Soldat
/zɔlˈdaːt/masculine
The German word for soldier is Soldat. Wiktionary also lists Soldatin.
Meaning: member of an army (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Soldat | /zɔlˈdaːt/ /sɔlˈdɑːt/ |
masculine |
| Soldatin | /zɔlˈdaːtɪn/ | feminine |
A Soldat is a member of an army. The term Wehrmachtssoldat refers to a soldier within the organization known as the Wehrmacht.
Which one should you use?
While Soldat refers to a male soldier, Soldatin is the specific feminine form used for a female soldier.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun Soldat follows the n-declension, meaning its form changes to Soldaten in the accusative, dative and genitive cases.
How do you pronounce it?
/zɔlˈdaːt/
Did you know?
- The word Soldat shares its roots with the English word 'sold', as both originate from the idea of paying a 'soldo' or a specific coin to a person for their service.
- In traditional German military culture, the term Kamerad is often used instead of Soldat when addressing a peer to emphasize brotherhood over rank.
- The phrase Soldat sein is sometimes used idiomatically in German to describe someone who is strictly following orders without questioning them, even in non-military contexts.
Examples in context
- Der Soldat ist tot.The soldier is dead.Tatoeba #7961846 by wolfgangth, translation #7957900 by tiziri
- Der Soldat ist weg.The soldier has left.Tatoeba #12327250 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #12233360 by Miktsoanit
- Er ist kein Soldat.He's not a soldier.Tatoeba #12622767 by mhr, translation #9200789 by Nylez
- Die deutschen Soldaten verteidigen ihr Land mutig.The German soldiers courageously defend their country.
- Mein Bruder ist Soldat und gerade auf einer Mission.My brother is a soldier and currently on a mission.
- Die Schützen feiern gemeinsam nach ihrem Einsatz.The soldiers celebrate together after their mission.
- 88 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Maximilian are looking at an old family photo.
- LauraWer ist dieser Mann auf dem Foto?Who is this man in the photo?
- MaximilianDas ist mein Großvater, er war Soldat.That is my grandfather, he was a soldier.
- LauraWo hat er als Soldat gearbeitet?Where did he work as a soldier?
- MaximilianEr war viele Jahre in Frankreich.He was in France for many years.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “soldier” translations and entries Soldat, Soldatin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Soldat, Soldatin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
