Akteurin

Akteurin is a German noun that forms the feminine of Akteur, meaning a person who acts or participates. In the performing arts, it can refer to a female actor or actress, while in social sciences and related fields it often denotes a female participant or actor in a broader sense.

Etymology and form: Akteur comes from the French acteur, with the feminine suffix -in to yield Akteurin. The term is capitalized as a noun and follows standard German gender inflection: die Akteurin (plural: die Akteurinnen).

Usage: In theatre and film, Akteurin is relatively uncommon today; speakers typically say Schauspielerin or Darstellerin. In academic and professional contexts discussing agency, action, or participation in social processes, Akteurin may be used alongside Akteur to emphasize gender. The plural form is Akteurinnen.

Gender and language use: Akteur and Akteurin are part of a traditional gendered pair. In modern German, many writers prefer gender-neutral or gender-inclusive terminology (e.g., using Schauspielerin for a female performer and Schauspieler for a male performer, or employing neutral terms in specific contexts). When used, Akteurin explicitly marks feminine gender and is appropriate where precision about gender is important.

Related terms: Akteur, Schauspielerin, Darstellerin, Darsteller; in sociological and systems terms, the broader concept of an actor or agent is often discussed using Akteur across genders.

See also: Akteur, Schauspielerin, Darstellerin, Akteurs.