confidant
die Vertraute, die Vertrauten
Loading your saved state.
confidant
A person whom someone trusts deeply and to whom they confide personal thoughts or secrets. The word often also refers to a close adviser or trusted associate of an important person.
Der Vertraute des Ministers begleitete ihn zu allen wichtigen Gesprächen.
The minister's confidant accompanied him to all the important meetings.
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Vertrauten |
| genitive | der Vertrauten |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Vertraute | die Vertrauten |
| accusative | die Vertraute | die Vertrauten |
| dative | der Vertrauten | den Vertrauten |
| genitive | der Vertrauten | der Vertrauten |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
'Der Vertraute' (the confidant) is a nominalized adjective and derives from 'vertraut' (familiar / trusted). When used to refer to a person, the word is capitalized in German.
Der Vertraute wartete bereits vor dem Büro auf seinen Chef.
The confidant was already waiting outside the office for his boss.
Common collocations include 'der engste Vertraute' (the closest confidant), 'ein politischer Vertrauter' (a political confidant), and 'der Vertraute des Präsidenten' (the president's confidant). The word is especially often used with an important or influential person in the genitive.
Sie war jahrelang die engste Vertraute der Königin.
She was the queen's closest confidant for many years.
'Vertrauter' (confidant) sounds rather elevated and frequently appears in political, historical, or journalistic texts. The focus is usually on the person's special closeness to and loyalty toward an important person.
Die Zeitung berichtete über den langjährigen Vertrauten des Parteivorsitzenden.
The newspaper reported on the party leader's longtime confidant.
