die
Schriftstellerin
✍️ What does "die Schriftstellerin" mean?
Die Schriftstellerin is the feminine form of the German word Schriftsteller (male author). It refers to a woman whose profession or main activity is writing literary texts such as novels, stories, poems, or plays, often for publication.
It's a job title within the field of literature and arts (Literatur und Kunst). The word derives from "Schrift" (writing, script) and "stellen" (here in the sense of 'to create', 'to produce'), combined with the feminine suffix "-in".
There is only this one meaning for the word with the article "die".
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 and Declension of Schriftstellerin
The noun "Schriftstellerin" is feminine. Therefore, the correct article is die.
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die Schriftstellerin | eine Schriftstellerin (a female author) |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der Schriftstellerin | einer Schriftstellerin (of a female author) |
| Dative (To whom?) | der Schriftstellerin | einer Schriftstellerin (to a female author) |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die Schriftstellerin | eine Schriftstellerin (a female author) |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Schriftstellerinnen (the female authors) | Schriftstellerinnen (female authors) |
| Genitive | der Schriftstellerinnen (of the female authors) | Schriftstellerinnen (of female authors) |
| Dative | den Schriftstellerinnen (to the female authors) | Schriftstellerinnen (to female authors) |
| Accusative | die Schriftstellerinnen (the female authors) | Schriftstellerinnen (female authors) |
📝 Example Sentences
- Die berühmte Schriftstellerin las aus ihrem neuen Roman vor.
(The famous female author read from her new novel.) - Ich habe das Buch einer bekannten Schriftstellerin geschenkt bekommen.
(I received the book of a well-known female author as a gift.) - Wir trafen uns mit den Schriftstellerinnen auf der Buchmesse.
(We met with the female authors at the book fair.) - Man ehrt die Schriftstellerin für ihr Lebenswerk.
(They honor the female author for her life's work.)
💡 How to use "Schriftstellerin"?
The term "die Schriftstellerin" is used specifically to refer to a woman who writes.
- Professional Title: It's the standard designation for women in this profession. Example: "Sie arbeitet als freie Schriftstellerin." (She works as a freelance female author.)
- Distinction: It clearly distinguishes the person from male colleagues (Schriftsteller).
- Context: You often find the word in discussions about literature (Literatur), in biographies (Biografien), at award ceremonies (Preisverleihungen), or in news about the book industry (Buchbranche).
- Alternative: Sometimes the more general term "Autorin" (female author) is used, which can be broader (e.g., also for female non-fiction authors). "Schriftstellerin" often implies a stronger focus on fictional or artistic literature.
⚠️ It is important to use the feminine form when talking about a woman to be correct and respectful. Using the masculine form ("Schriftsteller") for a woman is outdated and considered inappropriate today.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Remembering the Article: Nouns ending in "-in" that refer to female persons are almost always feminine in German. Think of: Professorin, Ärztin, Lehrerin – all take die. The same applies to: die Schriftstellerin.
Remembering the Meaning: A "Schrift-stellerin" is a woman who 'places' or 'creates' ('stellt') 'writing' ('Schrift'). Imagine her placing letters and words onto paper to build stories.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms/Counterparts:
- Leserin (die): The female reader (consumes the work, doesn't produce it).
- Kritikerin (die): The female critic (evaluates the work, doesn't primarily write it).
- Verlegerin (die): The female publisher (publishes the work, doesn't primarily write it).
- Übersetzerin (die): The female translator (translates works, doesn't write them originally).
⚠️ Similar but Different Words:
- Schriftsteller (der): The masculine form of the word (male author).
- Journalistin (die): Female journalist (usually writes for newspapers/magazines, often non-fiction).
- Redakteurin (die): Female editor (edits and revises texts by others).
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt eine Freundin die andere: "Deine Tochter will Schriftstellerin werden? Und was schreibt sie so?"
Antwortet die Mutter: "Bis jetzt hauptsächlich rote Zahlen."
Translation:
One friend asks another: "Your daughter wants to become a writer? And what does she write?"
The mother replies: "So far, mainly red numbers (i.e., she's in debt / making losses)." (It's a pun, as 'rote Zahlen schreiben' means 'to be in the red/make a loss'.)
📜 Poem about the Schriftstellerin
Die Feder tanzt, die Schriftstellerin wacht,
erschafft Welten in sternenklarer Nacht.
Mit Worten malt sie Freud und Leid,
verloren in der Zeitlosigkeit.
Ihr Geist ist frei, ihr Herz ist weit,
für immer lebt, was sie befreit.
Translation:
The pen dances, the female author is awake,
creating worlds in the starlit night.
With words she paints joy and sorrow,
lost in timelessness.
Her spirit is free, her heart is wide,
forever lives what she sets free.
❓ A Little Riddle
Ich bin eine Frau, mein Werkzeug die Schrift,
ich baue Geschichten, die keiner vergisst.
Romane und Dramen entspringen mir leicht,
mein männliches Pendant ist dir auch bekannt vielleicht.
Mein Artikel ist weiblich, das weißt du nun,
sag schnell, wer bin ich, was ist mein Tun?
Translation:
I am a woman, my tool is writing,
I build stories that no one forgets.
Novels and dramas spring from me easily,
my male counterpart is perhaps known to you too.
My article is feminine, you know that now,
tell me quickly, who am I, what is my doing?
Solution: die Schriftstellerin (the female author)
🧩 Other Information
Word Composition:
The word "Schriftstellerin" is a compound word with a derivation:
- Schrift: Refers to writing, script, texts.
- Steller: Derived from the verb "stellen", here meaning "to produce", "to create", "to compose".
- -in: The suffix "-in" is added to masculine nouns (here: Schriftsteller) to form the feminine version (Movierung / gender marking).
Famous German-speaking Female Authors (Examples):
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Schriftstellerin?
The word "Schriftstellerin" is feminine. The correct article is always die. It refers to a woman who writes literary texts (e.g., die Schriftstellerin - the female author, die Schriftstellerinnen - the female authors).