Washingtoner

Washingtoner is a German-language demonym used to refer to a person from Washington. The term is formed from the place name Washington with the typical German agent suffix -er; the feminine form is Washingtonerin, and the plural forms are Washingtoner (masculine or mixed) and Washingtonerinnen (feminine). In German texts, the specific meaning—whether from the U.S. state of Washington or from the federal district of Washington, D.C.—is usually made clear by accompanying phrases such as aus dem Bundesstaat Washington or aus Washington, D.C.

In English, the form Washingtoner is uncommon. English-language demonyms for residents of Washington typically include Washingtonian, or, more specifically, Seattleite for residents of Seattle in Washington state. When German writers address residents of Washington, D.C. or Washington state, they may choose the appropriate contextual specification to avoid ambiguity.

The term may also appear in historical or biographical writings in German, and, less commonly, as a surname or as part of organizational names. As with many demonyms formed from place names, Washingtoner mirrors standard German patterns for naming residents of a location, while its exact referent depends on geographic and contextual cues.