Ritter
/ˈʁɪtɐ/masculine
The German word for knight is Ritter.
Ritter refers to a warrior, particularly one from the Middle Ages. It can specifically mean a knight or a warrior on horseback.
Meaning: warrior, especially of the Middle Ages (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Ritter is a masculine noun. The plural form remains Ritter, and the genitive singular form is des Ritters.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʁɪtɐ/
Did you know?
- In modern German, Ritter is also the word used for a 'chess knight', though the piece is shaped like a horse.
- While Ritter means a medieval knight, the word Reiter is used for a modern horseman or rider. Though they share the same roots, they are no longer interchangeable in German.
Examples in context
- Der Ritter schwor dem König Treue.The knight swore an oath of allegiance to the king.This sentence is useful for seeing how a knight's allegiance is expressed using Ritter.Tatoeba #7754912 by Yorwba, translation #25630 by Scott
- Sehen Sie sich den Ritter auf dem Pferd an!Look at that knight on the horse.This sentence is useful for describing a knight on a horse using Ritter.Tatoeba #5140580 by aigi, translation #282418 by CK
- Der Ritter Tristan liebte die Prinzessin Isolde.The knight Tristan loved the princess Iseult.This sentence is useful for seeing how the word Ritter is used in a narrative context.Tatoeba #7206076 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2720523 by Hybrid
- Er wurde zum Ritter geschlagen.He was knighted.
- Die Ritter des Mittelalters waren tapfere Kämpfer.The knights of the Middle Ages were brave warriors.
- Mein Sohn träumt davon, ein kleines Ritterchen zu sein.My son dreams of being a little knight.
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are at a museum looking at medieval exhibits.
- FelixDieser Ritter sieht sehr beeindruckend aus.This knight looks very impressive.
- JuliaJa, seine Rüstung ist wunderschön.Yes, his armor is beautiful.
- FelixGlaubst du, er war mutig?Do you think he was brave?
- JuliaEin Ritter muss bestimmt mutig gewesen sein.A knight must have been brave.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “knight” translations and entries Ritter, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Ritter, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
