die
Redakteurin
✍️ What does "die Redakteurin" mean?
Die Redakteurin refers to a female editor. This is a woman whose profession involves editing, processing, and often writing texts or other contributions (e.g., for newspapers, magazines, books, radio, television, or online media). She is (co-)responsible for the content and formal design of publications or broadcasts.
It is the feminine form of the word der Redakteur (the male editor).
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 Redakteurin" in Detail
The word "Redakteurin" is a feminine noun. The definite article is always die.
Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Redakteurin |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Redakteurin |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Redakteurin |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Redakteurin |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Redakteurinnen |
| Genitive | der | Redakteurinnen |
| Dative | den | Redakteurinnen |
| Accusative | die | Redakteurinnen |
Example Sentences
- Die Redakteurin prüft den Artikel auf Fehler. (The editor checks the article for errors.)
- Ich habe gestern mit der Redakteurin telefoniert. (I spoke with the editor on the phone yesterday.)
- Der Beitrag wurde von mehreren Redakteurinnen überarbeitet. (The contribution was revised by several editors.)
- Kennst du die Redakteurin, die für das Feuilleton zuständig ist? (Do you know the editor who is responsible for the arts section?)
📰 When to use "Redakteurin"?
The term "Redakteurin" is primarily used in a professional context, especially in the media industry:
- Journalism: A woman who writes for or edits contributions for a newspaper, magazine, or online publication.
- Publishing: A woman in a publishing house who copy-edits manuscripts and prepares them for publication.
- Broadcasting (Radio/TV): A woman responsible for planning, designing, and producing radio or television programs.
- Online Media: A woman who creates and maintains content for websites, blogs, or social media (often also called Online-Redakteurin).
Compared to Journalistin (female journalist), Redakteurin often refers more specifically to the editing and processing of content, while Journalistin can be broader, also encompassing research and writing. However, the boundaries are often fluid.
💡 Mnemonics for "Redakteurin"
Article Mnemonic: The suffix "-in" almost always signals a feminine noun in German. Think: The woman editing is die Redakteurin.
Meaning Mnemonic: A Redakteurin gets content ready and edits it. She brings order (Ordnung) to the text jungle.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Journalistin: (Female journalist) Often used synonymously, but can be broader (research, writing).
- Herausgeberin: (Female publisher/editor-in-chief) Responsible for the entire publication, often a higher position.
- Lektorin: (Female reader/copy editor) Focuses more strongly on linguistic and stylistic revision of texts, mostly in publishing houses.
- Texterin: (Female copywriter) Creates texts, often for advertising or information, less involved in the editorial process.
- Autorin: (Female author) Writer of texts, but not necessarily responsible for their editorial processing.
Antonyms (opposites):
Direct antonyms are difficult. In the context of media production, opposites could be:
Similar but different terms:
- Korrektorin: (Female proofreader) Primarily checks texts for spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
😂 A Little Joke
German: Fragt die Chefredakteurin die neue Volontärin: "Haben Sie den Artikel überarbeitet?" Antwortet die Volontärin: "Ja, ich habe jedes zweite Wort gestrichen." Chefredakteurin: "Und warum das?" Volontärin: "Damit er prägnanter wird!"
English: The editor-in-chief asks the new trainee: "Have you revised the article?" The trainee replies: "Yes, I deleted every second word." Editor-in-chief: "And why did you do that?" Trainee: "To make it more concise!"
📜 Poem about the Redakteurin
German:
Die Redakteurin, scharf der Blick,
Formt Worte, Stück für Stück.
Aus Chaos wird ein klarer Text,
Kein Fehler bleibt, wie sehr er hext.
Mit Stift und Geist, bei Tag und Nacht,
Hat sie den Beitrag gut gemacht.
English Translation:
The editor, with gaze so keen,
Shapes words, a polished scene.
From chaos comes a text so clear,
No error stays, however near.
With pen and mind, by day and night,
She's made the piece turn out just right.
❓ Little Riddle
German:
Ich arbeite mit Wort und Bild,
Mein Urteil ist oft streng, doch mild.
Ich kürze, prüfe, schreib' und plane,
Für Zeitung, Funk, auf jeder Bahn.
Die weibliche Form, das ist mein Sinn,
Wer bin ich? Ich bin die ...
English Translation:
I work with word and image too,
My judgment's often strict, but mild for you.
I shorten, check, I write and plan,
For papers, radio, across the span.
The feminine form, that is my core,
Who am I? I am the ...
Solution: Redakteurin (female editor)
🧩 Other Information
Word Composition
The word "Redakteurin" is composed of:
- The stem "Redakteur", derived from the Latin redigere (to bring back, arrange, edit).
- The suffix "-in", which is used in German to form feminine versions of job titles or personal nouns.
Masculine Form
The male equivalent is der Redakteur (the male editor).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Redakteurin?
The word "Redakteurin" refers to a female editor, a woman who professionally edits or creates content for media. It is a feminine noun, so the correct article is always die Redakteurin.