der  Konzern

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/kɔnˈt͡sɛʁn/

🏢 What exactly is a Konzern?

A Konzern (masculine, article: der) refers to a group of legally independent companies operating under unified economic management. The individual companies (Tochtergesellschaften - subsidiary companies) are dependent on a dominant company (Muttergesellschaft - parent company).

Imagine a large tree: The parent company is the trunk, and the subsidiaries are the branches, all belonging to the same tree and nourished by it.

🚨 Important: A Konzern is more than just a large company (Unternehmen); it's a group of companies.

🧐 Grammar: Declension of 'der Konzern'

The word "Konzern" is a masculine noun. Here are the declension tables:

📝 Example Sentences

1. Der Automobilhersteller ist Teil eines riesigen internationalen Konzerns.
   (The car manufacturer is part of a huge international corporate group.)
2. Die Bilanzen der einzelnen Tochtergesellschaften werden im Konzernabschluss zusammengeführt.
   (The balance sheets of the individual subsidiaries are consolidated in the group financial statement.)
3. Viele Mitarbeiter arbeiten für diesen Konzern.
   (Many employees work for this corporate group.)
4. Die Entscheidung wurde auf Konzernebene getroffen.
   (The decision was made at the group level.)

💡 How to use 'Konzern'?

The term "Konzern" is primarily used in economic and legal contexts.

• Typical Contexts: Business news, company reports, legal discussions about corporate structures, labor market analyses.
• Distinction: An Unternehmen (company) can be of any size, from a sole proprietorship to a large corporation. A Konzern is always a group of legally distinct companies under common management. A Holding (holding company) is often the parent company of a Konzern, primarily holding shares in other firms.
• Common Usage: People often talk about "große Konzerne" (large corporate groups), "internationale Konzerne" (international corporate groups), or "im Konzern arbeiten" (working for the corporate group).

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic: Think of the DERanged amount of power a huge corporate group has – it's der Konzern. (Connects 'der' with power/masculine).

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine multiple companies concerned with the same overall business strategy, forming a group – that's a Konzern! (Connects the sound 'Konzern' with 'concern').

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Caution: Not every large Unternehmen (company) is automatically a Konzern. A Konzern always consists of multiple affiliated companies.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Haben Sie schon Konzernerfahrung?"
Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: "Nein, aber ich habe schon mal Monopoly gespielt!"

Translation:
The boss asks the new employee: "Do you have any experience with corporate groups (Konzernerfahrung)?"
The employee replies: "No, but I've played Monopoly before!"

📜 Poem about the Konzern

Ein Riese, stark und sehr potent,
der Konzern, man ihn gut kennt.
Mit Töchtern hier und Firmen dort,
an manchem fernen, fremden Ort.
Er lenkt, er leitet, groß und breit,
in der globalen Wirtschaftszeit.

Translation:
A giant, strong and very potent,
the Konzern, well known to us.
With subsidiaries here and companies there,
in many a distant, foreign square.
It directs, it leads, vast and wide,
in the global economic tide.

❓ A Little Riddle

Ich bin kein einzelnes Haus, doch hab ein Dach,
besteh' aus vielen Firmen, bin stets wach.
Rechtlich getrennt, doch wirtschaftlich vereint,
als großer Player oft erscheine.

Wer bin ich?

Translation:
I'm not a single house, yet I have a roof,
I consist of many companies, always aloof (in terms of legal separation).
Legally separate, but economically combined,
As a major player, I often shine.

Who am I?

Solution: der Konzern

🌐 More about the Konzern

Word Composition & Origin: The word "Konzern" comes from the Latin verb concernere, which originally meant "to mix together, combine". Figuratively, this evolved into the meaning "to concern, relate to" and eventually, in the economic context, the term for a corporate group.

Well-known Konzerne: Many famous brands belong to large corporate groups, e.g., Volkswagen AG, Siemens AG, Bayer AG (Germany) or Alphabet Inc. (Google), Apple Inc. (USA).