die  Dorfgemeinschaft

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈdɔʁfɡəˌmaɪnʃaft/

🤝 What does "die Dorfgemeinschaft" mean?

Die Dorfgemeinschaft refers to the community of people living in a village and the social relationships, bonds, and sense of belonging among them. It's about shared life, mutual help, and often common traditions and festivals in a rural setting.

The word is composed of:

• Dorf: a village (smaller rural settlement)
• Gemeinschaft: a community (a group of people connected by common interests, values, or living circumstances).

Since Gemeinschaft is feminine (die Gemeinschaft), die Dorfgemeinschaft is also feminine. There's only this one article for the word.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📜 Grammar Spotlight: Declension of Dorfgemeinschaft

The noun "Dorfgemeinschaft" is feminine. Here is the declension in singular and plural:

Singular

Plural

The plural "die Dorfgemeinschaften" is used when talking about several different village communities. However, in everyday use, one usually refers to a specific community in the singular.

💡 Example Sentences

1. Die Dorfgemeinschaft organisiert jedes Jahr ein Sommerfest.
   (The village community organizes a summer festival every year.)
2. Der Zusammenhalt in der Dorfgemeinschaft ist sehr stark.
   (The cohesion in the village community is very strong.)
3. Wir unterstützen die lokale Dorfgemeinschaft durch Einkäufe im Dorfladen.
   (We support the local village community by shopping at the village store.)
4. Manche Studien vergleichen verschiedene Dorfgemeinschaften auf dem Land.
   (Some studies compare different village communities in the countryside.)

💬 When to use "Dorfgemeinschaft"?

The term "Dorfgemeinschaft" is used to describe the social fabric and cohesion within a village. Typical contexts include:

• Social Life: Describing festivals, clubs, neighborly help, and common activities (e.g., "Die Dorfgemeinschaft pflegt ihre Traditionen." - The village community cultivates its traditions.).
• Rural Development: Discussions about strengthening rural areas, citizen projects, or tackling common challenges (e.g., "Die Dorfgemeinschaft setzt sich für den Erhalt der Schule ein." - The village community advocates for preserving the school.).
• Identity and Belonging: Expressing the feeling of being part of a local community (e.g., "Er fühlt sich der Dorfgemeinschaft sehr verbunden." - He feels very connected to the village community.).

Compared to "Gemeinde" (which can also mean an administrative unit) or "Nachbarschaft" (neighborhood, which is spatially smaller), "Dorfgemeinschaft" emphasizes the social cohesion and shared life in the specific context of a village more strongly.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic: Think of die Gemeinschaft (the community). The suffix -schaft often indicates a feminine noun in German (like Freundschaft - friendship, Mannschaft - team). So, die Dorfgemeinschaft is also feminine (die).

Meaning Mnemonic: Picture a Dorf (village) where everyone sticks together like a big family – that's the Gemeinschaft (community). Together, they form the Dorfgemeinschaft.

🔄 Similar & Opposite: Synonyms and Antonyms

🚨 Caution: Depending on the context, "Gemeinde" can also mean the political administrative body (town hall, etc.), whereas "Dorfgemeinschaft" always highlights the social aspect.

😄 A Little Joke

Warum erzählt man sich im Dorf keine Geheimnisse?
Weil die Hühner alles ausplaudern und die Dorfgemeinschaft dann sowieso schon Bescheid weiß! 🐔🤫

Translation: Why don't people tell secrets in the village?
Because the chickens blab everything, and the village community knows it all anyway!

✍️ A Poem about the Dorfgemeinschaft

Im kleinen Dorf, wo jeder jeden kennt,
die Dorfgemeinschaft fest zusammenrennt.
Bei Fest und Arbeit, Freud und Leid,
hält man zusammen, allezeit.
Die Kirche in der Mitte thront,
wo altes Brauchtum noch bewohnt.
Ein Netz, das trägt, mal stark, mal schwach,
gemeinsam unterm gleichen Dach.

Translation:
In the small village, where everyone knows everyone,
the village community firmly runs together.
In celebration and work, joy and sorrow,
they stick together, always.
The church sits enthroned in the middle,
where old customs still reside.
A net that supports, sometimes strong, sometimes weak,
together under the same roof.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin kein Mensch, doch leb' ich sehr,
besteh' aus vielen, kreuz und quer.
Man hilft sich aus, bei Tag und Nacht,
hat Feste und viel Spaß gemacht.
Man trifft sich auf dem Dorfplatz klein,
wer könnte diese Gruppe sein?

Translation:
I am not a person, yet I live strongly,
Made up of many, criss and cross.
People help each other, day and night,
Have festivals and lots of fun.
They meet in the small village square,
Who could this group be?

Solution: Die Dorfgemeinschaft (The village community)

💡 Trivia & Word Origin

Word Composition:

The word "Dorfgemeinschaft" is a compound noun, made up of:

• das Dorf: The village (a small rural settlement).
• die Gemeinschaft: The community (a group of people with shared characteristics or goals).

Cultural Significance:

The idea of the Dorfgemeinschaft has a long tradition in Germany and is often romanticized, though it can also imply social control. It plays an important role in the self-perception of rural regions and is frequently a subject of sociological studies.