01
der Gewinner
winner
A person, team, or organization that wins a competition, game, or fight.
example
Der Gewinner des Hauptpreises wurde aus tausenden Einsendungen gezogen.
The winner of the grand prize was drawn from thousands of entries.
der Gewinner
winner
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word formation
'Gewinner' (winner) is derived directly from the verb 'gewinnen' (to win). The ending '-er' is a typical German way to indicate a male person who performs this action.
EXAMPLE
Wer gewinnt das Spiel, ist der Gewinner.
Whoever wins the game is the winner.
Sentence structure with genitive
To say what someone is the winner of, German usually uses the genitive. This is typical of formal or written language.
EXAMPLE
Der Gewinner des Wettbewerbs erhält eine Reise nach Berlin.
The winner of the competition receives a trip to Berlin.
Abstract use
In economic or political discussions, 'Gewinner' (winner/beneficiary) often refers to a person or group that benefits from a development without having taken part in a direct competition.
EXAMPLE
Die Gewinner der Krise waren Online-Händler.
The beneficiaries of the crisis were online retailers.
Compare with
Gewinner vs Meister
master / champion
'der Meister' and 'der Gewinner' can both have to do with winning. In sports, 'Meister' usually means the winner of a championship, so often of a larger series of games or a season. 'Gewinner' is more general and fits many situations: a game, a prize, a competition, or even someone who benefits from a situation. The words can be confused because a Meister is also a Gewinner. But 'Gewinner' only says that someone has won or benefited; 'Meister' says more specifically that it is about a championship.
Gewinner
Der Gewinner der Verlosung bekommt zwei Karten für das Konzert.
The winner of the raffle gets two tickets to the concert.
Meister
Der Verein ist nach einer starken Saison verdient Meister geworden.
After a strong season, the club deservedly became champion.
In real life
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