die Autorin
author
A woman who writes literary, academic, or journalistic texts professionally or as a hobby.
EXAMPLE
Die Autorin liest heute Abend aus ihrem neuen Roman vor.
The author is reading from her new novel this evening.
die Autorin
author
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Meanings
die Autorin
originator
A woman who is considered the originator or initiator of an idea, plan, or work.
EXAMPLE
Sie gilt als die geistige Autorin der gesamten Gesetzesreform.
She is considered the intellectual originator of the entire legal reform.
Usage tips
Word structure
'Autorin' (female author) is the feminine form of 'der Autor' (the male author). The ending '-in' is the most common way in German to form the feminine form of professional titles and terms for people.
EXAMPLE
Meine Lieblingsautorin hat gerade ein neues Buch veröffentlicht.
My favorite author has just published a new book.
Context clue
You can recognize the second, figurative meaning by the fact that it is not about texts, but about abstract things like ideas, plans, or reforms. The adjective 'geistig' (intellectual) often comes before it.
EXAMPLE
Die Journalistin ist die Autorin dieses kritischen Artikels.
The journalist is the author of this critical article.
Typical collocations
In its main meaning, 'Autorin' (female author) is often combined with the type of texts she writes. Examples are: 'Kinderbuchautorin' (children's book author), 'Romanautorin' (novelist), or 'Bestsellerautorin' (bestselling author).
EXAMPLE
Die Bestsellerautorin gibt morgen eine Signierstunde in der Buchhandlung.
The bestselling author is holding a book signing at the bookstore tomorrow.
Compare with
Autorin vs Schriftstellerin
female writer
Both Schriftstellerin and Autorin can refer to a woman who writes literary works. Schriftstellerin emphasizes literary activity, whereas Autorin has a broader meaning and can also refer to the creator of a single work or of nonfiction texts. For novels, Schriftstellerin is often the better fit; for a specific work, Autorin is usually more appropriate.
Autorin
Die Autorin des neuen Romans stellt ihr Werk heute in der Buchhandlung vor.
The author of the new novel is presenting her work at the bookstore today.
Schriftstellerin
Die Schriftstellerin arbeitet seit Jahren an ihrem neuen Roman.
The writer has been working on her new novel for years.
In real life
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