German word

Privatperson

Pronunciation

IPA/pʁiˈvaːtˌpɛɐ̯zoːn/

Meaning

  • feminine nounordinary person

Example

Sie ist nur eine Privatperson, kein Politiker.

She is just an ordinary person, not a politician.

Illustration for Privatperson (ordinary person)

More examples

Er kommentiert das Thema in den Medien nicht als Experte, sondern als Privatperson.

He does not comment on the topic in the media as an expert, but as a private citizen.

Core concept

A person acting in a personal capacity, outside any official post or organizational mandate.

Common phrases

  • in ihrer Eigenschaft als Privatperson

    in her capacity as a private citizen

  • als Privatperson sprechen

    speak as a private citizen

Similar words

Einzelperson: An individual acting on their own rather than as part of a group.
Offizieller: A person whose actions are based on an official position or title.
Vertreter: A person authorized to speak or act for others or an organization.
Bürger: A member of a country or region with recognized civic status.

Definition in German

Privatperson bezeichnet eine Person, die keine offizielle Funktion innehat und nicht als Vertreter einer Organisation auftritt.

Word origin

Privatperson is a German compound of Privat-, ultimately from Latin privatus, and Person, from Latin persona.

Usage tips

  • Privatperson is feminine in German, with die Privatperson in the singular and Privatpersonen in the plural.

Other meanings

  • individualnoun
  • private citizennoun

Opposites

  • öffentliche Personpublic figurenoun
  • Amtsträgerpublic officialnoun

Related words

  • Privatsphäreprivacynoun
  • Privatkontoprivate accountnoun

Word lists with this word