Veteran
/veteˈʁaːn/masculine
The German word for veteran is Veteran. If unsure, use Veteran. Wiktionary also lists Kriegsveteran.
Meaning: old soldier (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran | /veteˈʁaːn/ | masculine |
| Kriegsveteran | masculine |
The word Veteran can be used to mean an old soldier, but it is also used figuratively, much like in English, to describe someone with long-standing experience in a specific field, such as an industry veteran.
Which one should you use?
While Veteran can be used generally, the term Kriegsveteran is more specific and denotes a veteran of a war.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form is Veteran. The feminine form is Veteranin, and the plural form is Veteranen.
How do you pronounce it?
/veteˈʁaːn/
Did you know?
- In some German contexts, referring to a person as an alter Hase (old hare) is a common, idiomatic way to say they are a veteran of a particular trade, without using the word Veteran at all.
- In Germany, the term Kriegsveteran is used much less frequently in public discourse than in the US. This is due to a cultural history of avoiding the glorification of military service after World War II.
- The word Veteran shares its Latin root with the English word 'veterinary', as both stems relate to the idea of age and long-standing presence.
Examples in context
- Tom ist ein Veteran.Tom is a veteran.This sentence is useful for identifying a person as a Veteran.Tatoeba #1458668 by Esperantostern, translation #1025124 by CK
- Dem Kriegsveteranen fehlen beide Beine.The war veteran is a double amputee.This sentence is useful for describing a Kriegsveteran.Tatoeba #12440992 by Waldelfe, translation #4238471 by Objectivesea
- Sie ist eine Veteranin: sie macht das schon seit Jahrzehnten.She's a veteran: she's been doing this for decades.This sentence is useful for showing how Veteran can be used figuratively.Tatoeba #9353171 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #9353169 by DJ_Saidez
- Herr Schmidt ist ein angesehener Kriegsveteran.Mr. Schmidt is a respected military veteran.
- Mein Onkel ist ein Veteran des Zweiten Weltkriegs.My uncle is a veteran of World War II.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Felix are looking at an old photograph.
- JuliaWer ist dieser Veteran auf dem Bild?Who is this veteran in the picture?
- FelixDas ist mein Onkel, er war ein Veteran.That is my uncle, he was a veteran.
- JuliaEr sieht auf dem Foto sehr ernst aus.He looks very serious in the photo.
- FelixJa, er hat viel erlebt.Yes, he experienced a lot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “veteran” translations and entries Veteran, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Veteran, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
