die  Gemeinschaftswährung

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɡəˈmaɪnʃaftsˌvɛːʁʊŋ/

💰 What does "die Gemeinschaftswährung" mean?

Die Gemeinschaftswährung is a currency used by multiple states or a community of states as a common legal tender. It often replaces the national currencies of these countries.

The most famous example of a Gemeinschaftswährung is the Euro (€), used in many member states of the European Union.

It's a compound noun made of „Gemeinschaft“ (community) and „Währung“ (currency). Since „Währung“ is feminine (die Währung), „Gemeinschaftswährung“ is also feminine.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Gemeinschaftswährung

The word „Gemeinschaftswährung“ is a feminine noun. The article is „die“.

Example Sentences

• Der Euro ist die bekannteste Gemeinschaftswährung der Welt. (The Euro is the world's most well-known common currency.)
• Die Einführung einer Gemeinschaftswährung kann die wirtschaftliche Integration fördern. (The introduction of a common currency can promote economic integration.)
• Es gab lange Diskussionen über die Vor- und Nachteile der Gemeinschaftswährung. (There were long discussions about the advantages and disadvantages of the common currency.)

🌐 How is "Gemeinschaftswährung" used?

The term Gemeinschaftswährung is mainly used in economic and political contexts, especially when discussing international agreements, monetary unions, or the European Union.

• Context: Economics, politics, finance, international relations.
• Comparison: A Gemeinschaftswährung is more specific than the general term Währung (currency). It emphasizes the shared aspect across national borders. A nationale Währung (national currency) would be the opposite.
• Formality: It is a rather formal and technical term. In everyday life, people often just say „der Euro“ instead of „die Gemeinschaftswährung Euro“.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Remembering the Article: The word ends in „-ung“ (Währung). Nouns ending in „-ung“ are almost always feminine in German. Therefore: die Währung → die Gemeinschaftswährung.

Remembering the Meaning: Think of a Gemeinschaft (community, like a group of friends or countries) sharing one Währung (currency/money). This forms the Gemeinschafts-Währung (community currency).

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but Different Terms

• Fremdwährung: Foreign currency (a currency from another country or currency area from one's own perspective).
• Leitwährung: Reserve currency or leading currency (a currency that plays a dominant role globally in international trade and finance, e.g., the US Dollar).

😄 A Little Joke

Tourist in Europa fragt: „Entschuldigung, wie viel kostet das in eurer Gemeinschaftswährung?“
Einheimischer antwortet: „Kommt drauf an, ob Sie vor oder nach dem Kaffee fragen – die Preise fühlen sich manchmal unterschiedlich an!“ 😉

(Tourist in Europe asks: "Excuse me, how much does this cost in your common currency?"
Local replies: "Depends if you're asking before or after coffee – the prices sometimes feel different!") 😉

📜 Poem about the Common Currency

In vielen Ländern, Hand in Hand,
zirkuliert sie durch das Land.
Nicht mehr Pfund, Franc oder Mark,
die Gemeinschaftswährung macht uns stark.
Ein Symbol, geeint zu sein,
ob groß, ob klein.

(In many countries, hand in hand,
it circulates throughout the land.
No more Pound, Franc, or Mark,
the common currency makes us stark (strong).
A symbol of being united,
whether big or small.)

❓ Little Riddle

Ich gelte in mehr als einem Staat,
habe Handel stark gemacht.
Von Dublin bis nach Talinn bin ich bekannt,
wie werd' ich oft genannt?

(I am valid in more than one state,
I have made trade great.
From Dublin to Tallinn, I am known across the land,
What am I often called by hand?)

Solution: die Gemeinschaftswährung (the common currency) (or der Euro)

🧩 Other Interesting Details

Word Composition

The word is a compound noun (Kompositum) made up of:

• die Gemeinschaft (community - Nominative Singular) + connecting 's' + die Währung (currency - Nominative Singular)

So: Gemeinschaft + s + Währung = Gemeinschaftswährung.

Trivia

The introduction of the Euro as cash in 2002 was one of the largest currency changeovers in history, affecting hundreds of millions of people simultaneously.