die
Schauspielerin
🎬 What does "die Schauspielerin" mean?
Die Schauspielerin (plural: die Schauspielerinnen) refers to a female person who professionally or as a hobby embodies roles in plays, films, television series, or other performing arts. She interprets characters and portrays scenes.
It is the feminine form of the word der Schauspieler (male actor).
In German, for job titles, the explicitly feminine form ending in "-in" is often used when referring to a woman. It's important to use the correct form (gender-inclusive language).
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 in Detail: Die Schauspielerin
The noun "Schauspielerin" is feminine. The corresponding article is therefore die.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Schauspielerin |
| Genitive | der | Schauspielerin |
| Dative | der | Schauspielerin |
| Accusative | die | Schauspielerin |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Schauspielerinnen |
| Genitive | der | Schauspielerinnen |
| Dative | den | Schauspielerinnen |
| Accusative | die | Schauspielerinnen |
📝 Example Sentences
- Die Schauspielerin erhielt einen Preis für ihre Rolle im neuen Film.
(The actress received an award for her role in the new film.) - Ich habe das Talent der Schauspielerin immer bewundert.
(I have always admired the actress's talent.) - Der Regisseur gab der Schauspielerin genaue Anweisungen.
(The director gave the actress precise instructions.) - Wir sahen die Schauspielerin gestern im Theater.
(We saw the actress at the theatre yesterday.) - Die Schauspielerinnen probten gemeinsam für das Stück.
(The actresses rehearsed together for the play.)
🎭 Application and Context
"Die Schauspielerin" is used to specifically refer to a female person in this profession.
- Context: Theatre, film, television, radio plays, commercials, performing arts.
- Distinction: While one might sometimes (less commonly and rather outdated or in certain generalizing contexts) use "der Schauspieler" for women too, "die Schauspielerin" is the precise and standard term for a woman today. In the spirit of gender equality and visibility, the explicitly feminine form is preferred.
- Formal vs. Informal: The word is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.
💡 Mnemonics for "die Schauspielerin"
Article Mnemonic: Professions ending in "-in" are almost always feminine in German. Think of: die Lehrerin (female teacher), die Ärztin (female doctor), die Sängerin (female singer) – and therefore also die Schauspielerin.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine the (die) woman on stage, putting on a show (Schau) and playing (spiel) a role. She is die Schau-spiel-er-in.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Darstellerin: Very similar, often interchangeable (performer).
- Mimin: More elevated or slightly outdated term.
- Aktrice: Borrowed from French, used less frequently, rather elevated (actress).
- Interpretin: When the focus is on the interpretation of a role (interpreter).
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Schauspieler: The masculine form of the profession (actor).
- (Indirectly): Zuschauerin (female spectator), Regisseurin (female director) - other roles in theatre/film.
⚠️ Similar Words (Beware of Confusion):
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Regisseur die junge Schauspielerin: "Haben Sie Lampenfieber?"
Antwortet sie: "Nein, wieso? Soll ich auch noch Möbel mitbringen?"
(The director asks the young actress: "Do you have stage fright?" (Literally: "Do you have lamp fever?")
She replies: "No, why? Should I bring furniture too?")
(It's a pun: Lampenfieber = stage fright, but sounds like Lampen-Fieber = lamp fever. Möbel = furniture)
📜 Poem about the Schauspielerin
Im Licht der Bühne, hell und klar,
steht die Schauspielerin, wunderbar.
Sie spricht die Worte, tief und rein,
lässt uns in fremde Welten sein.
Mal lustig, traurig, zart, mal schroff,
beherrscht sie meisterhaft den Stoff.
Ein Blick, ein Lächeln, eine Träne,
verzaubert sie die ganze Szene.
(In the stage light, bright and clear,
stands the actress, wonderful, dear.
She speaks the words, profound and pure,
lets us be in foreign worlds, secure.
Sometimes funny, sad, gentle, sometimes rough,
she masters skillfully the stuff.
A glance, a smile, a single tear,
she enchants the whole scene here.)
❓ Riddle
Ich trage viele Masken, doch mein Gesicht ist echt.
Ich weine auf Kommando, mal gut und mal schlecht.
Im Film und auf der Bühne bin ich oft zu Haus,
wer bin ich, als Frau, errate es, komm raus!
(I wear many masks, but my face is real.
I cry on command, sometimes good, sometimes ill.
In film and on the stage, I'm often at home,
who am I, as a woman, guess it, don't roam!)
Solution: die Schauspielerin (the actress)
📌 Other Information
Word Composition
The word "Schauspielerin" is composed of:
- Schau: from "schauen" (to look, to watch) or "die Schau" (the show)
- Spiel: from "spielen" (to play, to act)
- -er: Suffix forming the masculine job title (Schauspieler)
- -in: Suffix forming the feminine version from the masculine.
Famous German Actresses
Germany has produced many famous actresses, such as Romy Schneider, Marlene Dietrich, Hanna Schygulla, Franka Potente, Diane Kruger, and many more.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Schauspielerin?
The word "Schauspielerin" is a feminine noun. The correct article is always die: die Schauspielerin (singular) and die Schauspielerinnen (plural).