national / citizen
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national / citizen
A person who has the nationality of a particular state; a citizen of a country. This is a formal, legal term.
Als deutscher Staatsangehöriger hat er das Recht, an der Bundestagswahl teilzunehmen.
As a German national, he has the right to take part in the federal election.
The word is made up of 'Staat' (state), the linking element '-s-', and 'Angehöriger' (member/relative). An 'Angehöriger' is a member of a group, so a Staatsangehöriger is literally a 'member of a state'.
Als Angehöriger eines EU-Staates darf er hier arbeiten.
As a national of an EU state, he is allowed to work here.
'Staatsangehöriger' (national/citizen) is a very formal term from legal and administrative language. You mainly find it in official documents, forms, or laws.
Bitte tragen Sie in das Formular Ihre aktuelle Staatsangehörigkeit ein.
Please enter your current nationality in the form.
This noun is declined like an adjective (the so-called N-declension). This means that in most cases after the article it takes the ending '-en'.
Die Rechte des Staatsangehörigen sind im Grundgesetz verankert.
The rights of the national are enshrined in the Basic Law.
citizen
Staatsangehöriger is a formal legal term for a person who holds the nationality of a state. Staatsbürger can refer to the same person, but tends to emphasize their role with political rights and duties. Staatsangehöriger is therefore often more appropriate in formal statements.
Im Formular wird Herr Novak als slowakischer Staatsangehöriger eingetragen.
On the form, Mr. Novak is registered as a Slovak national.
Als Staatsbürger kann Herr Novak seine politischen Rechte ausüben.
As a citizen, Mr. Novak can exercise his political rights.
