souverän

Souverän is a German adjective with multiple related meanings. In political and philosophical contexts it denotes the holder of supreme authority, i.e., sovereign power, or the sovereignty of a state. In everyday language it more commonly describes a person who acts with calm assurance, competence, and control, as in “eine souveräne Leistung” or “er trat souverän auf.” The term can function as an adverb in practice, as in “sie hat souverän gewonnen.”

Etymology and usage notes: Souverän comes to German from the French souverain, itself from Latin superānus, meaning over or above, and ultimately referencing highest authority. In modern German, the noun Souverän is largely found in formal or historical contexts, while sovereignty is usually discussed using the noun Souveränität. The adjective is widely used in contemporary language to convey poise and competence in performance, leadership, or communication, and it can describe states, institutions, or individuals that demonstrate self-possession and authoritative bearing.

In political language, Souveränität denotes national independence and the exclusive competence of a state to determine its laws and governance. The related term Souveränität is common in discussions of international law, constitutional theory, and political philosophy. Although the root concept remains the same, contemporary usage tends to emphasize practical competence and composure in individuals, while the political sense of sovereignty emphasizes legal and territorial independence.

See also: Souveränität; Der Souverän; sovereignty-related discourse in political theory.