die Oberin
superior
A woman who leads a community of nuns or a convent.
EXAMPLE
Die Schwestern wählten eine neue Oberin für ihr Kloster.
The sisters elected a new superior for their convent.
die Oberin
superior / matron
die Oberin, die Oberinnen
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Meanings
die Oberin
matron
A senior nurse responsible for the nursing staff of a hospital. This job title is less commonly used today.
EXAMPLE
Die Oberin des Krankenhauses war für die Ausbildung und den Einsatz der Krankenschwestern zuständig.
The hospital matron was responsible for training the nurses and assigning their duties.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Oberin, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Oberinnen |
| genitive | der Oberin |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Oberin | die Oberinnen |
| accusative | die Oberin | die Oberinnen |
| dative | der Oberin | den Oberinnen |
| genitive | der Oberin | der Oberinnen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Oberin' (superior / matron) is a feminine term for a person, formed from the root 'ober' (upper), and refers to a woman in a leadership position. This part of the word indicates her authority within a community or field of work.
EXAMPLE
Die Oberin leitete die Gemeinschaft mit großer Erfahrung.
The superior led the community with great experience.
Religious context
In its religious sense, 'Oberin' (superior) often appears in connection with a convent, nuns, or a religious community. Typical expressions include 'eine Oberin wählen' (to elect a superior), 'die Oberin des Klosters' (the superior of the convent), and 'unter der Leitung der Oberin' (under the leadership of the superior).
EXAMPLE
Die Oberin des Klosters begrüßte die neuen Schwestern.
The superior of the convent welcomed the new sisters.
Older job title
The hospital sense of 'Oberin' (matron) is mainly found in older or historical professional language and is less common today. Words such as 'Krankenhaus' (hospital), 'Pflegepersonal' (nursing staff), 'Krankenschwestern' (nurses), or 'Ausbildung' (training) provide clues to this meaning.
EXAMPLE
In alten Krankenhausromanen wacht eine strenge Oberin über die jungen Schwestern.
In old hospital novels, a strict matron watches over the young nurses.
In real life
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