21 December 2025
How do you say soldier in German?
The German word for soldier is der Soldat.Soldat in German is used for members of the armed forces in general, and appears in everything from World War history to discussions about modern military service. The feminine form is die Soldatin, and both versions are commonly used in media, literature, and official language.
It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German (and available as a free illustrated PDF to support your vocabulary building).
Gender and Pronunciation
It’s a masculine noun: der Soldat.The feminine version is die Soldatin. Soldat is an n-noun: den/dem/des Soldaten (plural: die Soldaten).Want help with gender once and for all? This video lesson walks you through patterns and tips that work.
Pronunciation:Soldat is pronounced [zol-DAHT]
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“zol” has a voiced s as in zoo and a short German o; American doll is only a rough approximation.
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“DAHT” with a long “ah,” as in “father”Two syllables: zol-DAHT
Example sentences
Der Soldat steht an der Grenze.
The soldier is standing at the border.
Viele Soldaten wurden im Ausland eingesetzt.
Many soldiers were deployed abroad.
Sie ist seit zwei Jahren Soldatin.
She has been a soldier for two years.
How does this word come up in real conversations?
“Warst du früher Soldat?”
Were you a soldier before?
“Die Soldaten kehrten nach Hause zurück.”
The soldiers returned home.
“Ich finde, Soldaten verdienen Respekt.”
I think soldiers deserve respect.
Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)
Paul: Was macht dein Bruder beruflich?Mira: Er ist Soldat bei der Bundeswehr.Paul: Und wo ist er stationiert?Mira: Momentan in Köln.
Translation:Paul: What does your brother do for a living?Mira: He’s a soldier in the German military.Paul: And where is he stationed?Mira: Currently in Cologne.
Grammatical case examples
Nominative:Der Soldat marschiert.
The soldier is marching.
Accusative:Ich sehe den Soldaten dort drüben.
I see the soldier over there.
Dative:Mit dem Soldaten habe ich gesprochen.
I spoke with the soldier.
Genitive:Die Uniform des Soldaten war sauber.
The soldier’s uniform was clean.
Other ways to say soldier in German
While Soldat is the standard word for soldier in German, there are variations depending on rank or context. Krieger is an old-fashioned or poetic word for warrior, often used in literature. Militärangehöriger (military member) is more formal or bureaucratic. Specific branches like Infanterist (infantryman) or Offizier (officer) are used when discussing roles in detail. Still, Soldat is the most neutral and universal term.
Word variations and tidbits
Soldat shows up in compound words like Berufssoldat (career soldier), Zeitsoldat (soldier serving a fixed term), and Soldatenfriedhof (military cemetery); the barracks are die Kaserne. In Germany, Bundeswehr is the name of the federal defense force, and Wehrpflicht means compulsory military service; Wehrdienst means military service. Germany suspended compulsory basic service in 2011. The system introduced in 2026 relies on voluntary service, with compulsory registration steps for men and a possible Bedarfswehrpflicht requiring a further law. The phrase wie ein Soldat funktionieren is a figurative comparison, rather than a fixed idiom.
📘 Duden entry for Soldat🎥 Want to build your German vocabulary like a disciplined Soldat? Our free video course teaches the top 1000 German nouns - with structure, examples, and a printable PDF.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?Do you know what Socke means? It’s what keeps a Soldat‘s feet warm.And what about Sohn? That’s who many Soldaten miss most.
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