01
der Spieler
player
A person who takes part in a game or sport.
example
Der verletzte Spieler musste ausgewechselt werden.
The injured player had to be substituted.
der Spieler
player
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
'Der Spieler' (the player) is derived directly from the verb 'spielen' (to play). The ending '-er' refers to a person who performs the action of the verb. This structure is very common in German.
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder spielen im Garten.
The children are playing in the garden.
False friend
In English, 'player' can colloquially mean a womanizer. The German word 'Spieler' does not have this negative meaning.
EXAMPLE
Er ist ein sehr guter Spieler in unserer Fußballmannschaft.
He is a very good player on our soccer team.
Typical compounds
The word 'Spieler' (player) is often part of compound nouns that describe the person's role more precisely. Examples are 'Mitspieler' (teammate/fellow player), 'Gegenspieler' (opponent), or 'Nationalspieler' (national team player).
EXAMPLE
Sein Gegenspieler war viel schneller als er.
His opponent was much faster than he was.
Context clue
This meaning becomes clear through the context of gambling, betting, or casinos. Without such a clue, 'Spieler' (player) is usually understood as someone taking part in a sport or game.
EXAMPLE
Er hat beim Pokern viel Geld verloren, er ist ein echter Spieler.
He lost a lot of money playing poker; he is a real gambler.
Metaphorical use
This meaning is metaphorical and is usually used in the context of business or politics. The person or company is often described as a 'großer Spieler' (big player) or 'wichtiger Spieler' (important player).
EXAMPLE
In der Technologiebranche gibt es nur wenige große Spieler.
In the technology sector, there are only a few big players.
Use in compounds
When a technical device is meant, 'Spieler' (player) almost never stands alone. It is always part of a compound word such as 'CD-Spieler' (CD player), 'Plattenspieler' (record player), or 'MP3-Spieler' (MP3 player).
EXAMPLE
Ich höre gerne Musik auf meinem alten Plattenspieler.
I like listening to music on my old record player.
Register and style
This meaning of 'Schauspieler' (actor) is outdated or belongs to very elevated, literary language. It is not used in normal everyday speech.
EXAMPLE
Die Spieler auf der Bühne verbeugten sich vor dem Publikum.
The actors on the stage bowed to the audience.
Compare with
Spieler vs Teilnehmer
participant
'der Spieler' and 'der Teilnehmer' both refer to people who take part in something. 'Spieler' is used when it is really about a game or a sport, for example soccer, tennis, or a board game. 'Teilnehmer' is more general and fits courses, events, competitions, or meetings. The words can be confused because a player is also a participant in a game. But in a language course or a meeting, you would normally say 'Teilnehmer', not 'Spieler'.
Spieler
Nach dem Foul spricht der Schiedsrichter mit dem Spieler.
After the foul, the referee speaks with the player.
Teilnehmer
Am Wochenende begrüßt Lukas die neuen Teilnehmer im Kochkurs.
On the weekend, Lukas welcomes the new participants in the cooking course.
In real life
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