Today’s word is Professor, which looks and sounds exactly like the English professor. But in Germany, it’s not just a job — it’s a title, a status, and in some cases, a slightly humorous nickname.

Professor is a masculine noun, so the correct article is der — der Professor. The feminine form is die Professorin. Want to stop second-guessing which article goes with what? Our 5-minute crash course makes gender in German surprisingly easy to remember.

Real conversations where Professor might come up

The word Professor in German is reserved for people who hold that specific academic title — usually at a university. It’s not used as broadly as in American English, where it can apply to any college instructor.

– Mein Bruder ist jetzt Professor für Physik.
(“My brother is now a professor of physics.”)

Or in a more casual way:

– Na, wieder der kleine Professor, was?
(“Well, the little professor again, huh?” — teasing a know-it-all child)

Beginner sample dialogue

Lena: Wer ist das da vorne?
Tom: Das ist unser Professor für Geschichte.
Lena: Sieht nett aus. Ich hoffe, er redet langsam.

(Lena: Who’s that up front?
Tom: That’s our professor for history.
Lena: Looks nice. I hope he speaks slowly.)

Grammar in action: How to use Professor

• Nominative: Der Professor erklärt die Theorie.
  (The professor explains the theory.)

• Accusative: Ich sehe den Professor jeden Dienstag.
  (I see the professor every Tuesday.)

• Dative: Ich stelle dem Professor eine Frage.
  (I ask the professor a question.)

• Genitive: Das Buch des Professors ist sehr bekannt.
  (The professor’s book is very well known.)

Still finding German case endings tricky? Our friendly grammar course explains everything clearly — no jargon, just real-life examples.

Other ways Professor is used in German

• Professor Doktor Müller – Yes, in Germany it’s common (and correct) to stack academic titles.

• emeritierter Professor – emeritus professor (retired but keeps the title)

• Honorarprofessor – honorary professor (non-salaried title)

• Lehrstuhl für Mathematik – chair of mathematics (the position a professor might hold)

• die Professorin – female professor

Slang or figurative use:

• kleiner Professor – nickname for a precocious or nerdy child

• Er spielt den Professor. – “He acts like he knows everything.”

Word variations and tidbits

In German, Professor is a protected academic title. You can’t just call someone Professor unless they officially hold that title at a recognized university. Even schoolteachers at Gymnasien are never called Professor.

Also important: In Germany, many university instructors are Dozenten (lecturers) or Privatdozenten (independent lecturers). Not all of them are Professoren.

You may also hear:

• der Assistenzprofessor – assistant professor

• der Juniorprofessor – junior professor (tenure track)

• die Berufung zum Professor – appointment to a professorship

Duden entry:
https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Professor

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