Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Kommandant | /kɔmanˈdant/ | masculine |
| Befehlshaber | masculine | |
| Kommandeur | masculine | |
| Kommandör | masculine |
In German, several nouns are used to describe someone who exercises control and direction over a military or naval organization.
Which one should you use?
Befehlshaber is the most general term for a high-ranking commander in a military context, often implying the person who holds the actual authority to issue orders. Kommandant is often used for the commander of a specific, smaller unit, a base or a vessel, rather than a general field commander. Kommandeur is frequently used in the context of specific military ranks or in historical/naval contexts, often sounding more formal or specialized than Kommandant.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun Kommandant belongs to the n-declension, meaning in the accusative, dative or genitive cases, it takes the ending -en (e.g., 'den Kommandanten').
How do you pronounce it?
/kɔmanˈdant/
Did you know?
- While Kommandant is a common term, it is a loanword from French, which in turn took it from Latin mandāre, meaning 'to entrust'.
- The word Befehlshaber literally translates to 'order-holder', combining Befehl meaning 'command' and haben meaning 'to have'.
- Unlike the vast majority of masculine nouns ending in a consonant, Kommandant follows the 'n-declension' and must take an -en suffix in the accusative, dative and genitive cases.
Examples in context
- Der Kommandant versteht keinen Spaß.The commander is not to be trifled with.This sentence shows the use of Kommandant to describe a person's demeanor.Tatoeba #5004304 by Manfredo, translation #5004445 by Zurich899
- Er ist der Befehlshaber unserer Streitkräfte.He is commander of our troops.This sentence illustrates the use of Befehlshaber regarding the command of armed forces.Tatoeba #1550486 by al_ex_an_der, translation #283458 by CK
- Der britische Kommandeur befahl seinen Leuten, sich in der Nacht auszuruhen.The British commander ordered his men to rest for the night.This sentence demonstrates how Kommandeur is used in a command context.Tatoeba #1454665 by al_ex_an_der, translation #804094 by Source_VOA
- Der Kommandant hat klare Anweisungen gegebenThe commander has given clear instructions
- Der Befehlshaber hat das Kommando übernommenThe commander has assumed command
- Unser Oberbefehlshaber ist ein erfahrener SoldatOur commander-in-chief is an experienced soldier
- Gut gemacht, Kommandeur!Well done, commander!
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Julia are visiting a naval museum.
- JulianWer war der Kommandant dieses Schiffes?Who was the commander of this ship?
- JuliaIch glaube, das steht auf dem Schild.I think it's on the sign.
- JulianHier steht es: Kommandant Schmidt.Here it is: Commander Schmidt.
- JuliaEr scheint ein sehr strenger Mann gewesen zu sein.He seems to have been a very strict man.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “commander” translations and entries Kommandant, Befehlshaber, Kommandeur, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Befehlshaber, Kommandant, Kommandeur, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
