commissioner / inspector
Loading your saved state.
detective inspector
A senior criminal police officer who is responsible for solving crimes. The female form is 'die Kommissarin' (female detective inspector).
Der Kommissar befragte den Zeugen am Tatort.
The detective inspector questioned the witness at the crime scene.
The meaning of 'Kommissar' depends strongly on the topic. In a crime story, it is a police officer; in news about politics, often an EU official; and in a history book, an official or functionary.
Der Kommissar für digitale Wirtschaft hat heute eine Rede gehalten.
The commissioner for the digital economy gave a speech today.
The word belongs to a family of related terms. The female form is 'die Kommissarin' (female commissioner / detective inspector). The special police department where criminal investigators work is called 'das Kommissariat' (police station / criminal investigation department).
Die neue Kommissarin leitet die Ermittlungen.
The new detective inspector is leading the investigation.
In the context of police work, 'Kommissar' is often used with certain verbs. Typical examples are: 'Der Kommissar ermittelt' (the detective inspector investigates), 'er befragt Zeugen' (he questions witnesses), or 'er löst einen Fall' (he solves a case).
Der Kommissar ermittelt in einem komplizierten Mordfall.
The detective inspector is investigating a complicated murder case.
When 'Kommissar' is mentioned in politics, it usually means a member of the European Commission. The area of responsibility is often named, e.g. 'der Kommissar für Handel' (the commissioner for trade).
Die Kommissarin für Energie hat neue Klimaziele vorgestellt.
The commissioner for energy presented new climate goals.
police officer
'der Polizist' and 'der Kommissar' both have to do with the police, but they do not mean the same thing. A Polizist is generally a police officer and can have many duties, for example directing traffic, protecting people, or taking reports. A Kommissar is a detective inspector with a specific role in solving crimes. Learners may confuse the words because both can work for the police. As a guide: 'Polizist' is the general term, while 'Kommissar' is more specific and is especially used in the context of criminal investigations.
Der Kommissar befragt nach dem Einbruch mehrere Zeugen.
After the break-in, the detective inspector questions several witnesses.
Ein Polizist zeigt den Kindern, wie sie sicher über die Straße gehen.
A police officer shows the children how to cross the street safely.