die  Gemeinsamkeit

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɡəˈmaɪnzaːmkaɪt/

🤝 What is 'die Gemeinsamkeit'?

Die Gemeinsamkeit (noun, feminine) describes an aspect shared by two or more people, things, or groups. It can refer to shared interests (gemeinsame Interessen), characteristics (Eigenschaften), experiences (Erfahrungen), or goals (Ziele). It emphasizes what connects and is similar.

• Shared quality/interest: Something that people or things have in common. Example: Ihre Liebe zur Musik war ihre größte Gemeinsamkeit (Their love for music was their greatest commonality).
• Common action/solidarity: The feeling of togetherness or acting jointly. Example: Die Gemeinsamkeit im Team führte zum Erfolg (The common ground/solidarity in the team led to success).

It's an abstract noun, often used in the plural (die Gemeinsamkeiten) to highlight multiple shared points.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar Corner: Declining Gemeinsamkeit

The word "Gemeinsamkeit" is a feminine noun. The ending -keit typically indicates a feminine noun (die).

Declension:

Example Sentences:

• Trotz ihrer Unterschiede fanden sie eine Gemeinsamkeit. (Despite their differences, they found something in common.) - Accusative Singular
• Die Stärke ihrer Freundschaft lag in den vielen Gemeinsamkeiten. (The strength of their friendship lay in their many commonalities.) - Dative Plural
• Wir müssen uns auf die Gemeinsamkeiten konzentrieren, nicht auf die Unterschiede. (We must concentrate on the commonalities, not the differences.) - Accusative Plural
• Das Gefühl der Gemeinsamkeit war in der Gruppe stark spürbar. (The feeling of common ground/togetherness was strongly felt in the group.) - Genitive Singular (often also with preposition: 'von Gemeinsamkeit')

💡 Using 'Gemeinsamkeit' in Context

"Gemeinsamkeit" is frequently used when talking about relationships (Beziehungen), groups (Gruppen), or comparisons (Vergleiche).

• Relationships: To describe the basis of a friendship, partnership, or family bond. "Unsere gemeinsamen Urlaube schufen viele schöne Gemeinsamkeiten." (Our shared holidays created many nice commonalities/shared memories.)
• Group dynamics: To emphasize cohesion or shared goals within a group. "Die Gemeinsamkeit im Team war der Schlüssel zum Erfolg." (The common ground/sense of unity in the team was the key to success.)
• Comparisons: To highlight similarities between concepts, objects, or ideas. "Es gibt überraschende Gemeinsamkeiten zwischen den beiden Theorien." (There are surprising commonalities between the two theories.)
• Conflict resolution: To find a basis for understanding and cooperation. "Lasst uns nach Gemeinsamkeiten suchen, um den Streit beizulegen." (Let's look for common ground to settle the argument.)

Distinction: While Ähnlichkeit (similarity) can often be more superficial, Gemeinsamkeit often implies a deeper connection or a consciously shared trait.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Article Mnemonic: Words ending in -keit (like Fröhlichkeit, Heiterkeit, Sauberkeit) are almost always feminine in German. So, just like these, Gemeinsamkeit gets die!

Meaning Mnemonic: "Gemeinsamkeit" contains the word "gemeinsam," which means together or shared. What you have gemeinsam (in common) is a Gemeinsamkeit. Think of it as the 'shared-ness' that makes a community (Gemeinschaft).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Watch out: Gemeinheit means nastiness or meanness and is NOT a synonym!

😄 A Little Joke

German: Warum haben Mathematiker und Philosophen so viele Gemeinsamkeiten?
Weil sie beide oft über Dinge streiten, die für andere Leute gar nicht existieren! 😉

English: Why do mathematicians and philosophers have so much in common (so viele Gemeinsamkeiten)?
Because they both often argue about things that don't even exist for other people! 😉

✍️ Poem about Connection

German:
Ein Lächeln, ein Wort, ein gleicher Sinn,
liegt oft die Gemeinsamkeit darin.
Ein Hobby, ein Traum, ein alter Brauch,
verbindet Herzen, leise, aber auch.
Ob nah, ob fern, ob alt, ob jung,
sie schafft Verständnis, gibt uns Schwung.
Die kleine Brücke, zart und fein,
lässt uns im Andern uns erkennen – nicht allein.

English Translation:
A smile, a word, a similar sense,
often lies the commonality hence.
A hobby, a dream, an old tradition's way,
connects hearts, softly, but also holds sway.
Whether near or far, whether old or young,
it fosters understanding, gives us momentum, high-strung.
The little bridge, delicate and fine,
lets us see ourselves in others – not alone, we shine.

❓ What am I?

German:
Ich bin das Band, das Freunde schlingt,
die Melodie, die gleich erklingt.
Ich wohne in geteilter Freud,
und auch in manchem kleinen Leid.
Ich wachse, wenn man sich versteht,
und schrumpfe, wenn der Streit entsteht.
Suchst du im Wir das starke Band,
hast du mich sicher schnell erkannt.

English Translation / Clues:
I am the bond that ties friends tight,
the melody that sounds just right.
I dwell in shared joy and delight,
and also in some sorrow's plight.
I grow when understanding's near,
and shrink when arguments appear.
If you seek the 'us' in 'we', the strand,
you'll surely quickly understand.

Solution: die Gemeinsamkeit (commonality / common ground)

🧩 Word Building Blocks & More

Word Composition:

The word "Gemeinsamkeit" is derived from the adjective gemeinsam (common, shared, together) and the suffix -keit. The suffix "-keit" (like "-heit") is used to form feminine nouns from adjectives or participles, describing a quality, state, or behaviour.

• gemeinsam: together, shared, common
• -keit: suffix for forming nouns (feminine)

Cultural Note: Finding and nurturing Gemeinsamkeiten (commonalities) is important in German culture, as in many others, for social harmony and cohesion (Zusammenhalt).