colonist
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colonist
A person who settles in a new, often distant area (a colony) in order to live there and cultivate the land. Historically often connected with the displacement of the native population.
Die ersten europäischen Kolonisten in Australien waren meist britische Strafgefangene.
The first European colonists in Australia were mostly British convicts.
'Der Kolonist' (the colonist) belongs to the word family around 'die Kolonie' (the colony/settled area) and 'kolonisieren' (to colonize). The ending '-ist' refers to a person who carries out this action.
Die Kolonisten gründeten eine neue Siedlung am Fluss.
The colonists founded a new settlement by the river.
The word 'Kolonist' (colonist) is used almost exclusively for people in a historical context. For people who move to another country today, other terms are used.
Das Museum zeigt das Leben der ersten Kolonisten im 18. Jahrhundert.
The museum shows the life of the first colonists in the 18th century.
There are two types of colonists: settlers in overseas territories (e.g., in America) and settlers who were deliberately settled within their own country (e.g., in Prussia). The geographic context in the sentence makes the difference clear.
Die spanischen Kolonisten brachten neue Pflanzen nach Südamerika.
The Spanish colonists brought new plants to South America.
Today, the term 'Kolonist' (colonist) is often viewed critically. It is closely connected with the history of colonialism, which also included exploitation and the displacement of Indigenous populations.
Die Beziehung zwischen den Kolonisten und der einheimischen Bevölkerung war oft von Konflikten geprägt.
The relationship between the colonists and the native population was often marked by conflict.
immigrant
'Einwanderer' and 'Kolonist' can both refer to people who move to a new place and want to live there. But the difference is significant. An 'Einwanderer' (immigrant) moves to a foreign country and becomes part of society there. A 'Kolonist' (colonist) usually belongs to a historical context: he settles in a colony or in an area that is being deliberately settled. This often also involves land, power, and sometimes the displacement of the people who already live there. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with settlement. In everyday modern usage, 'Einwanderer' is usually the right word for a person who moves to another country. 'Kolonist' fits better with history and colonies.
Im Geschichtsbuch steht, dass der Kolonist neues Land bewirtschaften sollte.
The history book says that the colonist was supposed to cultivate new land.
Als Einwanderer musste Mehmet am Anfang viele Formulare ausfüllen.
As an immigrant, Mehmet had to fill out many forms at first.