noun

der Kader, –

squad

Eine ausgewählte Gruppe von Personen, die für eine bestimmte Aufgabe, ein Team oder eine Organisation vorgesehen ist.

Definition & meaning

The word Kader primarily refers to a selected group of people who form the core or the "frame" of an organization or team. It is most commonly used in two specific contexts:

Sports: It refers to the "squad" or "roster." This is the group of athletes chosen to represent a team or a country during a season or a specific tournament. For example, the Nationalkader consists of the players selected for the national team.
Politics and Organizations: It refers to "cadres"—a core group of highly trained, specialized, or influential personnel within a political party (often associated with socialist or communist structures), the military, or a large institution. These individuals are responsible for leadership, training others, or maintaining the organization's structure.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar: The word is a masculine noun: der Kader. In the plural, the form remains the same: die Kader.

Word Origin: The term originates from the French word cadre , which means "frame" or "setting." This itself is derived from the Italian quadro and the Latin quadrum , meaning "square."

Historically, it entered German as a military term in the 18th century. It referred to the permanent staff of a military unit (officers and non-commissioned officers) who served as the "frame" around which the rest of the troops were organized.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

In sports: Mannschaft (team), Aufgebot (line-up/selection), Team (team), Besetzung (cast/line-up).
In general/political contexts: Führungskräfte (leaders/executives), Stammpersonal (permanent staff), Funktionäre (officials/functionaries), Elite (elite).

Antonyms: While there is no direct opposite for "squad," some terms can be used to describe those outside of it:

Außenseiter (outsider).
Laie (layman/non-professional).
Basis (the rank and file/the grassroots, referring to those who are not part of the elite cadre).