die  Staatsanwältin

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ʃtaːtsˈanvɛltɪn/

📜 What does 'die Staatsanwältin' mean?

Die Staatsanwältin (plural: die Staatsanwältinnen) is a female lawyer who is responsible for criminal prosecution on behalf of the state (Staat) in Germany and other German-speaking countries. She leads the investigation (Ermittlungsverfahren), files charges (erhebt Anklage) in court, and represents the prosecution during the criminal trial (Strafprozess). She is typically a civil servant (Beamtin) or a public employee.

It is the feminine form of the word der Staatsanwalt (male public prosecutor).

• Main meaning: Female person acting as a representative of the public prosecutor's office.

🚨 There are no other meanings or articles for this specific word. It always refers to a female prosecutor and uses the article 'die'.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📚 Grammar of 'die Staatsanwältin'

The word 'Staatsanwältin' is a feminine noun. The article is always die.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die Staatsanwältin plädierte auf eine hohe Haftstrafe.
   (The female public prosecutor argued for a long prison sentence.)
2. Die Aussage wurde von der Staatsanwältin angezweifelt.
   (The testimony was doubted by the female public prosecutor.)
3. Das Gericht folgte dem Antrag der Staatsanwältin.
   (The court followed the female public prosecutor's motion.)
4. Man sah die Staatsanwältin oft im Gerichtsgebäude.
   (One often saw the female public prosecutor in the courthouse.)
5. Mehrere Staatsanwältinnen arbeiteten an dem komplexen Fall.
   (Several female public prosecutors worked on the complex case.)

🗣️ How to use 'die Staatsanwältin'

The word die Staatsanwältin is used specifically in legal and professional contexts. It exclusively refers to a woman holding this position.

• Context: Legal system (Rechtssystem), court proceedings (Gerichtsverfahren), criminal prosecution (Strafverfolgung), job title (Berufsbezeichnung).
• Differentiation: Her male colleague is 'der Staatsanwalt'. The supervising authority is 'die Staatsanwaltschaft' (public prosecutor's office).
• Formality: The term is part of official language (Amtssprache) and is used in official documents and in the courtroom.
• Everyday Language: It's also used in news reports and discussions about criminal cases.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

1. Remembering the Article: Most feminine job titles in German end in '-in' (like Lehrerin, Ärztin). 'Staatsanwältin' follows this pattern, so the article is die.

2. Remembering the Meaning: Think of her as the 'Anwältin' (female lawyer) for the 'Staat' (state). She represents the state in court. Staats + Anwältin = Staatsanwältin.

↔️ Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Watch Out: Don't confuse with 'Rechtsanwältin' (female lawyer representing private clients) or 'Notarin' (female notary who authenticates legal documents).

😄 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Richter die Staatsanwältin: "Haben Sie noch etwas hinzuzufügen?" Sagt die Staatsanwältin: "Ja, Herr Richter, meinen Hut und Mantel, wenn wir hier fertig sind!"

English: The judge asks the female prosecutor: "Do you have anything to add?" The female prosecutor says: "Yes, Your Honor, my hat and coat when we're done here!" 😂

⚖️ A Poem about the Staatsanwältin

German:
Im Saal, wo Recht gesprochen wird,
steht sie, die kein Detail verwirrt.
Die Staatsanwältin, klar und scharf,
die für den Staat die Klage warf.
Mit Fakten, streng und wohlbedacht,
hat sie die Schuld ans Licht gebracht.

English Translation:
In the hall where justice is spoken,
she stands, by no detail broken.
The female prosecutor, clear and sharp,
who cast the charge for the state's harp.
With facts, strict and well-considered,
she brought the guilt to light, delivered.

❓ A Riddle

German:
Ich trage eine Robe, doch bin keine Königin.
Ich klage an im Namen des Staates, darin liegt mein Sinn.
Mein Gegenüber ist der Verteidiger, mein Ziel die Strafverfolgung.
Wer bin ich, als Frau in dieser Berufsrolle voller Schwung?

Lösung: Die Staatsanwältin

English Translation:
I wear a robe, but am not a queen.
I prosecute in the name of the state, that is my scene.
My counterpart is the defender, my goal is prosecution's art.
Who am I, as a woman in this professional role playing my part?

Answer: Die Staatsanwältin (The female public prosecutor)

💡 Other Information

Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung):

The word "Staatsanwältin" is a compound noun, composed of:

• Staat (The state as an institution)
• Anwältin (Feminine form of Anwalt/lawyer, here meaning representative)

The suffix -in typically marks the feminine form of professions or people in German.

Cultural Context: The role of the public prosecutor's office (Staatsanwaltschaft) is a fundamental part of the German principle of the rule of law (Rechtsstaatsprinzip) and the separation of powers (Gewaltenteilung).