meaning: Imagine a female *Ministerin* standing *außen* (outside) Germany's door, negotiating with other countries. She manages relationships *outside* the country.

↔️ Similar and Opposite Terms

😂 A Little Joke

Frage: Warum nimmt die Außenministerin immer einen Kompass mit zu Verhandlungen?

Antwort: Damit sie immer weiß, wo sie diplomatisch steht!

(Question: Why does the Foreign Minister (f.) always take a compass to negotiations?
Answer: So she always knows where she stands diplomatically!)

📜 A Poem about Diplomacy

Die Außenministerin, klug und gewandt,
Reist für ihr Volk durch fernes Land.
Mit Worten als Waffe, Verstand als Schild,
Ein Friedensbild wird sanft enthüllt.
Sie knüpft die Bande, stark und fein,
So soll Völkerverständigung sein.

(The Foreign Minister (f.), smart and skilled,
Travels for her people through distant lands filled.
With words as weapons, reason as a shield,
A picture of peace is gently revealed.
She ties the bonds, strong and fine,
Thus shall international understanding shine.)

❓ Who am I? A Riddle

Ich trage Verantwortung, doch nicht im Innern,
mein Blick geht nach außen, um Streit zu schimmern'
als Frau in der Regierung, auf Reisen geschickt,
mein Titel verrät's, wer global mitblickt.

Wer bin ich?

(I bear responsibility, but not inside,
my gaze goes outward, where conflicts may hide.
As a woman in government, sent on travels wide,
my title reveals it, for those with a global guide.)

Who am I?

Solution: die Außenministerin (the female Foreign Minister)

🧩 Word Components & Trivia

*Word Composition*:

The word '*Außenministerin*' is a *compound noun* (*Kompositum*), made up of:

• Außen-: Prefix meaning *outside* or *foreign/abroad*.
• Ministerin: Feminine form of '*Minister*', derived from the Latin '*minister*' (*servant, assistant*), now denoting a high government office. The suffix '*-in*' marks the feminine form.

*Trivia*:

The office of the Foreign Minister (*Außenminister* or *Außenministerin*) is one of the classic and most important portfolios in most cabinets worldwide. In Germany, the *Außenminister/in* is often also appointed as Vice Chancellor (*Vizekanzler/in*).