Gangster
[ˈɡɛŋstɐ]masculine
The German word for 'gangster' is Gangster.
The term refers to a member of a street gang. In German, the English loanword Gangster is used in informal contexts to denote this meaning.
Meaning: street gang member (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun Gangster remains unchanged in its plural form. To refer to a female gangster, use the feminine form Gangsterin. When using the masculine noun as a direct object in the accusative case, it takes the ending -en, such as in einen Gangster.
Did you know?
- The German word Gang can mean 'gang' but also refers to a 'gear' in a car or a 'corridor' in a building, making the root of the loanword polysemous in German.
- In German youth slang, the word Gangster is sometimes used ironically to describe someone who is trying too hard to look tough but is actually harmless.
- In German, using the word Gangster can sometimes feel more cinematic or 'Americanized' than using native German words for criminals. It often evokes the specific imagery of Hollywood-style crime rather than local street crime.
Examples in context
- Dein Sohn ist ein Gangster.Your son is a gangster.This sentence illustrates the use of Gangster to identify someone's status.Tatoeba #6692747 by felix63, translation #6695340 by Eccles17
- Die Polizei verhaftete den berüchtigten Mafioso gestern.The police arrested the notorious mafia member yesterday.
- Hast du schon von dem Gangster in unserer Nachbarschaft gehört?Have you heard about the gangster in our neighborhood?
- Der Typ sah wirklich wie ein Macker aus.That guy really looked like a tough lad.
- Der Gangster ist im Film sehr gefährlich.The gangster is very dangerous in the movie.
- Er wollte niemals ein Gangster werden.He never wanted to become a gangster.
Example conversation
Laura and Maximilian are watching a crime movie.
- LauraWer ist der Gangster in diesem Film?Who is the gangster in this movie?
- MaximilianIch glaube, das ist der Mann im schwarzen Anzug.I think it is the man in the black suit.
- LauraEr sieht gar nicht aus wie ein Gangster.He doesn't look like a gangster at all.
- MaximilianDas ist oft die beste Tarnung.That is often the best disguise.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gangster” translations and entries Gangster, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
