der  Migrationshintergrund

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/miɡʁaˈt͡si̯oːnshɪntɐˌɡʁʊnt/

🌍 What does "der Migrationshintergrund" mean?

The term Migrationshintergrund (migration background) describes the fact that a person themselves, or at least one parent, was not born with German citizenship or immigrated to Germany. It's a statistical and sociological characteristic frequently used in Germany to describe the population structure.

There are various definitions depending on the context (e.g., Mikrozensus - microcensus). It usually includes:

• Immigrated persons (regardless of their citizenship).
• Foreigners born in Germany.
• Germans born in Germany where at least one parent immigrated or was born in Germany as a foreigner.

⚠️ The term is purely descriptive and says nothing about an individual's identity, integration, or legal status. It is sometimes subject to critical discussion.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Der Migrationshintergrund

The word "Migrationshintergrund" is a masculine noun. Its declension is as follows:

📝 Example Sentences

1. In der Statistik wird oft nach dem Migrationshintergrund gefragt.
   In statistics, the migration background is often asked about.
2. Viele Menschen mit Migrationshintergrund bereichern die deutsche Kultur.
   Many people with a migration background enrich German culture.
3. Der Migrationshintergrund einer Person sollte kein Grund für Diskriminierung sein.
   A person's migration background should not be a reason for discrimination.
4. Die Definition des Migrationshintergrunds variiert leicht je nach Erhebung.
   The definition of migration background varies slightly depending on the survey.

🗣️ How is "Migrationshintergrund" used?

The term "Migrationshintergrund" is primarily used in the following contexts:

• Statistics and Demography: To record and describe the population composition (e.g., in the Mikrozensus).
• Social Sciences: To analyze social phenomena such as integration, educational opportunities, or labor market participation.
• Politics and Administration: As a basis for political measures and support programs (e.g., Integrationskurse - integration courses).
• Media and Public Debates: In discussions about immigration, integration, and social diversity.

It's important to note that the term is sometimes perceived as stigmatizing, as it draws a distinction between people with and without an immigration history, even if they were born and raised in Germany. Alternatives or more precise formulations like "Personen mit Einwanderungsgeschichte" (people with an immigration history) are sometimes preferred but haven't become universally established.

💡 Mnemonics to Remember

Article Mnemonic: Think of "der Hintergrund" (the background). Since "Hintergrund" is masculine (der), the compound word "der Migrationshintergrund" is also masculine. The migration happens in the background (der).

Meaning Mnemonic: Break down the word: Migration (migration) + Hintergrund (background, origin). It describes the background or origin of a person related to migration (their own or their ancestors').

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Be cautious: Terms like "ausländische Wurzeln" can be inaccurate and reflect outdated notions of nationality.

😄 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Statistiker immer einen Stift dabei?
Um den Migrationshintergrund zu unterstreichen! 😉

Why does the statistician always carry a pen?
To underline (emphasize) the migration background! 😉 (Pun: 'unterstreichen' means both 'to underline' and 'to emphasize')

📜 A Little Poem

Von weit her kam die Reise,
mal laut und mal ganz leise.
Ein Wort beschreibt, was war,Migrationshintergrund, ganz klar.
Doch mehr als nur ein Wort im Pass,

From afar the journey came,
Sometimes loud and sometimes tame.
A word describes what was before,
Migration background, nothing more?
But more than just a term you see,
Is every person, you and me,
With dreams to live and build anew,
Giving the land something true.

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich bin ein Wort aus Amt und Zahl,

Was bin ich?
... Der Migrationshintergrund

I am a word from office and count,
Describing origins, sometimes pain's amount.
I speak of parents, maybe you,
Were they once foreign, not long through?
Though you were born upon this ground,
I'm often on the forms you've found.

What am I?
... Der Migrationshintergrund (Migration background)

✨ Other Information

Word Composition

The word is a compound noun, composed of:

• Migration (migration, immigration)
• -s- (a linking 's', often used to connect nouns)
• Hintergrund (background, origin, context)

Origin

The term became established in Germany from the 1990s onwards, particularly in the context of social research and official statistics, to capture the growing group of people who had immigrated themselves or whose ancestors had immigrated, regardless of their current citizenship.