21 December 2025
How to Say President in German - And Use It Well
In every news cycle, in history books, in heated dinner table debates - the word president comes up again and again. That’s why today’s German Word of the Day is a must-have for learners of all levels: der Präsident. It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German (you can download our free illustrated PDF of all 1000 there), and it pops up in politics, media, organizations, and beyond.
Der Präsident is used not just for heads of state, but also for leaders of universities, courts, clubs, and other institutions. It’s a masculine noun - and if you’re still getting tripped up on German gender, we’ve got a short video lesson that clears up der, die, das quickly and painlessly (especially if grammar isn’t your thing).
The word is pronounced something like preh-zee-DENT, with a strong final t. The feminine German form is die Präsidentin; English president can refer to a person of any gender. Germany’s Federal President has representative duties as well as constitutional powers. The Bundespräsident is Germany’s head of state, while the Bundeskanzler (Federal Chancellor) heads the federal government.
One thing to keep in mind: Germans also use the word Vorsitzender in contexts where English speakers might say “chairperson” or “head,” so it’s good to learn both. Useful phrases include Präsident werden (to become president) and den Präsidenten wählen (to elect the president).
You’ll find Präsident in many compounds:
- Bundespräsident - Federal President
- Gerichtspräsident - president of a court
- Vereinspräsident - Club president
Watch the endings - Präsident is an n-noun: den Präsidenten, dem Präsidenten, des Präsidenten; plural die Präsidenten. For example:
- “Das ist eine Entscheidung des Präsidenten.” - “That’s a decision made by the president.”
Beginner Dialogue
Sophie: Wer wählt den Bundespräsidenten?Jonas: Die Bundesversammlung.
TranslationSophie: Who elects the Federal President?Jonas: The Federal Convention.
Duden entry:https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Praesident
Want more essential vocabulary?Check out Presse - a word that holds real power.Or Professor - for titles, prestige, and the academic elite.
Viel Erfolg beim Deutschlernen - keep going strong with der Präsident!
Free download
Get the 1000 Most Frequently Used German Nouns ebook - free.
Leave your email and I’ll send you a link to the ebook. You’ll also get my occasional German-learning tips. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Comments
Loading comments…