die  Landesregierung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈlandəsˌʁeːɡɪʁʊŋ/

🏛️ What does "die Landesregierung" mean?

Die Landesregierung refers to the highest executive body (ausführende Gewalt) of a federal state (Bundesland) in Germany or Austria. It typically consists of the Minister President (Ministerpräsident) or Governor (Landeshauptmann/Landeshauptfrau in Austria) and the state ministers (Landesminister).

The word is feminine, so the correct article is always die.

• Example: Die bayerische Landesregierung hat neue Maßnahmen beschlossen. (The Bavarian state government decided on new measures.)

There are no other articles for this word; the meaning is clearly linked to the government of a state. 🚨 Potential confusion might arise with the Bundesregierung (federal government).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Landesregierung

The noun "Landesregierung" is feminine. The article is "die".

Singular Declension

Plural Declension

Example Sentences

1. Die Landesregierung tagt heute im Landtag. (The state government is meeting in the state parliament today.) - Nominative Singular
2. Die Entscheidungen der Landesregierung wurden kritisiert. (The decisions of the state government were criticized.) - Genitive Singular
3. Wir danken der Landesregierung für die Unterstützung. (We thank the state government for the support.) - Dative Singular
4. Man informiert die Landesregierung über die neuesten Entwicklungen. (The state government is informed about the latest developments.) - Accusative Singular
5. Die Landesregierungen der verschiedenen Bundesländer trafen sich zur Konferenz. (The state governments of the different federal states met for the conference.) - Nominative Plural

🗣️ How "Landesregierung" is used

The term "Landesregierung" is mainly used in political and administrative contexts when referring to the government of a German or Austrian federal state (Bundesland).

• Political Reporting: In news, newspaper articles, and political discussions. Example: Die Landesregierung legte einen neuen Gesetzesentwurf vor. (The state government presented a new draft law.)
• Administration: In official documents and communications from state authorities.
• Everyday Language: When discussing state-level political issues.

Distinction from other terms:

• Bundesregierung: Refers to the federal government of the entire country (Germany or Austria), not just a state.
• Staatsregierung: Sometimes used synonymously with Landesregierung, especially in the 'Free States' (Freistaaten) of Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia.
• Senat: In the city-states (Stadtstaaten) of Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen, the Senat corresponds to the Landesregierung.

💡 Mnemonics for "die Landesregierung"

Article Mnemonic (die)

Nouns ending in "-ung" in German are almost always feminine. Think of: die Regierung (the government), die Verwaltung (the administration), die Sitzung (the meeting). So, it's also: die Landesregierung. Also, think of 'government' as an institution, which often takes 'die' in German (die Behörde - the authority, die Verwaltung - the administration).

Meaning Mnemonic

Picture a map of a specific region (das Land - here meaning state) and a group of people making rules and organizing things there (die Regierung - the government). Together, they form the Landesregierung – the government *for* that specific state (Bundesland).

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Note: While "Staatsregierung" can be a synonym, "Landesregierung" is the more general and common term for the government of a federal state.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt ein Bürger den Ministerpräsidenten: "Ist es schwer, das Land zu regieren?"
Antwortet der Ministerpräsident: "Ach was, das Land regieren ist einfach. Schwer ist es nur, die nächste Wahl zu gewinnen!" 😉

(A citizen asks the Minister President: "Is it hard to govern the state?"
The Minister President replies: "Oh please, governing the state is easy. The only hard part is winning the next election!") 😉

📜 Poem about the Landesregierung

Im Landtag wird beraten,
wer soll das Land nun führen?
Die Koalition tritt an zu Taten,
will Bürger nicht verlieren.

Die Landesregierung, wohl bestellt,
mit Ministern, klug und schlau,
entscheidet, was dem Land gefällt,
mal sonnig, mal auch grau.

Sie plant die Straßen, Schulen, mehr,
vom Haushalt bis zur Kunst,
regiert das Land, mal leicht, mal schwer,
in Politik und Gunst.

(In the state parliament, they debate,
who should now lead the state?
The coalition starts to act,
doesn't want to lose citizens' tract.)

(The state government, well-appointed,
with ministers, clever and smart,
decides what the state fancies,
sometimes sunny, sometimes dark.)

(They plan the roads, schools, and more,
from budget talks to art,
govern the state, sometimes easy, sometimes sore,
in politics and favour's chart.)

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich sitze nicht in Berlin, doch habe Macht im Land,
Bin Chef von Ministern, oft durch Koalition ernannt.
Mein Gebiet ist ein Teil, nicht das Ganze, merke dir,
In München, Mainz oder Kiel residiere ich hier.

Wer oder was bin ich?
(I don't sit in Berlin, but hold power in the land,
I'm the boss of ministers, often appointed by coalition's hand.
My domain is a part, not the whole, remember this clue,
In Munich, Mainz, or Kiel, I reside, it is true.

Who or what am I?)
→ Die Landesregierung (The State Government)

✨ Other Information

Word Composition

"Landesregierung" is a compound noun:

• Land: Here refers to a federal state (Bundesland).
• -es-: Is an interfix (Fugen-s) used for linking.
• Regierung: The group of people leading a country or state (government).

Context: Federalism (Föderalismus)

The existence of state governments (Landesregierungen) is a core feature of federalism in Germany and Austria. The federal states (Bundesländer) have their own areas of responsibility (e.g., education, police) and thus their own governments that operate independently of the federal government (Bundesregierung).