Doktor

Doktor is a term used in several languages to denote either a person who has earned a doctoral degree or, in some contexts, a medical practitioner. The word traces to the Latin doctor, meaning teacher or learned person, and entered European universities in the medieval period as a designation for highly educated teachers and scholars.

In German-speaking countries, Doktor specifically denotes the holder of a doctoral degree. The formal surname title is usually Dr., with field-specific forms such as Dr. med. or Dr. rer. nat. indicating the discipline. In many other languages, doktor similarly marks a doctoral degree, while physicians may be addressed as doktor in everyday speech depending on local custom.

Academic doctors earn the Doktor title by completing original research and a dissertation, followed by a defense in many jurisdictions. The international equivalents vary by field and country: in non-medical areas, the degree is typically translated as PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) or another doctoral designation; for medicine, the title is usually Doctor of Medicine (MD or Dr. med.) or an equivalent professional credential.

Historically, the title originated in medieval universities and spread worldwide as higher education expanded. Its use reflects a combination of scholarly achievement and professional qualification, and it is shaped by language, culture, and national regulations. Across different systems, the term remains a marker of advanced study and, in many contexts, a formal address for the person who has earned the credential.