Kapitän
Meaning and Usage
"Kapitän" translates to "captain" in English and is commonly used to refer to the commander of a ship or aircraft. It can also be used informally to refer to someone in a leadership or authority position.
Linguistic Analysis
"Kapitän" is a noun in German and doesn't have any prefix or suffix. It comes from the Latin word "capitaneus," meaning "chief."
Comparisons between German and English
The word "Kapitän" is cognate with the English word "captain," so it's quite similar in both languages.
Cultural Context
In German-speaking countries, especially in maritime and aviation contexts, the role of a "Kapitän" holds significant importance. Additionally, the term can also be used metaphorically to denote someone in a leadership role.
Example Sentences
- Der Kapitän lenkte das Schiff sicher durch den Sturm. (The captain steered the ship safely through the storm.)
- Sie ist die Kapitänin des Fußballteams. (She is the captain of the soccer team.)
Memory Tips
Associate "Kapitän" with the English word "captain" to remember its meaning and usage.
Additional Vocabulary
- Der Admiral (admiral)
- Die Schiffsführung (ship's command)
- Die Führungskraft (leader, executive)
Gender and Plural (for nouns)
- Gender: masculine
- Plural: die Kapitäne
Conjugation (for verbs)
N/A