21 December 2025
How do you say Actor in German?
The German word for actor is der Schauspieler.It’s used for male actors or for actors in general when gender isn’t specified. Schauspieler is formed from Schauspiel (a stage play) plus -er: a person who acts. The female form is die Schauspielerin.
It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and you’ll encounter it in conversations about film, theater, and TV.
Gender and Pronunciation
It’s a masculine noun: der Schauspieler (female: die Schauspielerin)Need help guessing noun genders fast? This video lesson will show you how.
Pronunciation: Schauspieler is pronounced [ˈʃaʊ̯ʃpiːlɐ]. Schau
- rhymes roughly with how, beginning with sh; spiel has sh plus a long ee vowel. The final -er is unstressed,
- roughly like the a in sofa.
Example sentences
Der Schauspieler war in einem berühmten Film.The actor was in a famous movie.
Sie ist eine talentierte Schauspielerin.She’s a talented actress.
Mein Lieblingsschauspieler ist Deutscher.My favorite actor is German.
Nuance and usage tips
🎭 Schauspieler is the standard word for actor in both film and stage contexts. It can refer to anyone who acts professionally, from theater to Hollywood.
📺 You’ll often hear Filmschauspieler (film actor), Theaterschauspieler (stage actor), and even Fernsehschauspieler (TV actor) when someone wants to be more specific.
⚠️ When referring to a female actor, Germans often say Schauspielerin, but in casual speech, people may use Schauspieler generically for both.
How does this word come up in real conversations?
“Der Schauspieler spielt die Rolle echt überzeugend.”The actor plays the role really convincingly.
“Ich glaube, die Schauspielerin hat mal in Berlin gewohnt.”I think the actress used to live in Berlin.
“Kennst du einen guten deutschen Schauspieler?”Do you know a good German actor?
Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)
Nina: Wer ist dein Lieblingsschauspieler?Leo: Ich mag Daniel Brühl sehr gern.Nina: Oh, der ist super! Kennst du „Good Bye, Lenin!“?Leo: Klar, das war sein Durchbruch.
Translation:Nina: Who’s your favorite actor?Leo: I really like Daniel Brühl.Nina: Oh, he’s great! Do you know “Good Bye, Lenin!”?Leo: Of course - that was his breakthrough.
Grammatical case examples
Nominative:Der Schauspieler ist sehr bekannt.The actor is very well-known.
Accusative:Ich habe den Schauspieler im Theater gesehen.I saw the actor at the theater.
Dative:Mit dem Schauspieler habe ich gesprochen.I spoke with the actor.
Genitive:Der Erfolg des Schauspielers war beeindruckend.The actor’s success was impressive.
Other ways to say actor in German
Schauspieler is the most direct and formal word for actor in German, but you may also hear Darsteller (performer) in movie credits or reviews, especially when focusing on the portrayal itself. In some modern or informal contexts, Performer (borrowed from English) may be used, but it often has a broader or different connotation.
In children’s plays or amateur theater, you might hear Mitspieler (co-actor), but Schauspieler is always the safe, standard word.
Word variations and tidbits
Common combinations include Hauptdarsteller (lead actor), Nebendarsteller (supporting actor), Schauspielschule (acting school), and Schauspielkunst (the art of acting). You’ll also hear Schauspielerei to refer to the profession or practice of acting in general.
🧠 Fun fact: The word comes from schauen (to look) and Spiel (play) - a person who plays for an audience. Unlike English, which separates “play” (theater) and “game,” the German word Spiel covers both.
📘 Duden entry for Schauspieler🎥 Want to play a leading role in your German learning journey? Our video course teaches you the top 1000 nouns - with clear examples, printables, and plenty of drama (the good kind).
Ready for more German Words of the Day?Do you know what Puls means? It’s what rises when the curtain lifts.And what about Scheidung? Sometimes the drama is real - long before the Schauspieler arrive.
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