pioneer
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pioneer
A person who is among the first to explore, develop, or use a new field and thereby prepares the way for others.
Steve Jobs gilt als Pionier der Personal-Computer-Industrie.
Steve Jobs is considered a pioneer of the personal computer industry.
Other important terms are derived from the noun 'der Pionier' (pioneer), such as 'die Pionierin' (female pioneer), 'die Pionierarbeit' (pioneering work), or 'der Pioniergeist' (the courage to try something new).
Marie Curie leistete Pionierarbeit auf dem Gebiet der Radioaktivität.
Marie Curie did pioneering work in the field of radioactivity.
In the meaning of 'Wegbereiter' (trailblazer), the word is often used with 'gelten als' (to be considered) or 'sein' (to be). Someone is typically a pioneer 'auf einem Gebiet' (in a field), 'in der Forschung' (in research), or 'der modernen Kunst' (of modern art).
Er gilt als Pionier der digitalen Fotografie.
He is considered a pioneer of digital photography.
This meaning is almost always historical. When 'Pioniere' (pioneers) are mentioned in connection with the 19th century, the 'Wilde Westen' (Wild West), or the settlement of America, settlers are meant.
Das Leben der ersten Pioniere war hart und voller Gefahren.
The life of the first pioneers was hard and full of danger.
This meaning is limited to the military field. You can recognize it from words like 'Armee' (army), 'Soldaten' (soldiers), 'Bundeswehr' (German armed forces), 'Brücken bauen' (to build bridges), or 'Minen räumen' (to clear mines).
Die Pioniere sicherten das Gelände und entschärften die Sprengfallen.
The combat engineers secured the area and defused the booby traps.
inventor
'der Erfinder' and 'der Pionier' can both be connected with new ideas or new fields. Still, they do not mean the same thing. An inventor develops or discovers a new thing, for example a device or a method. A pioneer is one of the first people in a new field and prepares the way for others. So you can be a pioneer without having invented something specific yourself. The words are confused because both are connected with new things and progress.
In der Medizin gilt er als Pionier, weil er diese Behandlung als einer der Ersten ausprobierte.
In medicine, he is considered a pioneer because he was one of the first to try this treatment.
Lisa liest ein Buch über den Erfinder des Telefons.
Lisa is reading a book about the inventor of the telephone.