Anwalt
/ˈanvalt/masculine
The German word for lawyer is Anwalt. Wiktionary also lists Rechtsanwalt and Rechtsanwältin.
Meaning: professional person qualified (as by a law degree or bar exam) and authorized to practice law as an attorney-at-law, solicitor, advocate, barrister or equivalent, i.e. represent parties in lawsuits or trials and give legal advice (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Anwalt | /ˈanvalt/ | masculine |
| Rechtsanwalt | /ˈʁɛçt͡sʔanˌvalt/ | masculine |
| Rechtsanwältin | /ˈʁɛçt͡sʔanˌvɛltɪn/ | feminine |
| Anwältin | /ˈanvɛltɪn/ | feminine |
A lawyer is a professional qualified to practice law, represent parties in lawsuits and provide legal advice.
What does it mean word for word?
The term Rechtsanwalt is a compound word consisting of Recht, meaning law and Anwalt, meaning advocate or attorney.
Which one should you use?
While Anwalt is commonly used in speech, Rechtsanwalt is the more precise, formal term for a licensed attorney.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a female lawyer, you must use the feminine forms Anwältin or Rechtsanwältin. The plural form of Anwalt is Anwälte, and the plural form of Rechtsanwalt is Rechtsanwälte.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈanvalt/
Did you know?
- The word Anwalt shares an unexpected distant ancestor with the English word 'power'. It stems from an Old High German term meaning 'one who has authority or power'.
- In Germany, the title Rechtsanwalt is legally protected. Using it without the proper license can lead to criminal prosecution for the misuse of a professional title.
- Unlike the US or UK, Germany does not have a strict separation between solicitors and barristers. A single Rechtsanwalt is qualified to both provide legal advice and argue in court.
Examples in context
- Wo ist mein Anwalt?Where's my lawyer?This sentence shows how to ask for the location of your Anwalt.Tatoeba #2349650 by Espi, translation #2254642 by CK
- Ich bin Toms Anwalt.I'm Tom's lawyer.This sentence demonstrates how to state that you are someone's Anwalt.Tatoeba #6619592 by Felixjp, translation #2235791 by CK
- Wer ist euer Anwalt?Who is your lawyer?This sentence shows how to ask who someone's Anwalt is.Tatoeba #8493257 by Luiaard, translation #915790 by papabear
- Hallo, bist du ein Anwalt/eine Anwältin? Ich habe eine rechtliche Frage.Hello, are you a lawyer? I have a legal question.
- 389 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Lukas are discussing a legal problem over coffee.
- SarahHast du einen guten Anwalt?Do you have a good lawyer?
- LukasJa, mein Bruder ist Anwalt.Yes, my brother is a lawyer.
- SarahKann er mir dabei helfen?Can he help me with this?
- LukasIch frage ihn morgen für dich.I will ask him for you tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lawyer” translations and entries Anwalt, Rechtsanwalt, Rechtsanwältin, Anwältin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Anwalt, Anwältin, Rechtsanwalt, Rechtsanwältin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
