die /
der
Gläubige
📜 What does Gläubige mean?
The word Gläubige is a substantivized adjective derived from the adjective gläubig (believing, faithful). It refers to a person who believes in a specific religion or faith. The choice of article depends on the person's gender:
- der Gläubige: Refers to a male person who believes (the male believer).
- die Gläubige: Refers to a female person who believes (the female believer).
In the plural, the form for all genders is die Gläubigen (the believers).
⚠️ Important: This follows the so-called weak or mixed declension after a definite article (der/die) or pronoun. Without a preceding article (strong declension), the endings change (e.g., Gläubiger betrat die Kirche - A believer entered the church, Gläubige sangen - Believers sang).
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 in Detail: Declension of Gläubige
Since "Gläubige" is a substantivized adjective, it follows adjective declension rules. Here are the declension tables following the definite article (weak declension):
♂️ der Gläubige (male)
| Case | Form |
|---|---|
| Nominative | der Gläubige |
| Genitive | des Gläubigen |
| Dative | dem Gläubigen |
| Accusative | den Gläubigen |
♀️ die Gläubige (female)
| Case | Form |
|---|---|
| Nominative | die Gläubige |
| Genitive | der Gläubigen |
| Dative | der Gläubigen |
| Accusative | die Gläubige |
🧑🤝🧑 die Gläubigen (plural)
| Case | Form |
|---|---|
| Nominative | die Gläubigen |
| Genitive | der Gläubigen |
| Dative | den Gläubigen |
| Accusative | die Gläubigen |
💬 Example Sentences
- Der Gläubige betet jeden Morgen in der Moschee.
(The male believer prays every morning in the mosque.) - Die Predigt richtete sich an die Gläubige, die Trost suchte.
(The sermon was addressed to the female believer who was seeking comfort.) - Wir sprachen mit dem Gläubigen über seine Pilgerreise.
(We spoke with the male believer about his pilgrimage.) - Der Priester segnete die Gläubigen nach dem Gottesdienst.
(The priest blessed the believers after the service.) - Das Fest wurde von vielen Gläubigen besucht.
(The festival was attended by many believers.)
💡 How is Gläubige used?
The term "Gläubige(r)" is primarily used in a religious context to refer to adherents of a faith (e.g., Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, etc.).
- Typical Contexts: Church services (Gottesdienste), religious texts (religiöse Schriften), discussions about faith (Diskussionen über Glauben), descriptions of religious communities (Beschreibung von religiösen Gemeinschaften).
- Distinction: While "Gläubige(r)" refers to a person who believes, "gläubig" (adjective) refers to the quality of believing (e.g., eine gläubige Frau - a believing woman vs. die Gläubige - the female believer).
- Extended Use: Less commonly, it can be used metaphorically for someone who firmly believes in an idea, ideology, or theory (e.g., "die Gläubigen des freien Marktes" - the believers in the free market), but this is less frequent and can sound ironic.
🧠 Mnemonics for Gläubige
For the articles: Think of the people: Der is the article for a man (der Gläubige). Die is the article for a woman (die Gläubige). The '-e' ending stays the same in the nominative singular; only the article signals the gender.
For the meaning: Someone who has Glaube (faith/belief) is a Gläubige(r). The word contains its meaning.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Der/Die Fromme: Similar, often emphasizes religious practice and way of life (the pious one).
- Der/Die Anhänger(in): More general, refers to following a doctrine or person (the follower/adherent).
- Der/Die Betende: Refers to the act of praying, not necessarily belief itself (the praying one).
- Der/Die Religionsangehörige: Formal term for a member of a religious community.
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Der/Die Ungläubige: Direct negation, person without (religious) belief (the unbeliever).
- Der/Die Atheist(in): Person who denies the existence of God (the atheist).
- Der/Die Agnostiker(in): Person who considers the existence of God uncertain or unknowable (the agnostic).
- Der/Die Skeptiker(in): Person who is generally doubtful, not just in a religious context (the skeptic).
Potential Confusion: Do not confuse with der Gläubiger (without the final 'e'!), which means "creditor" (someone to whom money is owed). This is a common mistake! 🚨
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt der Pfarrer einen kleinen Jungen: „Na, mein Kleiner, betest du auch jeden Abend?“
Sagt der Junge: „Nein, meine Mama betet für mich.“
Fragt der Pfarrer: „Und was betet sie?“
Junge: „Gott sei Dank, er liegt im Bett!“
Translation:
The pastor asks a little boy: "Well, little one, do you pray every evening?"
The boy says: "No, my mom prays for me."
The pastor asks: "And what does she pray?"
Boy: "Thank God, he's in bed!"
✍️ Poem about Believers
Ob Mann, ob Frau, ob alt, ob jung,
Der Gläubige sucht Schwung,
Im Herzen fest, im Geist bereit,
Für eine bessere Zeit.
Die Gläubige mit sanftem Blick,
Findet im Glauben Glück,
Gemeinsam singen, hoffen, fleh'n,
Die Gläubigen zusammensteh'n.
Translation:
Whether man, whether woman, old or young,
The male believer seeks momentum,
Firm in heart, ready in spirit,
For a better time near it.
The female believer with a gentle gaze,
Finds happiness in faith's ways,
Together singing, hoping, pleading,
The believers stand together, leading.
❓ Riddle
Ich kann männlich oder weiblich sein,
Mein Herz trägt oft den Glaubensschein.
Mit 'der' bin ich ein Mann,
Mit 'die' fängt meine Weiblichkeit an.
Im Plural sind wir viele dann.
Wer bin ich?
Translation:
I can be male or female,
My heart often bears the mark of faith.
With 'der', I am a man,
With 'die', my femininity began.
In plural, we are many then.
Who am I?
(Solution: Der/Die Gläubige - The (male/female) believer)
🤓 Other Interesting Info
Word Formation (Wortbildung): The word "Gläubige(r)" is a classic example of substantivization of an adjective in German. The adjective gläubig (believing) is turned into a noun describing a person by adding an article and adjusting the ending.
Cultural Significance (Kulturelle Bedeutung): The term plays a central role in religious and societal discussions about faith (Glaube), tolerance (Toleranz), and the coexistence (Zusammenleben) of different communities.
📝 Summary: is it der or die Gläubige?
The word "Gläubige" refers to a person who believes. It's a substantivized adjective: use der Gläubige for a male person and die Gläubige for a female person. The plural form is die Gläubigen. Be careful not to confuse it with 'der Gläubiger' (creditor)!