der Mächtige
powerful person
A person who has great power or influence, especially a ruler or an influential person.
EXAMPLE
Der Mächtige entschied über das Schicksal des ganzen Landes.
The powerful person decided the fate of the entire country.
der Mächtige
powerful person
die Mächtige, die Mächtigen
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Meanings
Forms
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Mächtigen |
| genitive | der Mächtigen |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Mächtige | die Mächtigen |
| accusative | die Mächtige | die Mächtigen |
| dative | der Mächtigen | den Mächtigen |
| genitive | der Mächtigen | der Mächtigen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Nominalized adjective
'Mächtige' (powerful person) is a nominalized adjective: the adjective 'mächtig' (powerful) is used to refer to a person and is therefore capitalized. For a man, you say 'der Mächtige' (the powerful man); for a woman, 'die Mächtige' (the powerful woman).
EXAMPLE
Der Mächtige ließ die Stadtmauer verstärken.
The powerful person ordered the city wall to be reinforced.
Elevated style
'Der Mächtige' (the powerful person) usually sounds elevated, solemn, or literary and often appears in historical, political, or religious texts.
EXAMPLE
Im alten Märchen musste der Mächtige am Ende seine Schuld eingestehen.
In the old fairy tale, the powerful person ultimately had to admit his guilt.
Typical collocations
The word is very often used in the plural, especially in the fixed expressions 'die Mächtigen dieser Welt' (the powerful people of this world) and 'die Reichen und Mächtigen' (the rich and powerful). These refer to people with great political or economic power.
EXAMPLE
Beim Gipfeltreffen kamen die Mächtigen dieser Welt zusammen.
The powerful people of this world gathered at the summit.
Die Zeitschrift berichtet über das Leben der Reichen und Mächtigen.
The magazine reports on the lives of the rich and powerful.
In real life
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