Erfolgreiche

Erfolgreiche is a German word that can function both as an adjective and as a noun when used in nominalized form. It is related to the noun Erfolg (success) and the more common adjective form erfolgreich, which means “successful.” In ordinary use, erfolgreich describes people, actions, or outcomes that have achieved their goals, while Erfolgreiche can stand on its own as a noun meaning “the successful ones” or refer to a specific successful person when declined for gender and case.

As a noun, the form Erfolgreiche appears in different gendered and plural variants:

- der Erfolgreiche (the successful man)

- die Erfolgreiche (the successful woman)

- die Erfolgreichen (the successful ones, plural)

Using indefinite articles, one can say: ein Erfolgreicher (a successful man) or eine Erfolgreiche (a successful woman). When used attributively before a noun, the word is typically not capitalized, as in eine erfolgreiche Kampagne (a successful campaign). As a standalone noun, it is capitalized: Die Erfolgreichen wurden ausgezeichnet.

Usage and nuance:

Erfolgreiche is most common in business, media, and social discourse when referring to groups or individuals characterized by their achievements. It can carry connotations of merit and recognition but remains a neutral descriptive term. The base concept is 흔: Erfolg, Erfolgsgeschichte (success story), and ähnliche terms (similar terms) frequently appear in related contexts.

See also:

Erfolg; erfolgreich; Erfolgsgeschichte; German grammar notes on nominalized adjectives.