01
der Sänger
singer
A person who sings, especially as a profession or artistic activity.
example
Der Sänger der Band hat eine beeindruckende Stimme.
The singer of the band has an impressive voice.
der Sänger
singer
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The word 'Sänger' (singer) comes directly from the verb 'singen' (to sing). The ending '-er' denotes the person (or animal) that performs this activity.
EXAMPLE
Wer gut singen kann, könnte ein guter Sänger werden.
Someone who can sing well could become a good singer.
Context clue
Whether a human or a bird is meant is almost always clear from the context. With words like 'Band', 'Oper' (opera), or 'Konzert' (concert), it is a human. With words like 'Vogel' (bird), 'Nest', or 'Wald' (forest), it is an animal.
EXAMPLE
Der Sänger betrat die Bühne und das Publikum jubelte.
The singer stepped onto the stage and the audience cheered.
Typical compounds
To specify the type of singer, the word is often used in compounds. Examples are 'Opernsänger' (opera singer), 'Popsänger' (pop singer), 'Rocksänger' (rock singer), or 'Straßensänger' (street singer).
EXAMPLE
Er träumt davon, ein berühmter Opernsänger zu werden.
He dreams of becoming a famous opera singer.
Compare with
Sänger vs Musiker
musician
'der Musiker' and 'der Sänger' both belong to the world of music. 'der Musiker' is the more general term: the person may play an instrument, sing, compose, or conduct. 'der Sänger' is more specific and means a person who sings. So a singer is often also a musician, but not every musician is a singer. The words can be confused when you are speaking generally about a person on stage. If the voice is important, 'Sänger' is more precise; if it is generally about making music, 'Musiker' is more natural.
Sänger
Der Sänger hatte eine sehr klare Stimme und sang ohne Mikrofon.
The singer had a very clear voice and sang without a microphone.
Musiker
Nach dem Konzert sprach Tom mit einem Musiker aus der Band.
After the concert, Tom spoke with a musician from the band.
In real life
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