supervisor / guard
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supervisor
A person whose job is to supervise a place, an activity, or a group of people in order to maintain order and ensure that rules are followed.
Der Aufseher im Museum achtete darauf, dass niemand die Kunstwerke berührte.
The supervisor in the museum made sure that no one touched the artworks.
guard
A person who works in a prison and guards the prisoners; a correctional officer.
Der Aufseher führte den Gefangenen zurück in seine Zelle.
The guard led the prisoner back to his cell.
The word is made up of the verb 'aufsehen' (to look up) and the ending '-er'. An 'Aufseher' (supervisor/guard) is literally a person who 'looks' 'over' something or someone, meaning supervises or monitors them.
Der Aufseher der Baustelle kontrolliert die Sicherheitsvorschriften.
The construction site supervisor checks the safety regulations.
You can always tell what kind of 'Aufseher' (supervisor/guard) is meant from the context. Words like 'Museum' (museum), 'Park' (park), or 'Prüfung' (exam) point to a general supervisory role. The word 'Gefängnis' (prison) clearly refers to a correctional officer.
Im Schwimmbad sorgt ein Aufseher für die Sicherheit am Beckenrand.
At the swimming pool, a supervisor ensures safety at the poolside.
To describe the role more precisely, 'Aufseher' (supervisor) is often combined with the place or area being supervised. Examples are 'Museumsaufseher' (museum attendant), 'Bauaufseher' (construction supervisor), or 'Saalaufseher' (hall attendant).
Der Bauaufseher hat die Arbeiten wegen Sicherheitsmängeln gestoppt.
The construction supervisor stopped the work because of safety deficiencies.
guard
Both words can refer to a person responsible for safety and order in a place. Wächter emphasizes guarding and protecting against danger or unauthorized entry, while Aufseher focuses on controlling people, activities, and rules. Choose Aufseher when supervisory control is the main focus.
Der Aufseher kontrollierte, ob die Besucher die Regeln im Museum einhielten.
The supervisor checked whether the visitors followed the museum's rules.
Der Wächter passte auf, dass niemand durch das verschlossene Tor gelangte.
The guard made sure that no one got through the locked gate.
