German word

Rektor

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʁɛktoːɐ̯/

Meaning

  • masculine nounprincipal

Example

Ich habe den Rektor der Schule gestern gesehen.

I saw the school's principal yesterday.

Illustration for Rektor (principal)

More examples

Die Studierenden kritisierten den Rektor wegen der neuen Regelung.

The students criticized the principal because of the new regulation.

Core concept

A formally appointed head overseeing an educational institution and representing it in public.

Common phrases

  • ein Treffen mit dem Rektor vereinbaren

    arrange a meeting with the principal

  • Rektor der Fachhochschule

    rector of the university of applied sciences

Similar words

Schulleiter: Manager responsible for the administration and overall running of a school.
Direktor: Director with final decision-making authority over an institution or facility.
Dekan: Faculty head responsible for coordinating teaching and research at a university.
Präsident: Organization leader with formal authority to represent it externally.

Definition in German

Leiter einer Schule oder Hochschule, der für Verwaltung, Organisation und die repräsentative Vertretung der Einrichtung verantwortlich ist.

Word origin

German Rektor comes from Latin rector, meaning a person who guides or directs, from the verb regere, 'to guide or rule'.

Usage tips

  • Rektor is masculine, with the plural Rektoren, and the school-specific term Schulleiter is often more precise for a school head.

Other meanings

  • rectornoun

Related words

  • Rektorinfemale principalnoun
  • rektoralrectoraladjective

Word lists with this word