der Leiter
leader
A person who leads a group, department, or organization and is responsible for it.
EXAMPLE
Der Leiter der Marketingabteilung hat das neue Projekt vorgestellt.
The head of the marketing department presented the new project.
der Leiter
leader / conductor
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
der Leiter
conductor
A material or object that conducts electric current well.
EXAMPLE
Kupfer ist ein ausgezeichneter elektrischer Leiter.
Copper is an excellent electrical conductor.
der Leiter
conductor
A substance that transmits heat, sound, or other physical forms of energy.
EXAMPLE
Metalle sind in der Regel gute Wärmeleiter, während Holz ein schlechter ist.
Metals are generally good conductors of heat, while wood is a poor one.
Usage tips
Word family
The noun 'der Leiter' is derived directly from the verb 'leiten' (to lead / to conduct). This connection helps you understand all the meanings: a person leads a group, and a material conducts electricity or heat.
EXAMPLE
Wer leitet dieses Projekt?
Who is leading this project?
Context clue
You can tell from the context whether a person or a material is meant. If it is about companies, departments, or teams, it is a person. If it is about physics, technology, or materials like metals, it is an electrical or thermal conductor.
EXAMPLE
Der Leiter unserer Personalabteilung geht bald in Rente.
The head of our HR department is retiring soon.
Sentence structure
To say what a person leads, the genitive or the preposition 'von' with the dative is usually used. So the structure is 'Leiter des/der...' (head/leader of the...) or 'Leiter von...' (head/leader of...).
EXAMPLE
Er ist der Leiter des Chors.
He is the leader of the choir.
Typical collocations
In the physical meaning, 'Leiter' is often combined with an adjective that describes the property. Common combinations are 'elektrischer Leiter' (electrical conductor), 'guter Leiter' (good conductor), or 'schlechter Leiter' (poor conductor).
EXAMPLE
Gold ist ein sehr guter elektrischer Leiter.
Gold is a very good electrical conductor.
Compare with
Leiter vs Chef
boss
Chef and Leiter can refer to the same person in charge. Leiter emphasizes the formal role and responsibility for a group or department, while Chef emphasizes the personal relationship with a superior and usually sounds less formal.
Leiter
Im offiziellen Organigramm steht Herr Weber als Leiter der Abteilung.
In the official organizational chart, Mr. Weber is listed as the head of the department.
Chef
Im Gespräch frage ich meinen Chef nach einem freien Tag.
During the conversation, I ask my boss for a day off.
In real life
Loading video examples...