Bordpersonal

§ Bordpersonal Meaning

German Word

Bordpersonal

Type

Noun

CEFR Level

B1

Definition

cabin crew, flight attendants

§ How to use Bordpersonal in a sentence

Alright, let's break down 'Bordpersonal'. This word is super practical if you're traveling or talking about air travel. It literally translates to 'board personnel' but we use it for 'cabin crew' or 'flight attendants' in English. It's a compound noun, made from 'Bord' (board, as in on board a ship or plane) and 'Personal' (personnel). Pay attention to the capitalization, as all German nouns are capitalized.

The grammatical gender of 'Bordpersonal' is neuter (das Bordpersonal). This is important for articles and adjective endings, even though 'Bordpersonal' itself is often treated as plural in meaning, referring to a group of people. However, grammatically, it functions as a singular collective noun. So you'll say 'das Bordpersonal ist' (the cabin crew is), not 'die Bordpersonal sind' (the cabin crew are).

When you're talking about the cabin crew in general, 'Bordpersonal' is your go-to word. You don't usually need to specify 'male' or 'female' unless you're talking about individual members, in which case you'd use 'Flugbegleiter' (male flight attendant) or 'Flugbegleiterin' (female flight attendant). But for the whole team, 'Bordpersonal' covers everyone.

§ Grammatical Declension of Bordpersonal

Since 'Bordpersonal' is a collective noun, it typically doesn't have a plural form itself in the same way other nouns do. It already refers to a group. When you need to express 'crews' or 'teams', you'd usually rephrase or use a different, more specific noun if available, but for our purposes, remember 'das Bordpersonal' is treated as singular.

• Nominative: Das Bordpersonal (The cabin crew)
• Accusative: Das Bordpersonal (The cabin crew)
• Dative: Dem Bordpersonal (To the cabin crew)
• Genitive: Des Bordpersonals (Of the cabin crew)

§ Prepositions with Bordpersonal

You'll often find 'Bordpersonal' used with prepositions that indicate interaction or location. Here are some common ones:

• mit dem Bordpersonal (with the cabin crew)
• vom Bordpersonal (from the cabin crew)
• an das Bordpersonal (to the cabin crew, usually in terms of addressing them)
• durch das Bordpersonal (by the cabin crew, indicating an action performed by them)

So, there you have it. 'Bordpersonal' is a straightforward and essential word for anyone discussing air travel in German. Practice these examples, and you'll be using it like a pro in no time. Keep up the good work!

§ Don't confuse it with 'Crew'

While 'Crew' is often used in English to refer to flight attendants, in German, 'die Crew' (also a noun, feminine) has a broader meaning. It can refer to any team working together, for example, on a ship, a film set, or even in a factory. When you're specifically talking about the people who serve passengers on a plane, 'Bordpersonal' is the more precise and common term.

§ Gender and Plural

'Bordpersonal' is a neuter noun, so it takes the definite article 'das'. This is a common point of confusion for learners, as the 'personal' part might trick you into thinking it's feminine or masculine. Remember that in German, the gender of a compound noun is determined by the last noun in the compound. In this case, 'Personal' is neuter. The plural form is also 'das Bordpersonal' – it remains unchanged.

DEFINITION

cabin crew, flight attendants

§ Using it for a single person

'Bordpersonal' refers to the entire collective of flight attendants. You wouldn't use it to describe one single flight attendant. If you want to talk about one person, you should use 'ein Mitglied des Bordpersonals' (a member of the cabin crew) or more commonly, 'ein/e Flugbegleiter/in'.

• Incorrect: *Das Bordpersonal war eine nette Person.

• Correct: Ein Mitglied des Bordpersonals war eine nette Person. (A member of the cabin crew was a nice person.)

• Correct: Die Flugbegleiterin war sehr nett. (The flight attendant was very nice.)

§ Not just for 'stewards' or 'stewardesses'

In older English, you might hear 'steward' or 'stewardess.' However, 'Bordpersonal' is a modern and inclusive term that covers all genders working as flight attendants. It's the standard term used in German today, so stick with it.

§ Bordpersonal: Similar Words and When to Use Them

When you're talking about the people who work on an airplane, "Bordpersonal" is your go-to word in German. It's clear, concise, and widely understood. However, depending on the specific context, you might encounter or want to use some related terms. Let's break them down.

§ Flugbegleiter / Flugbegleiterin (flight attendant - male/female)

DEFINITION

This is the specific term for an individual flight attendant. "Flugbegleiter" for a male, "Flugbegleiterin" for a female. If you're talking about a group of mixed gender or want to be inclusive, you can use the plural "Flugbegleiter" (which covers both genders when used generally, though some prefer "Flugbegleiter*innen" or "Flugbegleitende").

When to use it: Use "Flugbegleiter" or "Flugbegleiterin" when you're referring to one specific person or want to highlight the individual role of a flight attendant, rather than the crew as a whole.

§ Kabinenpersonal (cabin staff)

DEFINITION

"Kabinenpersonal" is very similar to "Bordpersonal." It literally translates to "cabin staff." Both terms are often used interchangeably to describe the flight attendants.

When to use it: You can use "Kabinenpersonal" as a direct substitute for "Bordpersonal" in most contexts. There's no significant difference in meaning or formality. It's often a matter of personal preference or the specific terminology used by an airline.

§ Flugzeugbesatzung (aircraft crew)

DEFINITION

This term is broader. "Flugzeugbesatzung" refers to the *entire* crew of the aircraft, which includes not only the flight attendants (Bordpersonal/Kabinenpersonal) but also the pilots and any other operational staff on board. Think of it as everyone who works on the plane.

When to use it: Use "Flugzeugbesatzung" when you want to include both the cockpit crew and the cabin crew in your statement. If you're specifically talking about the flight attendants serving you, "Bordpersonal" or "Kabinenpersonal" is more appropriate.

§ Summary of Use

• Bordpersonal: Best for generally referring to the flight attendants as a collective group. It's common and clear.
• Flugbegleiter/Flugbegleiterin: Use when you're talking about an individual flight attendant.
• Kabinenpersonal: Interchangeable with "Bordpersonal." No major difference.
• Flugzeugbesatzung: Use when you want to include pilots and all other operational staff on the aircraft, in addition to the flight attendants.

In everyday conversation, if you're a passenger referring to the people bringing you drinks or helping with luggage, "Bordpersonal" or "Kabinenpersonal" are perfectly fine. If you're specifically praising one person, use "Flugbegleiter" or "Flugbegleiterin." If you're talking about everyone who makes the flight happen from a technical and service perspective, then "Flugzeugbesatzung" is the word you need. Stick with "Bordpersonal" for most situations where you mean "cabin crew" and you'll be understood easily.