know-it-all / senior teacher
Loading your saved state.
know-it-all
A usually derogatory term for a person who treats others in a lecturing, pedantic, and condescending way and always thinks they know better.
Hör auf, dich wie ein Oberlehrer aufzuführen, ich kann das schon allein!
Stop acting like such a know-it-all; I can do it on my own!
The word consists of 'Ober-' (meaning 'above' or 'higher-ranking') and 'Lehrer' (teacher). This compound explains both the historical meaning of a higher-ranking teacher and the modern, derogatory meaning of a person who puts themselves above others.
Er hat immer einen Kommentar parat, ein echter Oberlehrer.
He always has a comment ready, a real know-it-all.
In today's everyday language, 'Oberlehrer' (know-it-all) is used almost exclusively in a negative and derogatory way. It is an insult for someone who behaves in a lecturing and know-it-all manner.
Sei doch nicht immer so ein Oberlehrer und lass mich meine eigenen Fehler machen.
Don't always be such a know-it-all and let me make my own mistakes.
The word is often used in comparisons or as a characterization. Typical formulations are 'sich aufführen wie ein Oberlehrer' (to act like a know-it-all) or 'ein Oberlehrer sein' (to be a know-it-all).
Mein Kollege führt sich manchmal auf wie ein Oberlehrer.
My colleague sometimes acts like a know-it-all.
The historical, neutral meaning as an official title is very rare today. You can usually recognize it from signal words that point to a past era, such as 'früher' (in the past), 'im 19. Jahrhundert' (in the 19th century), or 'preußisch' (Prussian).
In alten Dokumenten fand er heraus, dass sein Urgroßvater Oberlehrer an einem Gymnasium war.
In old documents, he found out that his great-grandfather was a senior teacher at a Gymnasium.
Gymnasium teacher
'der Gymnasiallehrer' and 'der Oberlehrer' can both have to do with school and teachers, but today they are not the same. A Gymnasiallehrer is a teacher at a Gymnasium. 'Oberlehrer' used to be an official title at higher secondary schools, but today it is usually used negatively. In that case, it means a person who constantly lectures others and feels superior. The words can be confusing because 'Oberlehrer' sounds like a normal teaching profession. In everyday modern German, 'Gymnasiallehrer' is the correct word for the profession; 'Oberlehrer' is usually a criticism of someone’s behavior.
Tom wirkt manchmal wie ein Oberlehrer, weil er alle ständig verbessert.
Tom sometimes comes across like a know-it-all because he constantly corrects everyone.
Der Gymnasiallehrer bereitet seine Klasse auf das Abitur vor.
The Gymnasium teacher is preparing his class for the Abitur.