der  Landkreis

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈlandˌkʁaɪs/

🗺️ What exactly is a Landkreis?

A Landkreis (sometimes just called Kreis) is an administrative district in Germany. It ranks above the Gemeinden (municipalities) and below the Bundesländer (federal states) or Regierungsbezirke (governmental districts), depending on the state. The Landkreis handles tasks that are too large or specialized for the individual municipalities, e.g., supra-local social welfare, waste management, public transport, or health services.

It's a territorial authority with its own administration (Landratsamt or Kreisverwaltung) and an elected Kreistag (district council) as its political body. The head of the administration is the Landrat (district administrator).

⚠️ Don't confuse it with a kreisfreie Stadt (independent city), which performs similar functions to a Landkreis but is not part of one.

🧐 Grammar: Declining 'der Landkreis'

The noun "Landkreis" is masculine. Here are the declension tables:

📝 Example Sentences

1. Der Landkreis München ist sehr bevölkerungsreich.
   (The district of Munich is very populous.)
2. Die Zuständigkeit liegt beim Landkreis.
   (The responsibility lies with the district.)
3. Wir fuhren durch mehrere Landkreise.
   (We drove through several districts.)
4. Das Landratsamt ist die Verwaltung des Landkreises.
   (The district office is the administration of the district.)

🏢 How and when is 'Landkreis' used?

The term "Landkreis" is mainly used in the administrative and political context of Germany. It designates a specific level of local government.

• In official language (Amtsdeutsch): In official documents, laws, and regulations to denote the administrative level.
• In the news: When reporting on regional politics, elections (Kreistagswahl, Landratswahl), infrastructure projects, or disaster control at the district level.
• In everyday life: When talking about responsibilities (e.g., vehicle registration, building permits outside cities), or when describing geographical areas larger than a single municipality.

Distinctions:

• Kreis: Often used synonymously with Landkreis, especially in North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein, where the official term is just "Kreis".
• Kreisfreie Stadt: An urban district or independent city that is not part of a Landkreis and handles its tasks itself (e.g., Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne).
• Regierungsbezirk: A higher administrative level in some larger federal states (e.g., Bavaria, NRW), comprising several Landkreise and kreisfreie Städte.
• Bundesland: The highest federal level below the federal government, to which the Landkreise belong.

💡 Mnemonics to Remember

Article 'der'

Think of "der Kreis" (the circle, the district). A Landkreis is a type of large administrative circle covering the Land (countryside). Since "Kreis" is masculine (der Kreis), "der Landkreis" is also masculine.

Meaning

A Landkreis is a Kreis (district/circle) that covers the Land (countryside, as opposed to a city-district) and includes multiple municipalities. It takes care of the affairs ('circles') concerning the surrounding area.

🔄 Similar and Contrasting Terms

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Städter den Bauern: "Sagen Sie mal, wo endet hier eigentlich der Landkreis?"
Antwortet der Bauer: "Normalerweise am Ortsschild. Aber wenn der Landrat schlechte Laune hat, manchmal auch schon an seiner Bürotür!"

Translation:
A city dweller asks a farmer: "Excuse me, where does the Landkreis actually end here?"
The farmer replies: "Normally at the town sign. But when the district administrator is in a bad mood, sometimes right at his office door!"

📜 Poem about the Landkreis

Der Landkreis

Weites Land und kleine Stadt,
der Landkreis viel zu bieten hat.
Verwaltung, die zusammenhält,
\was übers Land hinaus sich zählt.

Vom Amt für Jugend bis zum Müll,
\erfüllt er Aufgaben ganz still.
Der Landrat lenkt mit Plan und Sicht,
damit die Ordnung nicht zerbricht.

Ein Kreis, der Dörfer fest umschließt,
\wo man Gemeinschaft noch genießt.

Translation:
Wide country and small town,
the district has much renown.
Administration holding tight,
what counts beyond the village light.

From youth office to refuse,
it fulfills tasks, no excuse.
The Landrat steers with plan and sight,
so order doesn't lose its might.

A circle embracing villages near,
where community is still held dear.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich bin kein Dorf, ich bin keine Stadt,
\doch viele Gemeinden ich unter mir hab'.
Ich kümmre mich um Straßen, Schulen, Müll im Land,
\mit 'nem Landrat an der Spitze, bin ich dir bekannt?
Mein Name klingt nach Gegend und nach Rund, wer bin ich wohl in dieser Stund'?

Translation:
I'm not a village, I'm not a city,
but many municipalities report to me.
I care for roads, schools, waste across the land,
with a Landrat at the top, am I known throughout the land?
My name sounds like area and like round,
who am I, can my name be found?

Solution: der Landkreis

🧩 Further Information

Word Composition

The word "Landkreis" is a compound noun, formed from:

• Land: Referring to the rural area, the 'countryside', as opposed to a (large) city.
• Kreis: Meaning 'circle', referring to a defined district or administrative area.

Trivia

• The size and population of Landkreise in Germany vary considerably.
• The designation "Kreis" instead of "Landkreis" is historical and remains the official term in some states (NRW, SH).
• In Austria, the equivalent of a Landkreis is the "Bezirk"; in Switzerland, it's the "Bezirk" or "Kanton" (depending on the structure).