captain
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captain
An officer rank in the military, especially in the army and air force. A Hauptmann typically leads a company and ranks between an Oberleutnant and a Major.
Der Hauptmann gab den Befehl zum Abmarsch.
The captain gave the order to march out.
The word is made up of 'Haupt' (head, leader) and 'Mann' (man). A 'Hauptmann' is therefore literally the 'main man' or leader of a group, which applies to all meanings.
Der Hauptmann der Wache war für die Sicherheit verantwortlich.
The captain of the guard was responsible for security.
This meaning is often found in historical or literary texts. A very typical compound in this context is 'der Räuberhauptmann' (the robber captain).
In der Legende war Robin Hood der Hauptmann seiner Bande von Geächteten.
In the legend, Robin Hood was the leader of his band of outlaws.
The term 'Hauptmann' (captain) for the captain of a sports team is very rare today and is considered outdated. You hear it almost only in old reports or films.
In dem alten Sportbericht wurde der Hauptmann der Nationalmannschaft interviewt.
In the old sports report, the captain of the national team was interviewed.
captain
'der Kapitän' and 'der Hauptmann' can both refer to a leader, especially of a group or team. They can be confused because 'Hauptmann' can also be used, historically or regionally, for the captain of a sports team. In modern standard German, however, people normally say 'Kapitän' in sports. 'Hauptmann' sounds old-fashioned or regional in this sense. Also, 'Hauptmann' is often connected to the military, while 'Kapitän' is very natural in sports.
In dem alten Roman führt der Hauptmann eine kleine Gruppe von Soldaten an.
In the old novel, the captain leads a small group of soldiers.
Der Kapitän spricht vor dem Spiel kurz mit seiner Mannschaft.
The captain speaks briefly with his team before the game.