navigator
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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
An electronic device or software for route planning and navigation, short for navigation system.
Mein Navigator im Auto hat mich zuverlässig ans Ziel geführt.
My navigator in the car guided me reliably to my destination.
'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.
helmsman / coxswain
The Steuermann steers a ship directly using the helm and keeps it on course. The Navigator, by contrast, mainly determines the position and the appropriate course. Steuermann is the right word for the person at the helm, while Navigator is more appropriate for planning and determining the route.
Der Navigator bestimmte anhand der Position den Kurs für die nächste Etappe.
The navigator used the position to determine the course for the next leg.
Der Steuermann hielt das Schiff trotz des starken Windes sicher auf Kurs.
The helmsman kept the ship safely on course despite the strong wind.
