Also means
pioneer; trailblazer
Usage Note
Pionier in a military sense denotes a combat engineer responsible for building bridges, clearing mines, and fortifying positions. In civilian usage it means a pioneer or innovator. Both meanings are current; context separates them clearly.
Examples
"Die Pioniere bauten unter Beschuss eine Behelfsbrücke über den Fluss."
Natural Translation
The combat engineers built a makeshift bridge over the river under fire.
Literal Translation
The engineers built under fire a makeshift-bridge over the river.
Related Words
Explore German by topic
