heiress
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heiress
A female person who legally receives another person's wealth, property, or title after that person's death.
Als alleinige Erbin übernahm sie das Unternehmen ihres Vaters.
As the sole heiress, she took over her father's company.
heiress
In a figurative sense: a female person who carries on someone's intellectual or cultural tradition.
Sie gilt als die geistige Erbin der berühmten Schriftstellerin.
She is considered the intellectual heiress of the famous writer.
'Erbin' (heiress) belongs to the word family of 'erben' (to inherit) and 'das Erbe' (the inheritance / heritage). The ending '-in' indicates that it refers to a female person.
Nach dem Tod ihres Onkels wurde sie zur Erbin eines kleinen Vermögens.
After her uncle's death, she became the heiress to a small fortune.
Most often, 'Erbin' (heiress) is followed by a genitive that indicates what is being inherited. The person from whom something is inherited can also be in the genitive.
Sie ist die alleinige Erbin des riesigen Anwesens.
She is the sole heiress to the huge estate.
The figurative meaning is almost always signaled by an adjective such as 'geistig' (intellectual/spiritual) or 'kulturell' (cultural). If such an adjective is missing, the legal meaning is usually intended.
Die junge Musikerin wird als die geistige Erbin von Clara Schumann gefeiert.
The young musician is celebrated as the intellectual heiress of Clara Schumann.
successor
Both words can refer to a woman who carries something on from another person. Nachfolgerin emphasizes that she takes over the other person's position or function, while Erbin additionally highlights an inherited intellectual or cultural tradition. Use Nachfolgerin for the role and Erbin for the inherited continuity.
Mara gilt als Erbin ihrer Lehrerin und führt deren musikalische Tradition weiter.
Mara is regarded as her teacher's heiress and carries on her musical tradition.
Mara wurde die Nachfolgerin ihrer Lehrerin und übernahm deren Musikschule.
Mara became her teacher's successor and took over her music school.
