minister
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minister
A woman who, as a member of the government, is in charge of a particular department or ministry.
Die Umweltministerin hat neue Maßnahmen zum Klimaschutz vorgestellt.
The environment minister presented new measures for climate protection.
To name a minister's exact department, the word is often combined with the area of responsibility. Examples are 'Außenministerin' (foreign minister), 'Verteidigungsministerin' (defense minister), or 'Justizministerin' (justice minister).
Die Außenministerin reist morgen zu wichtigen Verhandlungen ins Ausland.
The foreign minister is traveling abroad tomorrow for important negotiations.
'Ministerin' is the feminine form of 'der Minister' (the minister). The ending '-in' is often used in German to form the feminine form of job titles and personal designations.
In der neuen Regierung gibt es mehr Ministerinnen als Minister.
In the new government, there are more female ministers than male ministers.
To describe a minister's department without using a compound word, you use the preposition 'für' followed by the accusative.
Sie ist die neue Ministerin für Familie und Jugend.
She is the new minister for family and youth.
state secretary
Both women can be publicly responsible for the work of a ministry or a political department. A Ministerin heads the ministry, while a Staatssekretärin ranks below her in the hierarchy and supports or represents her there. When the focus is on leading the department, Ministerin is the better choice.
Die Ministerin stellte heute den neuen Plan für ihr Ministerium vor.
The minister presented the new plan for her ministry today.
Die Staatssekretärin stellte heute den neuen Plan im Auftrag der Ministerin vor.
The state secretary presented the new plan today on behalf of the minister.
