der Vatikan
Vatican
The independent state within the city of Rome that is home to the pope and the seat of the Catholic Church.
EXAMPLE
Der Vatikan ist der kleinste Staat der Welt.
The Vatican is the smallest country in the world.
der Vatikan
Vatican
der Vatikan
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
der Vatikan
Vatican
The leadership and administration of the Roman Catholic Church under the pope, especially the papal curia and its institutions.
EXAMPLE
Der Vatikan äußerte sich in einer offiziellen Erklärung zu dem Konflikt.
The Vatican issued an official statement on the conflict.
Forms
At a glance
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| genitive | des Vatikan |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Vatikan | – |
| accusative | den Vatikan | – |
| dative | dem Vatikan | – |
| genitive | des Vatikan des Vatikans | – |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Context clue
The intended meaning can often be identified from the verbs and topics involved: when the subject is location, size, or visiting, it refers to the state or place; when the subject is statements, decisions, or negotiations, it refers to the Church's leadership.
EXAMPLE
Der Vatikan liegt mitten in Rom und zieht jedes Jahr viele Besucher an.
The Vatican is located in the heart of Rome and attracts many visitors every year.
Der Vatikan hat die Entscheidung noch nicht offiziell bestätigt.
The Vatican has not yet officially confirmed the decision.
Political reporting
'Der Vatikan' (the Vatican) frequently appears in news reports, political coverage, and religious texts. In these contexts, the word often refers to an institution that takes a public position or announces decisions.
EXAMPLE
Der Vatikan kündigte eine neue Initiative für den Frieden an.
The Vatican announced a new initiative for peace.
Typical collocations
For the meaning of a state or place, phrases such as 'im Vatikan leben' (to live in the Vatican) and 'den Vatikan besuchen' (to visit the Vatican) are typical.
EXAMPLE
Viele Touristen möchten den Vatikan während ihres Aufenthalts in Rom besuchen.
Many tourists would like to visit the Vatican during their stay in Rome.
Typical collocations
For the meaning of Church leadership, verbs such as 'sich äußern' (to comment), 'erklären' (to explain or state), 'bekannt geben' (to announce), and 'veröffentlichen' (to publish) are often used with 'der Vatikan' (the Vatican).
EXAMPLE
Der Vatikan gab am Montag die Ernennung eines neuen Bischofs bekannt.
On Monday, the Vatican announced the appointment of a new bishop.
In real life
Loading video examples...