successor
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successor
A person who takes over an office, position, or function from someone else.
Das Unternehmen sucht einen geeigneten Nachfolger für den in Rente gehenden Geschäftsführer.
The company is looking for a suitable successor for the managing director who is retiring.
successor
A product, model, or version that replaces an earlier product.
Das neue Smartphone ist der offizielle Nachfolger des sehr erfolgreichen Vorgängermodells.
The new smartphone is the official successor to the very successful previous model.
successor / heir
A person who follows someone in a line of succession, especially the heir to a throne or title.
Der Kronprinz wurde schon in jungen Jahren auf seine Rolle als Nachfolger des Königs vorbereitet.
The crown prince was prepared from a young age for his role as the king's successor.
The word is made up of 'nach' (after) and 'folgen' (to follow). A Nachfolger is therefore literally someone or something that 'nachfolgt' (follows after).
Wer wird dem alten Bürgermeister im Amt nachfolgen?
Who will succeed the old mayor in office?
To say whose successor someone is or what someone is the successor for, you use the prepositions 'von' (of/from) or 'für' (for). With a position or office, 'in' (+ dative) or 'im' is often used.
Er ist der Nachfolger von Herrn Meier.
He is Mr. Meier's successor.
The context makes it clear whether a person or a product is meant. Words like 'Firma' (company) or 'Amt' (office) point to a person, while 'Modell' (model) or 'Technik' (technology) refer to a product.
Der Nachfolger des alten iPhones hat eine bessere Kamera.
The successor to the old iPhone has a better camera.
In a professional context, a 'Nachfolger' is often 'gesucht' (sought), 'gefunden' (found), or 'eingearbeitet' (trained/onboarded). A person can also 'die Nachfolge antreten' (take over the succession).
Die neue Mitarbeiterin wird die Nachfolge von Frau Schmidt antreten.
The new employee will succeed Ms. Schmidt.
predecessor
Nachfolger (successor) and Vorgänger (predecessor) refer to people who held the same position, but from opposite points of view in time. The Nachfolger takes over the position later; the Vorgänger held it previously. What matters, then, is which direction you look in within the sequence.
Herr Klein ist der Nachfolger des bisherigen Direktors.
Mr. Klein is the successor to the former director.
Herr Braun ist der Vorgänger des neuen Direktors.
Mr. Braun is the predecessor of the new director.
