Klienten

Klienten is a noun form used in several Germanic languages to denote a person who uses the services of a professional or institution, i.e., a client. The meaning is generally the same across contexts such as law, medicine, consulting, and business, though the exact form varies by language.

In German, Klienten is the plural of Klient, used for “the clients” or “clients” in legal, medical, or business contexts. The related noun Klientel denotes a network of clients or supporters, and Klientelpolitik refers to political practices that rely on such patronage relationships. These terms are common in analyses of patronage systems and political sociology.

In Norwegian and Danish, the definite singular form is klienten, meaning “the client.” Indefinite forms are klient in Norwegian and klient in Danish, with plural forms such as klienter and klientene in Norwegian and klienter or klienterne in Danish. The terms are used in everyday language for customers, patients, or persons who seek professional services, as well as in legal or clinical settings.

Etymologically, the word traces to Latin cliens, meaning “follower” or “retainer,” borrowed into Germanic languages during the medieval period and evolving to its modern senses as a person who engages the services of another.

See also: Klientel, Klientelpolitik, cliens.