candidate
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candidate
A woman who applies for an office, position, or prize, or is nominated for one.
Die Kandidatin überzeugte im Vorstellungsgespräch mit ihrer Fachkompetenz.
The candidate impressed in the interview with her professional expertise.
The word comes from the Latin 'candidatus', meaning 'the one dressed in white'. In ancient Rome, applicants for political office wore a white toga to show their purity and suitability.
Als Kandidatin für das Bürgermeisteramt hielt sie eine Rede auf dem Marktplatz.
As a candidate for the office of mayor, she gave a speech in the marketplace.
The two meanings are very similar. The context makes the difference: words like 'Amt' (office), 'Stelle' (position/job), or 'Wahl' (election) point to an applicant. Words like 'Prüfung' (exam), 'Test' (test), or 'Show' (show) point to a participant.
Es gibt drei Kandidatinnen für die freie Stelle in der Marketingabteilung.
There are three candidates for the vacant position in the marketing department.
To express what someone is applying for, the preposition 'für' (for) is used with the accusative.
Sie ist die aussichtsreichste Kandidatin für den Posten der Geschäftsführerin.
She is the most promising candidate for the position of managing director.
participant
'die Kandidatin' and 'die Teilnehmerin' can both refer to a woman who takes part in something. The difference lies in the goal. A 'Teilnehmerin' simply takes part in an event, course, or competition. A 'Kandidatin' applies for something, is nominated for something, or takes an exam. Learners may confuse the words because a candidate is often also a participant. But not every participant is a candidate. When selection, an office, a prize, or an exam is important, 'Kandidatin' fits better.
Die Kandidatin beantwortete die Fragen der Prüfungskommission sehr ruhig.
The candidate answered the examination committee's questions very calmly.
Eine Teilnehmerin des Kurses hat gestern ihre Unterlagen vergessen.
A participant in the course forgot her documents yesterday.