die  Partnerin

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈpaʁtnɐɪ̯n/

👩‍❤️‍👩 Who is *die Partnerin*?

Die Partnerin is a feminine noun referring to a female person who is in a partnership. This partnership can be of different kinds:

• Romantic relationship: The woman in a love relationship or marriage. (e.g., meine Lebenspartnerin - my life partner)
• Business relationship: A female business partner or associate. (e.g., die geschäftsführende Partnerin der Kanzlei - the managing partner of the law firm)
• Activity partnership: A female person with whom one engages in a specific activity together, e.g., dancing, sports, or games. (e.g., meine Tanzpartnerin - my dance partner)

It is the female form of the word Partner.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📖 Grammar Spotlight: *Die Partnerin*

The word *"Partnerin"* is a feminine noun. Therefore, the article is always die.

Examples

1. Meine Partnerin und ich fahren bald in den Urlaub.
   (My partner and I are going on vacation soon.)
2. Das ist das Büro meiner Partnerin.
   (This is my partner's office.)
3. Ich habe meiner Partnerin Blumen geschenkt.
   (I gave flowers to my partner.)
4. Ich liebe meine Partnerin sehr.
   (I love my partner very much.)
5. Die Partnerinnen der Anwaltskanzlei treffen sich heute.
   (The partners of the law firm are meeting today.)
6. Wir gedenken der verstorbenen Partnerinnen.
   (We commemorate the deceased partners.)
7. Er dankte den Partnerinnen für ihre Unterstützung.
   (He thanked the partners for their support.)
8. Der Chef lobte die neuen Partnerinnen.
   (The boss praised the new partners.)

💼 Context & Usage: When to say *Partnerin*?

The use of the word "Partnerin" heavily depends on the context:

• In a private context, it usually refers to a life partner or wife, often as a more neutral or modern alternative to "Freundin" (girlfriend) or "Frau" (wife).
• In a professional environment, it denotes a female individual who participates in a company or project at an equal level (e.g., in a law firm, medical practice, or consulting firm). It implies a higher status than, for example, "Kollegin" (female colleague) or "Mitarbeiterin" (female employee).
• In leisure activities (sports, dance, games), it's the female person with whom one performs the activity together.

Important Note: While "Freundin" can also mean a platonic female friend, "Partnerin" in a private context generally implies a romantic relationship.

🧠 Mnemonics for *die Partnerin*

Article Mnemonic: Feminine roles and professions often end in "-in" in German and take the feminine article "die" – think of die Ärztin (female doctor), die Lehrerin (female teacher), die Partnerin. The "-in" ending needs its feminine companion: die!

Meaning Mnemonic: A Partnerin is involved in a relationship or in a business. The "in" within the word helps remember the involvement.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar but different words:

• Kollegin: Works in the same company/field, but not necessarily as an equal stakeholder.
• Bekannte: A female acquaintance, someone you know but don't have a close relationship with.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Chef seine neue Partnerin in der Anwaltskanzlei: "Sind Sie mit den Akten vertraut?"
Sie antwortet: "Vertraut? Ich würde eher sagen, wir sind auf Du und Du!"

Translation:
The boss asks his new partner in the law firm: "Are you familiar (vertraut) with the files (Akten)?"
She replies: "Familiar? I'd rather say we're on a first-name basis (auf Du und Du sein - a German idiom)!" (The joke plays on the word 'vertraut' which can mean 'familiar' or 'intimate/close'.)

✍️ Poem about a *Partnerin*

Die Partnerin, an meiner Seit',
Ob im Geschäft, ob in der Freizeit.
Mal ernst, mal heiter, immer da,
Gemeinsam stark, das ist doch klar.

Mit ihr im Team, ob Tanz, ob Spiel,
Erreichen wir zusammen jedes Ziel.
Im Leben fest, als Liebesbund,
Ist sie mein Halt zu jeder Stund'.

Translation:
The partner (female), by my side,
Whether in business, or in leisure time's tide.
Sometimes serious, sometimes cheerful, always near,
Together strong, that much is clear.

With her on the team, be it dance or game,
Together we reach every aim.
Firm in life, as a bond of love's art,
She is my anchor, right from the start.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin weiblich und steh' dir zur Seite,
Im Geschäft, im Tanz, im Lebensgeleite.
Mal Chefin, mal Liebste, mal Teammitglied fein,
Die männliche Form ist einfach nur "Partner" - wer könnte ich sein?

Translation:
I am female and stand by your side,
In business, in dance, as life's guide.
Sometimes boss, sometimes lover, sometimes team member fine,
The male form is simply "Partner" - who could I be, this design?

Solution: die Partnerin

ℹ️ Interesting Facts

Word Composition:

The word "Partnerin" is derived from the masculine noun "Partner" by adding the suffix "-in". This suffix is commonly used in German to form the feminine version of nouns referring to people (this process is called Movierung).

• Base word: Partner
• Suffix: -in (to form the feminine version)

Cultural Context: Using "Partnerin" instead of "Frau" (wife) or "Freundin" (girlfriend) can be seen as expressing an equal partnership at eye level.