die
Verteidigerin
🛡️ What does "die Verteidigerin" mean?
Die Verteidigerin is the feminine form of der Verteidiger (the male defender). It refers to a woman who defends someone or something.
There are two main contexts:
- Law ⚖️: A woman who professionally represents and defends someone in court, especially a female lawyer in criminal cases (Strafverteidigerin).
- Sports ⚽: A female player in a team sport (e.g., football/soccer, handball) whose main task is to fend off attacks from the opposing team and protect her own goal (Abwehrspielerin).
🚨 Important: The word is specifically feminine. For a male person, use der Verteidiger.
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 Verteidigerin" in Detail
Die Verteidigerin is a feminine noun. Its declension is as follows:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Verteidigerin |
| Genitive | der | Verteidigerin |
| Dative | der | Verteidigerin |
| Accusative | die | Verteidigerin |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Verteidigerinnen |
| Genitive | der | Verteidigerinnen |
| Dative | den | Verteidigerinnen |
| Accusative | die | Verteidigerinnen |
Example Sentences
- Die Angeklagte wurde von einer erfahrenen Verteidigerin vertreten.
(The defendant was represented by an experienced female defender/lawyer.) - Die Verteidigerin konnte den entscheidenden Ball abfangen.
(The female defender managed to intercept the crucial ball.) - Sie gilt als eine der besten Verteidigerinnen der Liga.
(She is considered one of the best female defenders in the league.)
🗣️ How "die Verteidigerin" is used
The word Verteidigerin is used specifically for females who take on a defending role.
- In a legal context: You might hear about the Strafverteidigerin (female criminal defense lawyer), Pflichtverteidigerin (female court-appointed defender), or simply the Verteidigerin of the accused. It emphasizes the woman's role as legal counsel in a trial.
- In a sports context: Here it refers to a female player in defense. You might specify Innenverteidigerin (female center-back) or Außenverteidigerin (female full-back) depending on the exact position.
- Figurative meaning: Less commonly, it can describe a woman who defends an idea, a principle, or a group (e.g., "eine Verteidigerin der Menschenrechte" - a female defender of human rights).
⚠️ Avoid using Verteidigerin for males. Use der Verteidiger instead.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Article mnemonic: The ending "-in" almost always signals a feminine noun in German, thus die Verteidigerin. Think: Die Frau (= the woman) is in the defense team. ('Die' sounds like 'she').
Meaning mnemonic: Imagine a female knight (a Verteidigerin) with a shield, defending a castle. This visual helps cement the 'defending' role.
↔️ Opposites and Synonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- In law: Anwältin (female lawyer), Rechtsanwältin (female attorney-at-law), Strafverteidigerin (female criminal defense lawyer), Fürsprecherin (female advocate)
- In sports: Abwehrspielerin (female defense player), Defensivspielerin (female defensive player)
- General: Beschützerin (female protector), Verfechterin (female champion/advocate)
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- In law: Klägerin (female plaintiff), Anklägerin (female accuser), Staatsanwältin (female public prosecutor)
- In sports: Angreiferin (female attacker), Stürmerin (female forward/striker), Offensivspielerin (female offensive player)
- General: Angreiferin (female attacker), Gegnerin (female opponent)
☝️ Note: Anwältin is a more general term than Verteidigerin, which specifically refers to the defense role (often in criminal law).
😂 A little Joke
Fragt der Richter die Verteidigerin: „Können Sie mir bitte erklären, warum Ihr Mandant über den Zaun geklettert ist?“
Antwortet die Verteidigerin: „Herr Richter, er wollte nur auf die andere Seite!“
Translation:
The judge asks the female defender: "Can you please explain to me why your client climbed over the fence?"
The female defender replies: "Your Honor, he just wanted to get to the other side!"
📜 Poem about the Verteidigerin
Im Saale ernst, mit klugem Wort,
steht sie bereit an diesem Ort.
Die Verteidigerin, mit Recht im Sinn,
dass Wahrheit siege, Schuld entrinn'.
Auf grünem Feld, schnell und geschwind,
hält sie den Ball, trotzt Sturm und Wind.
Die Verteidigerin, stark und klar,
schützt Tor und Team, Jahr für Jahr.
Translation:
In the serious courtroom, with clever words,
she stands ready in this place.
The female defender, with justice in mind,
so that truth may win, guilt escape.
On the green field, fast and swift,
she holds the ball, defies storm and wind.
The female defender, strong and clear,
protects goal and team, year after year.
❓ Little Riddle
Ich stehe Frauen bei Gericht zur Seit',
oder wehr' im Sport den Angriff weit.
Die weibliche Form, das ist mein Sinn,
sag schnell, wer oder was ich bin?
Translation:
I stand by women in court,
or fend off attacks widely in sport.
The female form is my purpose, you see,
tell me quickly, who or what could I be?
Solution: die Verteidigerin (the female defender)
🧩 Word Components and Other Info
The word Verteidigerin is composed of:
- The stem of the verb verteidigen (to defend).
- The suffix -er, which indicates a person performing an action (like in Lehrer - teacher).
- The feminine suffix -in, which creates the female form.
So: verteidig(en) + -er (makes Verteidiger) + -in (makes Verteidigerin).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Verteidigerin?
The word "Verteidigerin" is a feminine noun, and therefore always uses the article die. The correct form is: die Verteidigerin.