die
Elite
🧐 What does "die Elite" mean?
Die Elite (noun, feminine) refers to a group of people considered to be leading, superior, or particularly qualified in a specific area (e.g., Gesellschaft - society, Politik - politics, Wirtschaft - economy, Wissenschaft - science, Sport - sports). This group distinguishes itself from the broader population through certain characteristics like power (Macht), influence (Einfluss), wealth (Reichtum), knowledge (Wissen), skills (Fähigkeiten), or lineage (Abstammung).
The term can be used neutrally and descriptively, but also evaluatively (positively or often negatively, implying aloofness or being undemocratic).
- Example (Society): Die politische Elite des Landes traf sich zum Gipfel. (The country's political elite met for the summit.)
- Example (Sports): Nur die Elite der Läufer qualifizierte sich für das Finale. (Only the elite among the runners qualified for the final.)
⚠️ Attention: The term is sometimes used critically to describe a group perceived as detached or self-serving.
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 of "Elite" in Detail
The word "Elite" is a feminine noun. It takes the article die. It is mostly used in the singular, but the plural "die Eliten" also exists to refer to different elite groups.
Declension Singular
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die Elite | eine Elite |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der Elite | einer Elite |
| Dative (To whom?) | der Elite | einer Elite |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die Elite | eine Elite |
Declension Plural
| Case | Definite Article |
|---|---|
| Nominative | die Eliten |
| Genitive | der Eliten |
| Dative | den Eliten |
| Accusative | die Eliten |
💡 Examples
- Der Zugang zur Elite ist oft beschränkt. (Access to the elite is often restricted.)
- Die Entscheidungen der Elite wurden kritisiert. (The decisions of the elite were criticized.)
- Man wirft der Elite vor, sich vom Volk entfernt zu haben. (The elite is accused of having distanced itself from the people.)
- Er gehört nun zur wirtschaftlichen Elite. (He now belongs to the economic elite.)
- Verschiedene politische Eliten stritten um die Macht. (Various political elites fought for power.)
🗣️ How is "die Elite" used?
"Die Elite" is used in various contexts to describe a top group:
- Politik & Gesellschaft (Politics & Society): Die politische Elite, Machtelite, Bildungselite.
- Wirtschaft (Economy): Die Wirtschaftselite, Finanzelite.
- Kultur & Wissenschaft (Culture & Science): Die kulturelle Elite, wissenschaftliche Elite.
- Sport (Sports): Die sportliche Elite, die Elite der Athleten.
Connotation:
The term can be neutral, but often carries a slightly negative or critical connotation, especially in political discourse. It can imply arrogance (Arroganz), detachment (Abgehobenheit), or a lack of representativeness.
Comparison with similar words:
- Oberschicht (Upper class): Refers more strongly to social status and wealth, whereas "Elite" can also relate to achievement or influence.
- Führungsschicht/Führungskräfte (Leadership group/Executives): Refers more specifically to people in leadership positions.
- Crème de la Crème (French): More colloquial for the very best in a field (often positive).
- Auslese (Selection): Emphasizes the process of selection or the fact of having been selected.
🧠 Mnemonics for "die Elite"
Mnemonic for the article (die):
Many German nouns ending in -e are feminine (die). Think of die elegante Elite. She (die) is the group at the top.
Mnemonic for the meaning:
Elite sounds like the English word 'elite'. Also, think 'elevate' – the Elite often sees itself as 'elevated' above others.
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Auslese: The best, those selected.
- Führungsschicht: Leadership group.
- Oberschicht: Upper class (often defined by wealth/origin).
- Spitzengruppe: Top group, leaders in a field.
- Crème de la Crème (French): The very best (often positive).
- Establishment: The established power structure (often critical).
Antonyms (opposites):
- Masse: The masses, the general population.
- Pöbel: Pejorative for the lower classes or uneducated masses (rabble).
- Durchschnitt: The average, ordinary members of a group.
- Basis: The base, the rank and file (e.g., of a party).
⚠️ Similar, but not identical words:
- Adel: Nobility, historical elite based on birth/rank.
- Intelligenzija/Intellektuelle: Intelligentsia/Intellectuals, focus on education and intellectual activity, not necessarily power or wealth.
😂 A little Joke about the Elite
Ein Journalist fragt einen Politiker: "Gehören Sie zur Elite?"
Antwortet der Politiker: "Ich? Nein, ich bin Volksvertreter! Aber fragen Sie mal meinen Chauffeur, der kennt sich da besser aus." 😉
(A journalist asks a politician: "Do you belong to the elite?"
The politician replies: "Me? No, I represent the people! But ask my chauffeur, he knows more about that.") 😉
📜 A little Poem
Die Elite, hoch erhoben,
(The elite, highly elevated,)
Von Einfluss, Macht und Lob verwoben.
(Woven with influence, power, and praise.)
Sie lenkt, bestimmt, regiert das Land,
(It steers, decides, rules the land,)
Hält Fäden fest in ihrer Hand.
(Holds the strings firmly in its hand.)
Mal weise führend, mal beklagt,
(Sometimes leading wisely, sometimes lamented,)
Als abgehoben angeprangert.
(Denounced as detached.)
Ein kleiner Kreis, der viel bewegt,
(A small circle that moves much,)
Und oft die Richtung vorgibt, festlegt.
(And often sets the course, determines.)
🧩 Who or what am I?
Ich bin eine Gruppe, klein an Zahl,
(I am a group, small in number,)
Doch mein Einfluss ist oft global.
(But my influence is often global.)
Man sagt, ich hätte Macht und Geld,
(They say I have power and money,)
Bin an der Spitze dieser Welt.
(Am at the top of this world.)
Mal bewundert, mal kritisiert,
(Sometimes admired, sometimes criticized,)
Wer hat sich hier so konzentriert?
(Who is concentrated here like this?)
Solution: Die Elite (The Elite)
🌐 Other Information
Word Origin:
The German word "Elite" comes from the French (élite), which in turn derives from the Latin verb eligere ('to choose', 'to select'). Originally, it referred to something or someone that had been chosen.
Compounds:
The word forms part of many compound nouns to designate specific groups:
- Machtelite (Power elite)
- Wirtschaftselite (Economic elite)
- Bildungselite (Educational elite)
- Sportelite (Sports elite)
- Elitedenken (Elitist thinking)
- Eliteuniversität (Elite university)
Summary: is it der, die or das Elite?
The noun "Elite" is feminine. The correct article is die Elite.