die /
der
Ehrenamtliche
🤔 What exactly does 'Ehrenamtliche' mean?
The word Ehrenamtliche refers to a person who carries out an activity voluntarily and without payment, often in the social, cultural, or political sphere. It's a nominalized adjective, derived from ehrenamtlich (voluntary, honorary, unpaid).
Depending on the person's gender, the corresponding article is used:
- der Ehrenamtliche: Refers to a male person holding a voluntary position (Ehrenamt).
- die Ehrenamtliche: Refers to a female person holding a voluntary position (Ehrenamt).
🚨 Attention: The plural form is the same for both genders: die Ehrenamtlichen (the volunteers).
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar and Declension of Ehrenamtliche
'Ehrenamtliche' is a nominalized adjective and is declined accordingly (here shown after the definite article - weak declension).
Masculine (der Ehrenamtliche - the male volunteer)
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Ehrenamtliche | ein Ehrenamtlicher |
| Genitive | des Ehrenamtlichen | eines Ehrenamtlichen |
| Dative | dem Ehrenamtlichen | einem Ehrenamtlichen |
| Accusative | den Ehrenamtlichen | einen Ehrenamtlichen |
Feminine (die Ehrenamtliche - the female volunteer)
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Ehrenamtliche | eine Ehrenamtliche |
| Genitive | der Ehrenamtlichen | einer Ehrenamtlichen |
| Dative | der Ehrenamtlichen | einer Ehrenamtlichen |
| Accusative | die Ehrenamtliche | eine Ehrenamtliche |
Plural (die Ehrenamtlichen - the volunteers)
| Case | Definite Article | No Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Ehrenamtlichen | Ehrenamtliche |
| Genitive | der Ehrenamtlichen | Ehrenamtlicher |
| Dative | den Ehrenamtlichen | Ehrenamtlichen |
| Accusative | die Ehrenamtlichen | Ehrenamtliche |
Example Sentences ✍️
- Der Ehrenamtliche hilft jede Woche im Tierheim aus.
(The male volunteer helps out at the animal shelter every week.) - Wir danken der Ehrenamtlichen für ihr Engagement im Verein.
(We thank the female volunteer for her commitment to the club.) - Viele Projekte sind auf die Ehrenamtlichen angewiesen.
(Many projects depend on the volunteers.) - Als Ehrenamtlicher lernt man viel dazu.
(As a male volunteer, one learns a lot.)
💡 How to use 'Ehrenamtliche'?
'Ehrenamtliche' is used to describe people who engage in an activity voluntarily and without pay. The term has a positive connotation, emphasizing social contribution and altruism.
- Typical Contexts: Vereine (clubs, associations - sports, culture), social institutions (food banks, senior citizen support), disaster relief (fire department, THW - technical relief agency), political parties, church communities.
- Difference to 'Freiwillige/r': The terms are often used synonymously. 'Ehrenamt' sometimes more strongly emphasizes an assumed function or office (e.g., ehrenamtlicher Bürgermeister - honorary mayor, board member in a club), while 'Freiwillige/r' can be more general (e.g., volunteer helper at an event).
- Contrast to 'Hauptamtliche/r': Hauptamtliche are permanently employed, paid staff, as opposed to the unpaid Ehrenamtliche.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Remembering the Article: Think of the person: Is it a man? Then it's der Ehrenamtliche (like der Mann). Is it a woman? Then it's die Ehrenamtliche (like die Frau). Quite logical!
Remembering the Meaning: The components tell the story: You hold an Amt (office, position, duty) for Ehre (honor) - meaning, unpaid, for the good cause or honor of doing it. An 'office for honor' = Ehrenamtliche/r.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Freiwillige/r: (Volunteer) Very similar, often interchangeable.
- Helfer/in: (Helper) More general term for someone who helps (can also be paid, context is important).
- Engagierte/r: (Committed person) Emphasizes the commitment, not necessarily the lack of payment.
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Hauptamtliche/r: (Full-time / paid professional) A paid employee in an organization that also has volunteers.
- Berufstätige/r: (Employed person / professional) Someone pursuing paid work (as opposed to voluntary activity).
- Bezahlte Kraft / Angestellte/r: (Paid worker / employee) Emphasizes payment for the work.
⚠️ Caution: Not every 'Helfer' is an 'Ehrenamtlicher' (payment aspect) and not every 'Freiwillige' holds an 'Ehrenamt' in the sense of a specific function.
😄 A little joke
German: Warum nehmen Ehrenamtliche nie Geld für ihre Arbeit?
Weil die besten Dinge im Leben unbezahlbar sind – genau wie ihre Geduld bei der Vereinssitzung!
English: Why do volunteers never take money for their work?
Because the best things in life are priceless – just like their patience during the club meeting!
📜 A Poem about Volunteers
German:
Ob Mann, ob Frau, ob alt, ob jung,
Mit Herz dabei und voller Schwung.
Der Ehrenamtliche packt mit an,
Die Ehrenamtliche steht ihren Mann (äh, ihre Frau!).
Kein Lohn in Geld, doch Dankbarkeit,
Für ihre Mühe, ihre Zeit.
Sie helfen dort, wo Not entsteht,
Ein Dienst, der still und wertvoll weht.
English Translation:
Whether man or woman, old or young,
With heart involved and full of verve.
The male volunteer lends a hand,
The female volunteer holds her own.
No wage in money, but gratitude,
For their effort, their time imbued.
They help where need arises near,
A service quiet, precious, dear.
🧩 Who am I? A Riddle
German:
Ich arbeite gern, doch Lohn ist mir fremd.
Mal bin ich 'der', mal trage ich 'die' als Hemd.
Ich helfe im Verein, bei Fest und in Not,
Für die Gemeinschaft biete ich meine Zeit als Gebot.
Wer bin ich?
English Translation:
I like to work, but pay is foreign to me.
Sometimes I'm 'der', sometimes I wear 'die' like a shirt, you see.
I help in the club, at festivals, and in need,
For the community, I offer my time as my deed.
Who am I?
(Answer: Der/Die Ehrenamtliche - The volunteer)
ℹ️ Additional Information
Word Composition:
- Ehre: Honor, respect, dignity
- Amt: Office, official duty, position, service
- -lich: Adjective suffix (-ly, -al)
- -e: Nominalization ending (making it a noun)
Volunteering (das Ehrenamt) has a long tradition and high social significance in Germany. Millions of people engage in voluntary work in a wide variety of fields.
📝 Summary: is it der or die Ehrenamtliche?
The word Ehrenamtliche refers to a person who works voluntarily and without pay. It is der Ehrenamtliche for a man and die Ehrenamtliche for a woman. The plural form is die Ehrenamtlichen.