die  Belegschaft

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/bəˈleːkʃaft/

👥 What does 'die Belegschaft' mean?

The word die Belegschaft (feminine) refers to the entire staff or workforce of a company, authority, or organization. It's a collective noun that groups employees together.

• It refers to all employees, often regardless of their position (though sometimes excluding top management).
• It is almost always used in the singular because it already describes a group.

🚨 Caution: Don't confuse 'die Belegschaft' with 'der Beleg' (proof, receipt).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Belegschaft

'Belegschaft' is a feminine noun and takes the article 'die'. It belongs to the group of nouns ending in -schaft, which are almost always feminine.

Declension (Singular):

Plural: The plural 'die Belegschaften' is rare and is used when referring to the workforces of multiple different companies.

Example Sentences 📝

1. Die gesamte Belegschaft wurde über die neuen Maßnahmen informiert.
   (The entire staff was informed about the new measures.)
2. Der Betriebsrat vertritt die Interessen der Belegschaft.
   (The works council represents the interests of the workforce.)
3. Sie ist seit über 20 Jahren Teil der Belegschaft.
   (She has been part of the staff for over 20 years.)
4. Die Belegschaften der beiden fusionierten Unternehmen müssen nun zusammenwachsen. (Rare plural)
   (The workforces of the two merged companies now have to grow together.)

✅ How to use 'Belegschaft' correctly

• Context: Mainly used in professional and economic environments. Often found in news, business reports, or discussions about working conditions.
• Tone: Tends to be formal to neutral.
• Difference to 'Mitarbeiter': 'Die Belegschaft' is a collective noun for all employees as a group. 'Die Mitarbeiter' (plural) also refers to the employees but tends to emphasize the individuals within the group. 'Der Mitarbeiter' (singular) refers to a single employee.
• Difference to 'Personal': 'Das Personal' is a very similar term, often interchangeable. 'Belegschaft' sometimes emphasizes the entirety of the production or operational workforce a bit more.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -schaft (Freundschaft, Mannschaft, Gesellschaft) are almost always feminine (die). Think: Die whole membership makes up die Belegschaft. (The '-schaft' sounds a bit like '-ship').

Meaning Mnemonic: Think of the German verb 'belegen' which can mean 'to occupy'. The Belegschaft is the group of people who 'occupy' the workplaces in the company.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms for Belegschaft

⚠️ Similar but Different Words

• Der Beleg: A receipt, proof, voucher (masculine!). Nothing to do with employees.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Chef die Belegschaft: "Wer von Ihnen glaubt, er sei überarbeitet, unterbezahlt und völlig unentbehrlich?"
Alle heben die Hand.
Chef: "Gut, dann machen wir morgen eine Teambuilding-Maßnahme im Hochseilgarten!"

--- Translation ---

The boss asks the staff: "Which of you believes they are overworked, underpaid, and completely indispensable?"
Everyone raises their hand.
Boss: "Good, then tomorrow we'll do a team-building activity at the high-ropes course!"

📜 A Poem about the Belegschaft

Im Werk, im Büro, groß und klein,
schafft Tag für Tag, bei Sonnenschein
und auch bei Regen, Sturm und Wind,
die Belegschaft, geschwind, geschwind.
Ein Rädchen greift ins andre Rad,
für Lohn und Brot, für Stadt und Staat.
Gemeinsam stark, als Einheit zählt,
was diese Gruppe zusammenhält.

--- Translation ---

In the factory, in the office, large and small,
works day by day, in sunshine's call
and also in rain, storm, and wind,
the workforce, swift, swift.
One gear meshes with the next wheel,
for wages and bread, for city and state's weal.
Strong together, counted as one,
what holds this group until day is done.

❓ A Little Riddle

Ich bin ein Ganzes, doch aus vielen,
die täglich nach denselben Zielen
im selben Haus zusammenstreben,
um Lohn für ihre Arbeit zu heben.

Wer bin ich?
... Die Belegschaft

--- Translation ---

I am a whole, yet made of many,
who daily towards the same goals, if any,
strive together in the same house place,
to receive wages for their work's embrace.

Who am I?
... The staff / workforce (die Belegschaft)

💡 Other Information

Word Composition:

The word 'Belegschaft' is composed of:

• belegen: In the sense of 'to occupy' (e.g., einen Platz belegen - to occupy a seat). Here, transferred to the jobs occupied by the employees.
• -schaft: A suffix denoting a collective or group (as in Mannschaft - team, Gesellschaft - society, Freundschaft - friendship).

So, 'Belegschaft' literally means the 'entirety of those who occupy (the jobs)'.