klientin

Klientin is a German noun meaning a female client: a person who engages the services of a professional adviser or service provider. The term is gendered; the masculine form is Klient and the feminine Klientin, with the plural Klientinnen. In standard German, the noun is capitalized: Klientin.

Origin and usage: The word derives from the Latin cliens, via the French/Latin-influenced development of the term in German, with the modern feminine form formed by the suffix -in. It has long been used in professional contexts such as law, consulting, therapy, and other advisory services. In some contexts, Klient can be used more broadly for a client in a service relationship, while Kundin (from Kunde) refers more to a customer in a commercial or retail sense; Klientin emphasizes an ongoing professional relationship rather than a simple purchase.

Usage notes: Klientin denotes a person who receives professional services, often under ongoing representation or advocacy. In contemporary, gender-sensitive usage, some writers prefer gender-neutral formulations or alternative terms, depending on regional or organizational practices. The English equivalent is female client.

See also: Klient, Kundin, Kunde, Klientel. In translations, Klientin is typically rendered as “female client” and may be capitalized in German when used as a noun.