das  Grundrecht

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈɡʁʊntʁɛçt/

🏛️ What does 'das Grundrecht' mean?

Das Grundrecht (neuter noun) refers to a basic or fundamental right, an inalienable entitlement guaranteed to individuals by the state. These rights are usually enshrined in a country's constitution, in Germany in the Grundgesetz (GG) – the Basic Law.

Grundrechte (plural) protect the individual's sphere of freedom from state interference and typically include rights such as Meinungsfreiheit (freedom of speech), Versammlungsfreiheit (freedom of assembly), Glaubensfreiheit (freedom of religion), and the Unverletzlichkeit der Wohnung (inviolability of the home).

It is a central concept in public law and political philosophy.

• Core meaning: A fundamental, constitutionally guaranteed right.

🚨 Attention: Don't confuse Grundrechte with simple legal rights that can be changed by ordinary laws. Grundrechte have a higher status.

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Das Grundrecht

The word "Grundrecht" is neuter. It takes the article das.

Declension

Note: The Genitive and Dative singular can optionally take an connecting -e ("des Grundrechtes", "dem Grundrechte"), but the form without -e is more common.

Example Sentences

• Das Grundrecht auf freie Meinungsäußerung ist fundamental. (The fundamental right to freedom of expression is essential.)
• Der Schutz der Grundrechte ist Aufgabe des Staates. (The protection of fundamental rights is the task of the state.)
• Mit diesem Gesetz wird in die Grundrechte der Bürger eingegriffen. (This law interferes with the fundamental rights of the citizens.)
• Das Gericht prüfte die Verletzung eines Grundrechts. (The court examined the violation of a fundamental right.)

💡 How is 'das Grundrecht' used?

The term "Grundrecht" is primarily used in legal, political, and social discussions.

• In Law: Often mentioned in relation to the Grundgesetz (GG) or other constitutions. E.g.: "Artikel 1 GG schützt die Menschenwürde als oberstes Grundrecht." (Article 1 of the Basic Law protects human dignity as the supreme fundamental right.)
• In Politics: Debates about laws often touch upon issues of fundamental rights. E.g.: "Die Opposition kritisiert das Gesetz als Eingriff in Grundrechte." (The opposition criticizes the law as an infringement of fundamental rights.)
• In Everyday Life: Also relevant in general discussions about freedom and state actions. E.g.: "Jeder Bürger sollte seine Grundrechte kennen." (Every citizen should know their fundamental rights.)

Distinction from similar terms:

• Menschenrecht (Human Right): Often used synonymously, but human rights are universal for all humans, whereas Grundrechte are specifically guaranteed by a state constitution (although they often implement human rights).
• Bürgerrecht (Civil Right / Citizen's Right): Rights that apply only to citizens of the state (e.g., the right to vote), whereas Grundrechte often protect everyone within the jurisdiction of the constitution.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

For the article 'das': Think of 'das Recht' (the right/law) as something neutral and foundational, like 'das Fundament' (the foundation). It's there for 'das Individuum' (the individual). It's simply 'das' *right!*

For the meaning: Imagine your rights are the Grund (ground, basis) you stand on safely – your Grund-Recht (basic right).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten: "Haben Sie bei der Tat an die Grundrechte gedacht?"
Antwortet der Angeklagte: "Nein, Herr Richter, ich dachte nur: 'Grundgütiger, hoffentlich reicht's!'"

Translation:
The judge asks the defendant: "Did you think about fundamental rights (Grundrechte) during the act?"
The defendant replies: "No, Your Honor, I just thought: 'Good heavens (Grundgütiger), I hope it's enough!'"
(It's a pun: Grundrecht sounds a bit like 'Grund, reicht's?' meaning 'Reason/ground, is it enough?')

✍️ Poem about Grundrecht

Das Fundament der Freiheit

Im Buche fest, aus starkem Grund,
tut es uns seine Rechte kund.
Das Grundrecht, hell und klar,
schützt uns alle, Jahr für Jahr.

Die Würde, frei zu reden, frei zu sein,
lässt keinen Bürger je allein.
Ein Schild, ein Schwert, in Staat und Land,
hält es fest in unserer Hand.

---

The Foundation of Freedom

Firm in the book, from solid ground,
Its rights for us it does expound.
The basic right, so bright and clear,
Protects us all, year after year.

Dignity, free speech, liberty's call,
Leaves no citizen alone to fall.
A shield, a sword, in state and nation,
Held firmly in our generation.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich steh' im Gesetz, ganz oben und fest,
bin für dich da, halt allem stand, im ganzen Land.
Ich schütze deine Meinung, dein Haus, dein Gebet,
bin fundamental, bevor es zu spät.

Was bin ich?

---

I stand in the law, right at the top and firm,
I am there for you, withstand every storm, across the land.
I protect your opinion, your home, your prayer,
I am fundamental, before it's too late to care.

What am I?

Solution: das Grundrecht (the fundamental/basic right)

🧩 Other Information

Word Composition:

The word "Grundrecht" is a compound noun, composed of:

• Grund: Meaning basis, foundation, fundamental reason.
• Recht: Meaning right, entitlement, law.

So, it literally means a "basic right" or "foundational right".

Historical Context: The idea of fundamental rights developed over centuries, with significant milestones like the Magna Carta (1215), the Bill of Rights (1689), the US Declaration of Independence (1776), and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789). Germany's Grundgesetz (Basic Law) of 1949 places the Grundrechte at its very beginning (Articles 1-19 GG), as a direct lesson learned from the atrocities of National Socialism.