Meister
/ˈmaɪ̯stɐ/masculine
The English word champion can be translated into German as Meister. Wiktionary also lists Sieger and Siegerin.
Meaning: someone who has been winner in a contest (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Meister | /ˈmaɪ̯stɐ/ | masculine |
| Sieger | /ˈziːɡɐ/ | masculine |
| Siegerin | feminine | |
| Gewinner | /ɡəˈvɪnɐ/ | masculine |
In German, these words refer to someone who has been winner in a contest.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on whether you are describing a specific victory or a title. Sieger is used for the person who wins a specific race, match or competition, whereas Meister is more about the title or status held. While Sieger means the winner of a specific event, Meister often implies someone who has achieved a high level of mastery or holds a title (like a 'German Champion').
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
German uses gendered forms for these nouns. The feminine form of Sieger is Siegerin, and the feminine form of Gewinner is Gewinnerin. For Meister, the feminine form is Meisterin.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmaɪ̯stɐ/
Did you know?
- In Germany, the title Meister is not just for sports but is a legally protected professional qualification for highly skilled craftsmen.
- In some contexts, calling someone Meister as a greeting is a casual way of addressing a man, similar to using 'champ' or 'boss' in English.
- The word Meister is a linguistic relative of the English word 'master' and the Italian 'maestro'.
Examples in context
- Ich stellte mich dem Meister.I faced the champion.This sentence shows how to use MeisterTatoeba #1653856 by al_ex_an_der, translation #1365739 by marcelostockle
- Tom ist ein olympischer Sieger.Tom is an Olympic champion.This sentence demonstrates the use of SiegerTatoeba #5346903 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #5345284 by Hybrid
- Nachdem er alle Kämpfe gewonnen hatte, erhielt er den Meistertitel.After winning all the matches, he got the title of champion.This sentence illustrates how Meister can refer to a specific titleTatoeba #2344882 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2264631 by _undertoad
- Der Fußballverein Bayern München ist der amtierende Meister.The soccer club Bayern Munich is the reigning champion.
- Barcelona hat die deutsche Meisterschaft im Basketball gewonnen.Barcelona won the German championship in basketball.
- Hast du den Sieger des Boxkampfes gesehen?Did you see the champion of the boxing match?
- Ich bin der Sieger des Schachturniers.I am the champion of the chess tournament.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Hannah are discussing a local sports competition.
- MaximilianHannah, hast du den neuen Meister gesehen?Hannah, did you see the new champion?
- HannahJa, Maximilian, er spielt wirklich toll.Yes, Maximilian, he plays really well.
- MaximilianEr ist ein echter Meister.He is a true champion.
- HannahDas stimmt, er hat es verdient.That's true, he deserved it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “champion” translations and entries Meister, Sieger, Siegerin, Gewinner, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Gewinner, Meister, Sieger, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
