die
Karriere
📚 What does "die Karriere" mean?
Die Karriere (noun, feminine) refers to a person's professional path or career trajectory, often associated with advancement, success, and increasing responsibility. It describes the course someone takes in their working life.
- Main meaning: Professional career path, often focusing on success and advancement.
- Figurative meaning: Sometimes used for a successful course in other areas of life (e.g., Sportkarriere - sports career), but primarily used in a professional context.
⚠️ Note: In German, 'Karriere' is always feminine: die Karriere.
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 "die Karriere" in Detail
The word "Karriere" is a feminine noun and always takes the article die.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Karriere |
| Genitive | der | Karriere |
| Dative | der | Karriere |
| Accusative | die | Karriere |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Karrieren |
| Genitive | der | Karrieren |
| Dative | den | Karrieren |
| Accusative | die | Karrieren |
Example Sentences
- Sie hat eine beeindruckende Karriere im Finanzwesen gemacht.
(She has made an impressive career in finance.) - Er träumt von einer internationalen Karriere als Musiker.
(He dreams of an international career as a musician.) - Nach dem Studium begann ihre Karriere bei einem großen Unternehmen.
(After university, her career began at a large company.) - Die Planung der eigenen Karriere ist sehr wichtig.
(Planning one's own career is very important.) - Viele junge Menschen stehen am Anfang ihrer Karrieren.
(Many young people are at the beginning of their careers.)
💡 How to use "Karriere"?
The term "Karriere" is primarily used in a professional context. It often implies advancement or development over time.
- Typical Collocations: "Karriere machen" (to build a successful career/climb the ladder), "eine Karriere beginnen/starten" (to start a career), "eine Karriere verfolgen" (to pursue a career), "die Karriereleiter erklimmen" (to climb the career ladder), "Karriereplanung" (career planning), "Karrierewechsel" (career change).
- Context: Often used in discussions about career choices, professional development, success, and ambition.
- Comparison: While "Beruf" (job/profession) is more neutral and describes the type of work, "Karriere" emphasizes the progression and often the success over time. "Laufbahn" is a very similar synonym, also meaning career path.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic: Think of a queen (feminine, 'die' often links to female nouns or words ending in -e) planning her royal career - die Karriere ends in 'e', like many feminine nouns.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine someone 'carrying' (sounds like 'Karrie-') their ambitions up a ladder – that's their Karriere (career).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Laufbahn: (Career path) Very similar, often interchangeable. Emphasizes the path/course.
- Berufsweg: (Professional path) Similar, describes the path within a profession.
- Werdegang: (Course of development, CV) Often broader than just professional life, but can be used synonymously.
- Aufstieg: (Advancement, promotion) Refers specifically to moving up in the hierarchy.
Antonyms (opposites):
- Stillstand: (Standstill) No development or change in the job.
- Stagnation: (Stagnation) Similar to standstill, often viewed negatively.
- Abstieg: (Demotion, decline) The opposite of advancement in the hierarchy.
- Berufliches Scheitern: (Professional failure) Lack of success in one's working life.
Potential Confusion:
- Beruf: Refers to the job or profession itself, not necessarily the progression over time. (e.g., "Sein Beruf ist Lehrer." - His profession is teacher. vs. "Seine Karriere als Lehrer war lang." - His career as a teacher was long.)
- Job: More like a specific position or employment, often seen as less long-term than a Karriere.
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Haben Sie schon Karrierepläne?"
Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: "Ja! Möglichst schnell die Leiter hoch – am besten schon zur Mittagspause!"
Translation: The boss asks the new employee: "Do you have career plans yet?"
The employee answers: "Yes! Climb the ladder as quickly as possible – preferably by lunchtime!"
📜 Poem about Karriere
Die Karriere, ein langer Pfad,
Mal steil bergauf, mal eben, grad.
Mit Ehrgeiz, Fleiß und viel Geschick,
Sucht man Erfolg und großes Glück.
Stufe um Stufe geht es fort,
An einen bess'ren, höh'ren Ort.
Die Karriere, ein Lebensziel,
Für manche bringt sie wirklich viel.
Translation:
The career, a long path,
Sometimes steeply uphill, sometimes flat, straight.
With ambition, diligence, and much skill,
One seeks success and great luck (fortune).
Step by step it moves forward,
To a better, higher place.
The career, a life goal,
For some, it truly brings a lot.
❓ Riddle
Ich bin ein Weg, doch keine Straße,
Ich wachse oft, doch bin keine Pflanze im Glase.
Man kann mich machen, planen, lenken,
Und tut oft jahrelang an mich denken.
Ich bin feminin und trage "die" vor mir,
Was bin ich, sag es mir!
Translation:
I am a path, but not a street,
I often grow, but am not a plant in a glass neat.
You can make me, plan me, steer me,
And often think about me for years, you see.
I am feminine and carry "die" before me,
What am I? Tell me!
Lösung/Solution: die Karriere
🧩 Other Information
Etymology: The word "Karriere" comes from the French word carrière, which originally meant "racetrack" or "quarry". The meaning "career path" or "course of life" developed from this later on.
Compound Words (Wortzusammensetzungen):
- Karrierefrau/Karrieremann: (Career woman/career man) A person who places great importance on professional success.
- Karriereplanung: (Career planning) The strategic planning of one's own professional path.
- Karrieresprung: (Career leap) A significant advancement in one's professional career.
- Karriereende: (End of career) The conclusion of one's professional life, often through retirement.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Karriere?
The German word Karriere is always feminine. Therefore, the correct article is exclusively die Karriere.