die
Gewinnerin
🏆 What does "die Gewinnerin" mean?
Die Gewinnerin is a feminine noun and refers to a female person who has won a competition, game, election, or similar contest. It's the female equivalent of der Gewinner (the male winner). There are no different meanings based on the article, as Gewinnerin exclusively uses the article die.
Examples:
- A person who receives the first prize in a competition.
- A female athlete who wins a race or tournament.
- A woman whose name is drawn in a lottery or raffle.
⚠️ Make sure to use the correct feminine form when talking about a female person.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Women → almost always feminine.
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.
-in → mostly feminine.
All persons and professions ending in -in are feminine. Other -in nouns can be der/die/das.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Declension
Die Gewinnerin is a feminine noun. Here are the declension tables for singular and plural:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Gewinnerin |
| Genitive | der | Gewinnerin |
| Dative | der | Gewinnerin |
| Accusative | die | Gewinnerin |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Gewinnerinnen |
| Genitive | der | Gewinnerinnen |
| Dative | den | Gewinnerinnen |
| Accusative | die | Gewinnerinnen |
Example Sentences
- Die Gewinnerin des Wettbewerbs wurde auf die Bühne gerufen.
(The winner [female] of the competition was called onto the stage.) - Wir gratulierten der glücklichen Gewinnerin.
(We congratulated the lucky winner [female].) - Der Preis gehört der Gewinnerin des Rennens.
(The prize belongs to the winner [female] of the race.) - Alle Augen waren auf die strahlende Gewinnerin gerichtet.
(All eyes were on the radiant winner [female].) - Die Namen aller Gewinnerinnen wurden vorgelesen.
(The names of all the winners [female] were read out.)
🗣️ How "die Gewinnerin" is used
The term Gewinnerin is always used when a female person emerges as the victor.
- Contexts: Sports events, award ceremonies, lotteries, elections, quiz shows, competitions of all kinds.
- Distinction: While Gewinner is masculine, Gewinnerin is specifically feminine. The plural die Gewinner can refer to male or mixed groups, whereas die Gewinnerinnen refers exclusively to female winners.
- Style: The word is neutral and used in both formal and informal contexts.
💡 Mnemonics for Gewinnerin
Article Mnemonic: Feminine nouns often end in "-in" in German (like Lehrerin - female teacher, Ärztin - female doctor), and these are almost always "die". So: die Gewinnerin.
Meaning Mnemonic: Think of the verb "gewinnen" (to win). A person who wins and is female (-in) is the Gewinnerin. Picture a woman triumphantly holding up a trophy – she is die Gewinnerin!
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Words)
Antonyms (Opposite Words)
- Verliererin: The direct opposite; a woman who has lost (from verlieren - to lose).
- Zweitplatzierte / Drittplatzierte: Women in second / third place.
- Teilnehmerin: A female participant who did not win.
Similar but misleading words:
- Gewinnlerin (🚨 Incorrect!): This word does not exist in German.
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Lehrer: "Wer kann mir ein weibliches Nomen nennen, das mit Sieg zu tun hat?"
Meldet sich Fritzchen: "Die Siegerin!"
Lehrer: "Sehr gut! Und noch eins?"
Fritzchen: "Die Schwiegermutter?"
Translation:
The teacher asks: "Who can name a feminine noun related to victory (Sieg)?"
Little Fritz raises his hand: "Die Siegerin! (The female winner!)"
Teacher: "Very good! And another one?"
Fritz: "Die Schwiegermutter? (The mother-in-law?)"
📜 A Poem about the Winner
Im Wettstreit stand sie, mutig, klar,
Kämpfte mit Herz, Jahr für Jahr.
Das Ziel erreicht, der Sieg ist ihr,
Applaus ertönt, wir gratulieren hier.
Die Gewinnerin, strahlend und froh,
So ist das Leben, ebenso!
Translation:
In competition she stood, brave and clear,
Fought with heart, year after year.
The goal achieved, the victory is hers,
Applause rings out, we congratulate here.
The winner (female), radiant and glad,
Such is life, just like that!
❓ A Little Riddle
Ich stehe ganz oben auf dem Treppchen,
halte den Pokal in meinen Händchen.
Ich habe gesiegt, nicht verloren,
bin weiblich geboren.
Wer bin ich?
Translation:
I stand at the very top of the podium,
holding the trophy in my little hands.
I have won, not lost,
I was born female.
Who am I?
Solution: die Gewinnerin
🌐 Other Information
Word Composition:
The word Gewinnerin is derived from the verb gewinnen (to win).
- gewinnen (verb: to win)
- Gewinn (noun: profit, win)
- Gewinner (noun: male winner) - formed from Gewinn + suffix -er
- Gewinnerin (noun: female winner) - formed from Gewinner + suffix -in for feminization (Movierung).
The suffix "-in" is very common in German to form the female version of professions or personal descriptions (e.g., Lehrer -> Lehrerin [teacher], Arzt -> Ärztin [doctor]).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Gewinnerin?
The word "Gewinnerin" is a feminine noun and exclusively takes the article die. It refers to a female person who has won. The plural is "die Gewinnerinnen".