die  Feindschaft

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈfaɪntʃaft/

🤔 What does "die Feindschaft" mean?

Die Feindschaft (noun, feminine) describes a state or feeling of deep aversion, opposition, or open conflict between people, groups, or even states. It's the opposite of Freundschaft (friendship) and often involves mistrust, hatred (Hass), and the desire to harm the other party.

It's an abstract concept characterizing a relationship marked by mutual rejection and often aggression.

🚨 There is only one article for Feindschaft: "die", as it's a feminine noun (recognizable by the suffix "-schaft").

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Feindschaft

Feindschaft is a feminine noun. The plural "die Feindschaften" is rarely used and usually refers to different types of enmities or enmities between multiple parties. It's often treated as uncountable, similar to 'enmity' or 'friendship' in English.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural - rare

💡 Examples

• Zwischen den beiden Familien herrschte seit Generationen eine tiefe Feindschaft.
  (There had been deep enmity between the two families for generations.)
• Die alte Feindschaft zwischen den Nachbarn flammte wieder auf.
  (The old hostility between the neighbors flared up again.)
• Politische Feindschaften können ein ganzes Land spalten. (Plural)
  (Political enmities can divide an entire country.)

🌐 Usage and Context

Die Feindschaft is used to describe a state of intense and often long-lasting opposition. The term can refer to:

• Personal relationships: Feindschaft between individuals (e.g., neighbors, colleagues).
• Groups: Feindschaft between social groups, clans, or organizations.
• Politics/International Relations: Feindschaft between political parties, nations, or peoples.

Compared to Hass (which is a strong emotion), Feindschaft describes more the state or the relationship that can result from that feeling. A Konflikt (conflict) is often a manifestation of Feindschaft, but can also arise without deep-seated Feindschaft.

One often speaks of "offene Feindschaft" (open hostility) or "verborgene Feindschaft" (hidden enmity).

🧠 Mnemonics & Learning Aids

Article Mnemonic: Think of the suffix "-schaft". Many German nouns ending in "-schaft" are feminine (die) and describe a state, condition, or group (e.g., die Freundschaft - friendship, die Wissenschaft - science). So: die Feindschaft.

Meaning Mnemonic: The word is composed of Feind (enemy) + -schaft (suffix for state/condition). So, it literally means the "state of being enemies". Picture two knights facing each other as foes – that's the state of Feindschaft.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words (Potential Confusion):

• Feindseligkeit: (Hostility) - Often refers more to hostile actions or attitudes, whereas Feindschaft is the underlying state or relationship.

😄 A Little Joke

Warum können Skelette keine Feindschaft empfinden?
Weil sie kein böses Blut haben! 😉

(Why can't skeletons feel enmity?
Because they have no bad blood!)

📜 Poem about Feindschaft

Ein kalter Wind, ein harter Blick,
die Brücke bricht, Stück für Stück.
Wo Lachen war, ist nun Groll,
die Feindschaft fordert ihren Zoll.

Ein dunkler Schatten, schwer und lang,
macht Herzen stumm und Dialog bang.
Doch tief im Keim, ganz leis und sacht,
liegt Frieden oft, bei Tag und Nacht.

(A cold wind, a hard glance,
the bridge breaks, piece by piece.
Where laughter was, now is resentment,
the enmity demands its toll.

A dark shadow, heavy and long,
makes hearts silent and dialogue anxious.
But deep in the seed, very quiet and gentle,
peace often lies, by day and night.)

🧩 Riddle Time

Ich bin das Gegenteil von warmer Hand,
ich wachse oft auf Missverstand.
Ich trenne, was mal eng verbunden war,
und bringe Kälte Jahr für Jahr.

Was bin ich?

(I am the opposite of a warm hand,
I often grow from misunderstanding.
I separate what was once tightly bound,
And bring coldness year after year.

What am I?)

Answer: Die Feindschaft (Enmity)

📌 Interesting Tidbits

Word Composition:

• Feind: Of Germanic origin, originally meaning "the hating one" or "the hated one". Related to the Gothic "fijands".
• -schaft: A suffix forming nouns denoting collectives, states, or relationships (e.g., Brüderschaft - brotherhood, Bereitschaft - readiness, Freundschaft - friendship).

So, die Feindschaft literally means the "state of being an enemy". The concept plays a significant role in history, literature, and politics, from tribal feuds to international conflicts.