die  Gemeinschaft

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɡəˈmaɪnʃaft/

🤝 What does "die Gemeinschaft" mean?

Die Gemeinschaft (noun, feminine) describes a group of people connected by common interests, goals, values, origin, or living circumstances. It often emphasizes a feeling of belonging, solidarity, and mutual trust. A Gemeinschaft can be small (e.g., a family, a shared flat - Wohngemeinschaft) or large (e.g., a village community - Dorfgemeinschaft, a religious community - Religionsgemeinschaft, the international community - internationale Gemeinschaft).

In contrast to the often more objective and larger "Gesellschaft" (society), the "Gemeinschaft" focuses on personal bonds and a sense of 'we-ness'.

🚨 Attention: The adjective "gemein" can mean both "common/shared" and "mean/nasty". However, in the word "Gemeinschaft", only the meaning "common/shared" is relevant.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "die Gemeinschaft"

"Gemeinschaft" is a feminine noun. The article is die. Its declension is as follows:

Singular

Plural

Example Sentences

1. Die Dorfbewohner bildeten eine starke Gemeinschaft. (The village inhabitants formed a strong community.)
2. Der Zusammenhalt innerhalb der Gemeinschaft war beeindruckend. (The cohesion within the community was impressive.)
3. Er trat einer religiösen Gemeinschaft bei. (He joined a religious community.)
4. Wir schätzen die Gemeinschaft in unserer Nachbarschaft sehr. (We really appreciate the community in our neighborhood.)
5. In dieser Stadt gibt es viele verschiedene kulturelle Gemeinschaften. (In this city, there are many different cultural communities.)

💡 How to use "Gemeinschaft"?

"Gemeinschaft" is used to describe various types of groups where a sense of connection is important:

• Social groups: Familie (family), Freundeskreis (circle of friends), Nachbarschaft (neighborhood), Verein (club, association), Club (e.g., Sportgemeinschaft - sports community, Wohngemeinschaft - shared housing).
• Ideological or religious groups: Glaubensgemeinschaft (faith community), Ordensgemeinschaft (religious order).
• Economic or legal associations: Erbengemeinschaft (community of heirs), Gütergemeinschaft (community of property), Europäische Gemeinschaft (European Community - historical).
• Larger social units: Dorfgemeinschaft (village community), Völkergemeinschaft (community of nations), internationale Gemeinschaft (international community).

The term often emphasizes emotional bonds, shared values, and mutual support, in contrast to "Gesellschaft" (society), which tends to describe more structural, formal, or anonymous relationships. One can be part of a Gesellschaft (e.g., German society) but feel a closer bond within a Gemeinschaft (e.g., a church congregation - Kirchengemeinde).

🧠 Mnemonics for Gemeinschaft

Article Mnemonic: Think of words ending in "-schaft" like die Mannschaft (the team) or die Freundschaft (the friendship) – they are usually feminine. So, it's die Gemeinschaft.

Meaning Mnemonic: Think "common ground makes the 'schaft' (shaft/group)". Gemein means common or shared, and "-schaft" often indicates a group or state. A Gemeinschaft is built on common ground.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar words: "Gesellschaft" (society) is an important term often contrasted with "Gemeinschaft". "Gemeinde" can be a synonym depending on context (Dorfgemeinschaft vs. Dorfgemeinde) or have a more specific meaning (politische Gemeinde - municipality, Kirchengemeinde - parish/congregation).

😄 A little Joke

Warum teilen Ameisen ihre Kekse nie?
Weil sie Angst haben, dass die Krümel die ganze Gemeinschaft auf den Plan rufen!

(Why do ants never share their cookies?
Because they're afraid the crumbs will alert the whole community!)

✍️ Poem about Community

Ein Band, das hält, uns fest vereint,
Wo jeder teilt, was er gemeint.
In Freud und Leid, bei Tag und Nacht,
Gibt Stärke uns der Gemeinschaft Macht.
Gemeinsam lachen, schaffen, sein,
So fühlt sich niemand ganz allein.

(A bond that holds, unites us tight,
Where everyone shares what they think is right.
In joy and sorrow, day and night,
The community's power gives us might.
Laughing, creating, being together,
So no one feels alone, ever.)

❓ Riddle

Ich bin mehr als nur ein Haufen Leute,
Ich biete Schutz und teile Beute (im übertragenen Sinne!).
Man findet mich im Dorf, im Verein,
Was kann ich nur sein? ... Die Gemeinschaft

(I am more than just a bunch of people,
I offer protection and share the spoils (figuratively!).
You find me in the village, in the club,
What can I possibly be?
... The community)

🧩 Other Information

Word Composition:

"Gemeinschaft" is composed of:

• gemein: Here in the sense of "common", "belonging together". It derives from the Old High German "gimeini" (common, general).
• -schaft: A suffix denoting a state, condition, quality, or a collective group of people (as in Freundschaft - friendship, Landschaft - landscape, Mannschaft - team).

Sociology: The sociologist Ferdinand Tönnies famously distinguished between "Gemeinschaft" (characterized by personal bonds, tradition, emotion) and "Gesellschaft" (characterized by rational purpose-driven relationships, contracts, anonymity) in his work "Gemeinschaft und Gesellschaft" (Community and Society, 1887).