der  Volksmund

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈfɔlksmʊnt/

🗣️ What Does 'der Volksmund' Actually Mean?

Der Volksmund refers to the traditional, often orally transmitted way of speaking of the common people. It includes:

• Vernacular and idioms: Words and phrases common in everyday language but not necessarily standard written German (e.g., Sprichwörter (proverbs), Redensarten (sayings)).
• Lay opinion / Popular belief: A widespread but not necessarily scientifically founded opinion or explanation for something. One often says "im Volksmund heißt es..." (in common parlance it is said...) to quote such a view.

So, it's about the way "the people" (das Volk) speak, think, or name things, often passed down through generations. ⚠️ Caution: Don't confuse it with specific dialects (Dialekte or Mundarten), although there can be overlaps. Der Volksmund is more of an overarching concept of popular language and wisdom.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Declining 'der Volksmund'

Der Volksmund is a masculine noun. It is almost exclusively used in the singular, as it describes an abstract concept. A plural form ("die Volksmünder") theoretically exists but is practically never used.

Declension (Singular)

Example Sentences

1. Im Volksmund nennt man diese Pflanze auch "Himmelschlüssel".
   (In common parlance, this plant is also called 'cowslip' / 'key to heaven'.)
2. Laut Volksmund bringt ein Schornsteinfeger Glück.
   (According to popular belief / the vernacular, a chimney sweep brings good luck.)
3. Man sollte nicht alles glauben, was der Volksmund erzählt.
   (One shouldn't believe everything that common parlance / popular lore tells.)
4. Die Weisheit des Volksmund(e)s steckt oft in alten Sprichwörtern.
   (The wisdom of the common people is often found in old proverbs.)

💬 When and How to Use 'Volksmund'?

The term der Volksmund is mostly used to refer to non-scientific, traditional, or widely known names, explanations, or beliefs. Typical contexts include:

• Naming things: "Diese Krankheit ist im Volksmund als 'Alter Zucker' bekannt." (This illness is known in common parlance as 'old sugar' [colloquial for type 2 diabetes].)
• Idioms/Proverbs: "Wie der Volksmund sagt: 'Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund'." (As the saying goes / As common wisdom has it: 'The early bird catches the worm'.)
• Popular opinions/Superstitions: "Laut Volksmund soll man bei Gewitter nicht unter Eichen stehen." (According to popular belief, one shouldn't stand under oak trees during a thunderstorm.)

Set Phrases: The expressions "im Volksmund" (in common parlance) and "laut Volksmund" (according to popular belief/vernacular) are particularly common.

Distinction from other terms:

• Umgangssprache (colloquial language): Is broader and refers generally to spoken everyday language, not just traditional expressions.
• Dialekt/Mundart (dialect): Refers to a regionally specific language variety with its own grammar and vocabulary. Der Volksmund can incorporate dialectal elements but isn't limited to a specific region.
• Fachsprache (technical language/jargon): The opposite of Volksmund; the precise language used by experts.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'der Volksmund'

For the article 'der': Think of "der Mund" (the mouth). The people (Volk) symbolically have ONE mouth that speaks: der Volksmund. It's a masculine concept representing the 'voice' of the people.

For the meaning: Imagine many mouths (der Mund) among the folk (Volk) passing down the same stories, sayings, and names over generations. This collective voice is der Volksmund – common parlance or popular lore.

🔄 Synonyms, Antonyms, and Look-alikes

⚠️ Beware of "Mundart": Although it sounds similar (Mund = mouth), Mundart means dialect, i.e., a regional form of language. Volksmund, on the other hand, refers more broadly to popular expressions and beliefs, often across regions.

😄 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Volksmund immer Recht?

Weil er so viele Münder hat, dass irgendjemand schon die Wahrheit sagen muss! 😄

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Why is the 'Volksmund' (common parlance/popular belief) always right?

Because it has so many mouths that someone is bound to tell the truth eventually! 😄

📜 Poem about 'Volksmund'

Der Volksmund spricht in Reimen oft,
Was Weisheit tief im Herzen hofft.
Ein Spruch, ein Wort, bekannt und alt,
Das Wissen durch die Zeiten hallt.
Mal derb, mal fein, mal voller Witz,
Im Alltag hat er seinen Sitz.
Er nennt die Dinge gradheraus,
Im Wirtshaus und Zuhaus'.

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The common tongue often speaks in rhymes,
What wisdom deep in the heart chimes.
A saying, a word, known and old,
Whose knowledge through the ages is told.
Sometimes coarse, sometimes fine, sometimes full of wit,
In everyday life, it has its fit.
It calls things straight out, plain to see,
In the tavern and in the family.

🧩 A Riddle to Puzzle Over

Ich habe viele Münder, doch keinen Kopf allein.
Ich spreche Wahrheiten und manchmal auch nur Schein.
In Sprichwörtern lebe ich, in Redensarten fort.
Wer bin ich, dieser sprachgewaltige Ort?

Lösung: Der Volksmund

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I have many mouths, but no head alone.
I speak truths and sometimes just illusion shown.
In proverbs I live, in sayings I carry on.
Who am I, this place of powerful spoken brawn?

Solution: Der Volksmund (common parlance / popular belief)

🧩 Little 'Volksmund' Trivia

Word Composition

The word Volksmund is a compound of:

• Das Volk: The people, often in the sense of 'common people'.
• Der Mund: The mouth, here symbolically representing speech and expression.

So it literally means "the mouth of the people".

Cultural Significance

Der Volksmund is a carrier of culture, traditions, and collective experience. Many proverbs and sayings still in use today originate from the Volksmund and reflect historical ways of life and values.