die
Polizistin
👮♀️ What does 'die Polizistin' mean?
'Die Polizistin' is the German word for a female police officer. It refers specifically to a woman serving in the police force, responsible for maintaining public safety and order, investigating and preventing crimes, and regulating traffic.
It's the feminine form of the word 'der Polizist' (male police officer). Since it denotes a female professional, the definite article is always 'die' (the for feminine nouns).
Example: Die Polizistin regelte den Verkehr an der Kreuzung. (The policewoman directed traffic at the intersection.)
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 of 'die Polizistin' explained
'Die Polizistin' is a feminine noun. Here's its declension:
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Polizistin |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Polizistin |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Polizistin |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Polizistin |
Plural
In the plural, 'Polizistin' belongs to the weak N-declension and takes the ending '-nen'.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Polizistinnen |
| Accusative | die | Polizistinnen |
| Dative | den | Polizistinnen |
| Genitive | der | Polizistinnen |
Example Sentences
- Die Polizistin nahm den Unfall auf. (The policewoman recorded the accident. - Nominative Singular)
- Ich habe die Polizistin nach dem Weg gefragt. (I asked the policewoman for directions. - Accusative Singular)
- Wir danken der Polizistin für ihre Hilfe. (We thank the policewoman for her help. - Dative Singular)
- Das ist die Dienstmarke der Polizistin. (That is the policewoman's badge. - Genitive Singular)
- Viele Polizistinnen waren bei der Veranstaltung anwesend. (Many policewomen were present at the event. - Nominative Plural)
- Der Chef lobte die engagierten Polizistinnen. (The boss praised the dedicated policewomen. - Accusative Plural)
- Die Ausrüstung gehört den Polizistinnen. (The equipment belongs to the policewomen. - Dative Plural)
- Der Einsatzplan der Polizistinnen wurde geändert. (The policewomen's deployment plan was changed. - Genitive Plural)
🗣️ Everyday Usage
'Die Polizistin' is used specifically to refer to a woman in the police profession. It's the standard term in modern German.
- Formal Contexts: In reports, news, or official documents, 'die Polizistin' is used when the gender is known and relevant, or when speaking explicitly about women in the force.
- Informal Contexts: In everyday conversation, 'die Polizistin' is also the common term for a female police officer.
- Distinction: It clearly distinguishes from 'der Polizist' (male police officer). In contexts where gender is unknown or a mixed group is meant, the generic masculine 'Polizist' or neutral terms like 'Polizeikraft' (police force member) or 'Polizeibeamte/Polizeibeamtin' (police official [m/f]) might be used, though the latter can be cumbersome. Explicitly mentioning both forms ('Polizistinnen und Polizisten') is also common practice for gender inclusivity.
🧠 Mnemonics for 'die Polizistin'
Article Mnemonic: The ending '-in' almost always signals a feminine noun (profession or person) in German. Think: 'Die friendly Polizistin' – 'die' fits the feminine ending '-in'.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a woman (feminine -> requires '-in' ending in German) working for the 'Polizei' (police). Polizei + -in = Polizistin.
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Words)
- Beamtin (im Polizeidienst): (Female civil servant in police service) - A more general term for a female civil servant, here specifically in the police.
- Schutzfrau: (Protecting woman) - A somewhat outdated term, derived from the older male term 'Schutzmann'.
- Gesetzeshüterin: (Female guardian of the law) - A more formal or figurative term.
- Ordnungshüterin: (Female guardian of order) - Similar to Gesetzeshüterin, emphasizing maintaining order.
Antonyms (Opposites)
- Verbrecherin: (Female criminal) - A woman who breaks the law (direct contrast to the role).
- Kriminelle: (Female criminal) - Similar to Verbrecherin.
- Zivilistin: (Female civilian) - A woman not belonging to the police or military.
Related Terms
😂 A Little Joke
Eine Polizistin stoppt einen Autofahrer. "Guten Tag, Ihre Papiere bitte." Der Fahrer: "Haben Sie keinen Stift dabei?" Polizistin: "Doch, warum?" Fahrer: "Na, dann könnten Sie mir gleich ein Autogramm geben!"
Translation: A policewoman stops a driver. "Good day, your papers, please." The driver: "Don't you have a pen with you?" Policewoman: "Yes, why?" Driver: "Well, then you could give me an autograph right away!"
📜 Poem about the Polizistin
Mit kühlem Kopf und wachem Blick,
lenkt sie der Menschen Weggeschick.
Die Polizistin, stark und klar,
nimmt Recht und Ordnung ernsthaft wahr.
Ob Tag, ob Nacht, sie ist bereit,
zu helfen in der Not, jederzeit.
Translation:
With a cool head and watchful eye,
She guides people's destiny.
The policewoman, strong and clear,
Takes law and order seriously, holds it dear.
Whether day or night, she is prepared,
To help in times of need, always there.
❓ Little Riddle
Ich trage Uniform, bin aber keine Soldatin.
Ich sorge für Ordnung und helfe Bürgerinnen und Bürgern.
Manchmal fahre ich Streife, manchmal kläre ich Fälle auf.
Ich bin die weibliche Form meines männlichen Kollegen.
Wer bin ich?
Translation:
I wear a uniform, but I'm not a (female) soldier.
I maintain order and help citizens.
Sometimes I go on patrol, sometimes I solve cases.
I am the female form of my male colleague.
Who am I?
(Answer: die Polizistin)
💡 Other Information
Word Composition:
The word 'Polizistin' is derived from the base word 'Polizei' (police).
- Polizei: The name of the institution.
- -ist: Suffix often denoting a person engaged in a specific activity or belonging to a group (cf. Journalist, Tourist).
- -in: Suffix used to form the feminine version of nouns referring to people in German.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Polizistin?
The word 'Polizistin' refers to a female police officer. It is a feminine noun, so the correct article is always 'die Polizistin'.