chairperson
Loading your saved state.
chairperson / chair
A person who leads and represents an organization, association, party, or meeting.
Der Vorsitzende des Sportvereins begrüßte alle Mitglieder zur Jahresversammlung.
The chairperson of the sports club welcomed all members to the annual meeting.
The word is derived from the verb 'vorsitzen' (to chair), which literally means 'to sit at the front.' The chairperson is therefore the person who sits at the front during a meeting and leads it.
Wer sitzt heute der Konferenz vor?
Who is chairing the conference today?
'Vorsitzender' (chairperson) is a nominalized adjective and is declined as such. After a definite article (der, die, das), it always ends in '-en' in the genitive, dative, and accusative.
Wir danken dem Vorsitzenden für seine Rede.
We thank the chairperson for his speech.
Most often, the organization being led is attached with the genitive. Typical formulations are 'der Vorsitzende des Vereins' (the chairperson of the association) or 'die Vorsitzende der Partei' (the chairwoman/chairperson of the party).
Der Vorsitzende des Betriebsrats hat das Wort ergriffen.
The chairperson of the works council took the floor.
president
Präsident and Vorsitzende can both refer to a leading person in an organization or club. Which title is appropriate depends on the organization in question and its official title for the position. Therefore, use the title specified in the organization’s bylaws or established usage.
Der Vorsitzende des Sportvereins begrüßte die Mitglieder bei der Versammlung.
The chairperson of the sports club welcomed the members at the meeting.
Der Präsident des Sportvereins begrüßte die Mitglieder bei der Versammlung.
The president of the sports club welcomed the members at the meeting.
