die  Herrschaft

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈhɛʁʃaft/

👑 What does "die Herrschaft" mean?

The word die Herrschaft has several meanings:

• Rule, Power, Dominion: This is the most common meaning. It describes the exercise of power or control over an area, a group of people, or an organization. Example: Die absolute Herrschaft des Königs endete mit der Revolution. (The absolute rule of the king ended with the revolution.)
• Domain, Territory: It can also refer to the territory being ruled over. Example: Das war einst die Herrschaft der Grafen von Beispielburg. (This was once the domain of the Counts of Beispielburg.)
• People (dated or colloquial, often plural "Herrschaften"): Can refer collectively to the people present (similar to "ladies and gentlemen") or, in a dated sense, to the employer (master or mistress of the house). Example (plural): "Meine Herrschaften, darf ich um Ihre Aufmerksamkeit bitten?" (My lords/ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention?) Example (dated, rare): "Die Herrschaft ist verreist." (The master/mistress is away.)

🚨 Attention: The plural form die Herrschaften is almost exclusively used for the meaning "people/company present".

Article rules for der, die, and das

📜 Grammar in Detail: die Herrschaft

Die Herrschaft is a feminine noun. The correct article is die. Its plural is die Herrschaften, but this is mainly used for the meaning "the people/guests present".

Declension Singular

Declension Plural - for "People"

📝 Application Examples

1. Die Herrschaft des Volkes nennt man Demokratie. (The rule of the people is called democracy.)
2. Wir gedenken der Opfer der Herrschaft des Terrors. (We commemorate the victims of the reign of terror.)
3. Unter der Herrschaft Napoleons änderte sich vieles. (Under Napoleon's rule, many things changed.)
4. Das Volk stürzte die Herrschaft des Diktators. (The people overthrew the dictator's rule.)
5. Meine Damen und Herrschaften, bitte nehmen Sie Platz! (Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats!)

🗺️ Context and Usage of "Herrschaft"

The use of die Herrschaft strongly depends on the intended meaning:

• Politics & History: Here, it refers to power structures, forms of government, or historical periods of rule by a person or group (e.g., die Herrschaft der Habsburger - the rule of the Habsburgs). It's often more abstract than Regierung (government).
• Territory: Less common today, but in historical contexts, it can denote a territory (e.g., die Herrschaft Wartenberg). Similar to 'principality' or 'county'.
• Address/People: The plural form Herrschaften is a polite, albeit somewhat formal or slightly humorous, way to address a group of people ("Meine Damen und Herrschaften"). The singular form for 'employer' is very dated.

Distinction from similar words:

• Macht: Is more abstract and broader than Herrschaft, can also refer to non-political power.
• Regierung: Refers more concretely to the executive body of power.
• Gebiet/Territorium: Are neutral terms for a geographical area, whereas Herrschaft implies the control structure.

🧠 How to Remember "die Herrschaft"

Article Mnemonic (die)

Many German nouns ending in -schaft are feminine and take the article "die". Think of: Gemeinschaft (community), Freundschaft (friendship), Wissenschaft (science)... and also Herrschaft. The ending "-schaft" often 'shapes' feminine words!

Meaning Mnemonic

Imagine a German Herr (Mr., lord, master) who rules over his land and 'schafft' (creates, manages, commands) the rules. The Herr schafft the order – he holds the Herrschaft (rule, dominion).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words (Careful!)

• Herrlichkeit: Means 'splendor', 'glory' (especially in a religious sense), not 'rule' or 'power'.
• Wirtschaft: Although it ends in -schaft, it means 'economy' or sometimes 'pub/inn'.

😂 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Lehrer: "Wer kann mir eine Form der Herrschaft nennen?" Meldet sich Fritzchen: "Die Fernbedienung, Herr Lehrer! Mein Papa sagt immer, wer die hat, hat die Herrschaft über den Fernseher."

English: The teacher asks: "Who can name a form of rule (Herrschaft)?" Little Fritz answers: "The remote control, teacher! My dad always says, whoever has it, has dominion (Herrschaft) over the TV."

📜 A Short Poem

German:
Die Herrschaft, ein Wort so schwer,
Mal Macht, mal Land, mal Leute – hör her!
Sie thront auf Burgen, stark und alt,
Regiert mit Zepter, warm und kalt.
Doch ruft man "Herrschaften!" in den Saal,
Meint's die Besucher, allzumal. So wandelbar, merk' dir das fein,
Mit "die" muss Herrschaft immer sein.

English Translation:
Die Herrschaft, a word so grand,
Sometimes power, sometimes land, sometimes people - understand!
It thrones on castles, strong and old,
Rules with a scepter, stories told.
But call out "Herrschaften!" in the hall,
It means the visitors, one and all.
So changeable, note it well,
With "die", Herrschaft must always dwell.

🤔 Little Riddle

German:
Ich kann Macht bedeuten oder ein Gebiet,
Manchmal bin ich auch die Leute, die man sieht.
Mein Artikel ist feminin, das ist klar,
Ende auf "-schaft", wunderbar.

Wer oder was bin ich?

English:
I can mean power or a territory you meet,
Sometimes I'm the people you greet.
My article is feminine, that much is clear,
Ending in "-schaft", oh so dear.

Who or what am I?

Solution: die Herrschaft

🧐 Interesting Facts about "Herrschaft"

• Word Formation: The word is composed of "Herr" (Master, Lord) and the suffix "-schaft", which often denotes a state, quality, collective, or group (as in Freundschaft - friendship, Gemeinschaft - community, Landschaft - landscape). So, it literally means something like "the state of being a master" or "that which is ruled by the master".
• Historical Significance: The term Herrschaft was central in feudalism and absolutism to denote power structures and territories.
• Idiom: "Die Herrschaft antreten" means "to take power" or "to assume rule".