die  Bevölkerung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/bəˈfœlkɐʊŋ/

🌍 What does "die Bevölkerung" mean?

The word die Bevölkerung (feminine) refers to the total number of people living in a specific area (like a country, region, or city). It's a collective noun and is usually used in the singular.

So, it describes the inhabitants or residents of a place at a certain time.

• Main meaning: The entire population of a defined area.

⚠️ There's only this one article ('die') and this one main meaning for 'Bevölkerung'.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "Bevölkerung" in Detail

'Bevölkerung' is a feminine noun. The article is always die. It's primarily used in the singular because it already represents a group. A plural form ('Bevölkerungen') is rare and only used when referring to the populations of different, clearly distinct areas or groups.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural - Rare

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die Bevölkerung Deutschlands wächst langsam. (Germany's population is growing slowly. - Nominative)
2. Die Bedürfnisse der Bevölkerung müssen berücksichtigt werden. (The needs of the population must be considered. - Genitive)
3. Die Regierung dient der Bevölkerung. (The government serves the population. - Dative)
4. Man befragte die Bevölkerung zu ihren Wünschen. (The population was asked about their wishes. - Accusative)
5. Man untersuchte die Gewohnheiten verschiedener Bevölkerungen in Afrika. (The habits of different populations in Africa were studied. - Plural, Accusative - rare)

🗣️ How to Use "die Bevölkerung"

'Bevölkerung' is frequently used in contexts related to demography, sociology, politics, and geography.

• Statistics & Demography: "Die Bevölkerungsdichte in dieser Region ist sehr hoch." (The population density in this region is very high.) Focuses on numerical data.
• Politics & Society: "Die Politik muss auf die Sorgen der Bevölkerung eingehen." (Politics must address the concerns of the population.) Here, the population is viewed as a group of citizens.
• Geography: "Die ländliche Bevölkerung hat andere Bedürfnisse als die städtische." (The rural population has different needs than the urban one.) Differentiates based on settlement area.
• Everyday Language: Less common; people tend to use 'Leute' (people), 'Einwohner' (inhabitants), or 'Menschen' (people/humans). "Die Leute hier sind sehr freundlich." (The people here are very friendly.) is more common than "Die Bevölkerung hier ist sehr freundlich."

Distinction from similar words:

• Volk: Often carries stronger cultural or ethnic connotations, sometimes political (nation's people). 'Bevölkerung' is more neutral, primarily referring to residents of an area.
• Einwohner: A countable noun, referring to individuals. "Die Stadt hat 100.000 Einwohner." (The city has 100,000 inhabitants.) vs. "Die Bevölkerung der Stadt beträgt 100.000." (The population of the city is 100,000.)
• Leute/Menschen: More general and informal terms for people.

💡 Mnemonics for "Bevölkerung"

Article Mnemonic

Remember: Nouns ending in -ung in German are almost always feminine ('die'). Think of die Meinung (opinion), die Wohnung (apartment), and also die Bevölkerung. The '-ung' ending signifies feminine power! 💪‍♀️

Meaning Mnemonic

Imagine a large group of 'folk' (close to German 'Volk') settling ('be-völkern') an area. The entirety of these people is the Bevölkerung (population). Folk -> bevölkern -> Bevölkerung.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar but Different Words

• Bevölkern (verb): The act of populating. "Menschen bevölkern den Planeten." (Humans populate the planet.)
• Bevölkerungsdichte: Population density (inhabitants per unit area).
• Bevölkerungswachstum/-rückgang: Population growth/decline.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Statistiker: "Wie definieren Sie die durchschnittliche Bevölkerung?"
Antwortet der Zyniker: "Eine Person, die zur Hälfte aus Mann und zur Hälfte aus Frau besteht, 0,3 Kinder hat und statistisch gesehen gerade gestorben ist."

Translation:
The statistician asks: "How do you define the average population?"
The cynic replies: "A person who is half man, half woman, has 0.3 children, and statistically just died."

✍️ Poem about the Population

Die Bevölkerung, bunt und schlicht,
Mal laut lachend, mal mit ernstem Gesicht.
In Städten, Dörfern, Land und Flur,
Lebt sie, die Menschenspur.
Jung und Alt, ein steter Fluss,
Bringt Freude, manchmal auch Verdruss.
Gemeinsam stark, im Wandel schnell,
So ist sie, hell und aktuell.

Translation:
The population, colorful and plain,
Sometimes laughing loudly, sometimes with a serious face again.
In cities, villages, land and lea,
It lives, the human decree.
Young and old, a constant flow,
Brings joy, sometimes also woe.
Strong together, changing fast,
So it is, bright and current, built to last.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin die Summe aller Leute,
in einem Land, bis heute.
Mal wachse ich, mal schrumpfe ich klein,
Statistiker zählen mich fein.
Ich habe keinen eignen Kopf,
bin doch mehr als ein einzelner Schopf.

Wer oder was bin ich? ... Die Bevölkerung

Translation:
I am the sum of all the people,
In a country, beneath the steeple.
Sometimes I grow, sometimes I shrink small,
Statisticians count me, standing tall.
I have no single head, it's true,
Yet I'm more than just one or two.

Who or what am I?
... The population (Die Bevölkerung)

🧩 Further Insights

Word Origin & Composition

The word 'Bevölkerung' is derived from the verb bevölkern (to populate) using the suffix -ung, which often forms nouns from verbs, indicating a state, process, or collective entity. 'Bevölkern' itself comes from 'Volk' (people, folk).

Demographic Terms

In the context of demography, there are many related terms:

• Bevölkerungspyramide: Population pyramid (graphical representation of age and sex structure).
• Bevölkerungsentwicklung: Population development (change in population numbers over time).
• Überbevölkerung: Overpopulation (state where the population exceeds the resources of an area).
• Bevölkerungspolitik: Population policy (measures to influence population development).