navigator
Loading your saved state.
navigator
A person who is responsible for determining the position and course of a vehicle (e.g. a ship or aircraft).
Der Navigator des Schiffes plante die Route durch die gefährlichen Gewässer.
The ship's navigator planned the route through the dangerous waters.
'Navigator' belongs to the word family of 'navigieren' (to navigate). The ending '-or' often refers to a person or device that performs the action of the verb, similar to 'Motor' (from 'bewegen' (to move)) or 'Autor' (author).
Der Navigator muss das Schiff sicher durch den Sturm navigieren.
The navigator has to navigate the ship safely through the storm.
The meaning depends strongly on the context. In connection with ships, aircraft, or historical seafaring, it refers to the person. In everyday life, especially in a car or on a smartphone, it almost always means the electronic device.
Früher war der Navigator auf einem Schiff ein sehr wichtiger Beruf.
In the past, the navigator on a ship was a very important profession.
When the device is meant, 'Navigator' (navigator) is often combined with verbs such as 'einschalten' (to switch on), 'einstellen' (to set), 'eine Adresse eingeben' (to enter an address), or 'dem Navigator folgen' (to follow the navigator).
Folge einfach den Anweisungen, die der Navigator dir gibt.
Just follow the instructions that the navigator gives you.
For the electronic device, the short form 'das Navi' is almost always used in colloquial speech. Note that the article changes to 'das', derived from 'das Navigationssystem' (the navigation system).
Schalte bitte das Navi ein, ich kenne den Weg hier nicht.
Please switch on the sat nav; I don't know the way around here.
captain
'der Kapitän' and 'der Navigator' can both work on a ship or in an airplane. However, they have different tasks. The captain has command and is responsible for the vehicle, crew, and passengers. The navigator determines the position and the correct course. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with traveling, flying, and routes. Remember: the captain decides and leads; the navigator helps with the direction and route.
Der Navigator prüft die Karte, damit das Flugzeug den richtigen Kurs hält.
The navigator checks the map so that the airplane stays on the correct course.
Auf dem Schiff entscheidet der Kapitän, wann die Fahrt beginnt.
On the ship, the captain decides when the journey begins.