Chemiker
/ˈçeːmikɐ/masculine
The German word for chemist is Chemiker. Wiktionary also lists Chemikerin.
Meaning: person working in chemistry (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Chemiker | /ˈçeːmikɐ/ (standard) /ˈʃeːˈmikɐ/ |
masculine |
| Chemikerin | /ˈçeːmikɐʁɪn/ | feminine |
Chemiker refers strictly to the scientist/professional in the field of chemistry. The term Apotheker primarily means pharmacist in Germany.
Which one should you use?
The masculine form Chemiker is used for a male chemist or as a generic masculine for the profession. The feminine form Chemikerin must be used when referring specifically to a female chemist.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈçeːmikɐ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use Chemiker to refer to a pharmacist. In Germany, the term for a pharmacist is Apotheker.
Did you know?
- While English speakers might use 'chemist' to mean the person or the shop, in German, the shop is an Apotheke and the person is an Apotheker. Calling a shop owner a Chemiker would sound as strange to a German as calling a doctor a 'chemist' would to an English speaker.
- Unlike English, where 'chemist' can be a general term for anyone handling chemicals, a Chemiker in Germany almost always implies a university degree or professional certification.
- In a romantic context, Germans do not use the word Chemiker to describe a connection between people. Instead, they use the word Chemie and say die Chemie stimmt to mean 'the chemistry is right'.
Examples in context
- Dmitri Mendelejew war ein russischer Chemiker.Dmitri Mendeleev was a Russian chemist.This sentence is useful for identifying a specific person as a Chemiker.Tatoeba #10624624 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10623927 by AlanF_US
- André-Marie Ampère war ein französischer Mathematiker, Physiker, Chemiker und Philosoph.André-Marie Ampère was a French mathematician, physicist, chemist, and philosopher.This sentence shows how to list Chemiker among other professions.Tatoeba #13072208 by mhr, translation #13672520 by araneo
- Er ist Chemiker.He is a chemist.This sentence shows how to state someone's profession using Chemiker.Tatoeba #8634614 by Melang, translation #10623924 by AlanF_US
- Ich bin Chemiker.I am a chemist.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Laura are discussing their classmates' career goals.
- FelixWas möchte Marc eigentlich werden?What does Marc actually want to become?
- LauraEr möchte ein Chemiker werden.He wants to become a chemist.
- FelixDas passt gut zu ihm.That suits him well.
- LauraJa, er liebt das Labor.Yes, he loves the laboratory.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chemist” translations and entries Chemiker, Chemikerin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
