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Mitbewohner
🫂 What exactly is a Mitbewohner?
A Mitbewohner is a male person who lives together with one or more other people in the same apartment or house, without necessarily being related. It typically refers to someone you share rent and common areas with, often in a shared flat known as a Wohngemeinschaft (WG).
The word is specifically masculine. The feminine form is die Mitbewohnerin.
🚨 Caution: Don't confuse der Mitbewohner with der Untermieter (subtenant). An Untermieter rents only a part of the flat from the main tenant, whereas Mitbewohner are often equal tenants in the main lease agreement or at least share the flat communally.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Male characters → always masculine.
Caution: Most professions also have their feminine forms (e.g. die Polizistin). Some words can also have two forms: der/die Deutsche, der/die Kranke.
-ner → almost always masculine.
Compare with the category '-er'.
-er → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. almost all -euer nouns are neutral. 3. There are many -er words, we don't list them all.
🧐 Grammar: Der Mitbewohner in Detail
The noun "Mitbewohner" is masculine and follows the N-Deklination (N-declension). This means it adds an -(e)n ending in all cases except the nominative singular.
Declension Masculine: der Mitbewohner
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Mitbewohner |
| Genitive | des | Mitbewohnern |
| Dative | dem | Mitbewohnern |
| Accusative | den | Mitbewohnern |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Mitbewohner |
| Genitive | der | Mitbewohner |
| Dative | den | Mitbewohnern |
| Accusative | die | Mitbewohner |
Example Sentences
- Mein neuer Mitbewohner kommt aus Spanien.
(My new flatmate is from Spain.) - Ich habe mit meinem Mitbewohnern über den Putzplan gesprochen.
(I talked to my flatmate about the cleaning schedule.) (Note: Dative singular uses 'Mitbewohnern') - Das Fahrrad gehört dem Mitbewohnern aus dem Zimmer nebenan.
(The bike belongs to the flatmate from the room next door.) (Note: Dative singular uses 'Mitbewohnern') - Hast du den Mitbewohnern schon gesehen?
(Have you seen the flatmate yet?) (Note: Accusative singular uses 'Mitbewohnern') - Wir suchen noch zwei nette Mitbewohner für unsere WG.
(We are still looking for two nice flatmates for our shared flat.) (Note: Plural)
💡 How to use "Mitbewohner"?
The term "Mitbewohner" is primarily used in the context of living together in a shared apartment or house, especially in Wohngemeinschaften (WGs), which translates to 'shared flats' or 'flatshares'. This is a very common form of living in Germany, particularly among students and young adults.
- Typical Situations: WG-Leben (life in a shared flat), sharing kitchen and bathroom, common household chores, WG parties.
- Distinction: A Mitbewohner shares the living space communally. An Untermieter (subtenant) has a separate rental agreement with the main tenant for a part of the living space. A Gast (guest) lives there only temporarily and usually for free. A Familienmitglied (family member) also lives together, but the relationship is primarily familial.
- Connotation: The word is neutral, but its connotation can be positive or negative depending on personal experience. A good relationship with one's Mitbewohner is often crucial for harmonious cohabitation.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
Remembering the Article
Imagine: Der (the masculine) cool Man (starts with M, masculine) Moves In To BE With OHtNers (phonetic hint for Mitbewohner) is der Mitbewohner.
Remembering the Meaning
Think of the parts: Mit means 'with' or 'co-'. Bewohner means 'resident' or 'inhabitant'. So, a Mitbewohner is a 'co-resident' – someone who lives with you. Easy, right? 😉
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- WG-Kollege / WG-Genosse: Emphasizes living in a shared flat (WG). (Kollege = colleague, Genosse = comrade/fellow)
- Zimmergenosse: Often implies sharing a room directly (less common) or at least the apartment. (Zimmer = room)
- Hausgenosse: Someone living in the same house (can also mean separate apartments, but sometimes used synonymously). (Haus = house)
Antonyms/Related Concepts (Opposite or Different Relationship)
- Alleinbewohner: Someone who lives alone. (allein = alone)
- Vermieter: Landlord/landlady. (person who rents out the property)
- Untermieter: Subtenant. (rents part of the flat from the main tenant)
- Familienmitglied: Family member. (lives together due to family ties)
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt ein Mitbewohner den anderen: "Sag mal, warum sprichst du eigentlich beim Kochen immer mit dem Käse?"
Antwortet der andere: "Na, auf der Packung steht doch: 'Reibekäse - ideal zum Überbacken und Unterhalten'!"
Translation:
One flatmate asks the other: "Say, why do you always talk to the cheese when you're cooking?"
The other replies: "Well, it says right here on the package: 'Grated cheese - ideal for baking au gratin and entertaining/conversing'!" (The joke plays on the double meaning of "unterhalten": to entertain/converse and to maintain/support, though the cheese context strongly suggests the former here in a funny way).
🎤 A Poem about the Mitbewohner
Der Mitbewohner, mal laut, mal leise,
Teilt Küchentisch und Lebensreise.
Mal Freund, mal Fremder unter einem Dach,
Das WG-Leben hält uns wach.
Mal Spüldienst-Streit, mal Party-Nacht,
Man hat zusammen viel gelacht.
Translation:
The flatmate, sometimes loud, sometimes quiet,
Shares kitchen table and life's journey.
Sometimes friend, sometimes stranger under one roof,
Shared-flat life keeps us awake.
Sometimes dish duty disputes, sometimes party night,
Together, much laughter took flight.
🧩 Who am I? A Riddle
Ich teile Tür und Tisch mit dir,
Doch bin kein Bruder, glaub es mir.
Ich zahle Miete, genau wie du,
In unserer gemeinsamen Wohnungsruh'.
Wer bin ich (männlich)?
(Lösung/Solution: Der Mitbewohner)
Translation:
I share door and table with you,
But am no brother, believe it's true.
I pay rent, just like you do,
In our shared apartment's calm view.
Who am I (male)?
(Solution: The flatmate / der Mitbewohner)
🤓 Trivia & Composition
Word Composition: The word "Mitbewohner" is a compound noun, composed of:
- mit-: A preposition/prefix expressing community or participation (e.g., mitmachen - to participate, Mitschüler - classmate).
- Bewohner: A resident or inhabitant (from "wohnen" - to live, reside).
Cultural Aspect: The concept of the Wohngemeinschaft (WG) and thus the Mitbewohner is very widespread and culturally ingrained in Germany, especially in student life. There are countless stories, guides, and even films about WG-Leben (life in a shared flat).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Mitbewohner?
The word "Mitbewohner" refers to a male roommate or flatmate and is grammatically masculine. The correct article is der Mitbewohner. The feminine form is "die Mitbewohnerin", and the plural is "die Mitbewohner".