die  Landtagswahl

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈlantˌtaːksˌvaːl/

🗳️ What Does 'Landtagswahl' Mean?

Die Landtagswahl refers to the election of representatives to the Landtag (state parliament) of a German federal state (Bundesland). The Landtag is the legislative body at the state level, comparable to the Bundestag at the federal level.

It is a feminine noun, which is why the definite article is "die".

Composition: The word is composed of:

• Land: Refers to the federal state.
• Tag: Historically derived from "Tagung" (assembly or meeting).
• Wahl: The act of voting or the election event itself.

🚨 Important: Don't confuse it with the Bundestagswahl (federal election) or Kommunalwahlen (local/municipal elections).

Grammar Check: Declining Landtagswahl 🧐

The noun "Landtagswahl" is feminine. The article is "die". Here is its declension:

Example Sentences

1. Die nächste Landtagswahl in Bayern findet in vier Jahren statt.
   (The next state election in Bavaria takes place in four years.)
2. Das Ergebnis der Landtagswahl wurde mit Spannung erwartet.
   (The result of the state election was eagerly awaited.)
3. Viele Bürger interessieren sich für die Themen der kommenden Landtagswahl.
   (Many citizens are interested in the topics of the upcoming state election.)
4. Die Parteien bereiten sich auf die Landtagswahlen in mehreren Bundesländern vor.
   (The parties are preparing for the state elections in several federal states.)

Usage Context: When to Use Landtagswahl? 🗣️

The term die Landtagswahl is used specifically within the context of the politics of German federal states (Bundesländer). It exclusively denotes the elections for the parliaments of these states (e.g., the Bayerischer Landtag, the Landtag von Nordrhein-Westfalen).

• Typical Contexts: Political reporting, news broadcasts, discussions about state-level politics, election campaign materials.
• Distinction from other elections:
  • Bundestagswahl: Election for the all-German parliament (Bundestag).
  • Europawahl: Election for the European Parliament.
  • Kommunalwahl: Elections at the local level (city council, municipal council, district council, mayoral election).
• Frequency: Landtagswahlen occur regularly in Germany, but not simultaneously in all states. The election cycle is usually four or five years.

One often says "der Landtagswahl in [State Name]" (the state election in...) or, in plural, "den Landtagswahlen" when referring to multiple elections (e.g., "Die Landtagswahlen im Herbst" - The state elections in autumn).

Memory Aids for Landtagswahl 🤔

Mnemonic for the Article (die)

The last part rules! "Landtagswahl" ends in "-wahl". And die Wahl (the election) is feminine. Therefore, it's die Landtagswahl. Just like die Bundestagswahl or die Kommunalwahl. Remember: elections (Wahlen) are feminine in German!

Mnemonic for the Meaning

Think of Germany's federal structure: The Bund (federation) has its election (Bundestagswahl), and each individual Land (state) has its own election – that's the Landtagswahl. It's about politics within one's own Bundesland.

Similar and Contrasting Terms 🔄

Confusingly Similar Words

• Landtag: The parliament itself, not the election. (der Landtag - masculine)
• Wahlkampf: The election campaign preceding the vote. (der Wahlkampf - masculine)
• Wahlergebnis: The election result. (das Wahlergebnis - neuter)

A Little Election Joke 😄

Fragt ein Politiker den anderen nach der Landtagswahl: "Und, wie ist die Stimmung im Volk?"
(One politician asks another after the state election: "So, what's the mood among the people?")

Antwortet der andere: "Geteilt. Die eine Hälfte ist sauer auf uns, die andere Hälfte hat uns nicht gewählt."
(The other replies: "Divided. One half is angry at us, the other half didn't vote for us.")

Poem about the Landtagswahl 📜

Im Landtag wird entschieden bald,
(In the state parliament, it's soon decided,)
wer dort die nächsten Jahre schalt'.
(who will hold power there for the next years.)
Die Landtagswahl, sie ruft uns auf,
(The state election calls upon us,)
zu nehmen unsern Bürgerlauf.
(to take our civic course.)

Mit Stimmzettel und Kreuz dabei,
(With ballot paper and cross at hand,)
gestalten wir die Politik neu.
(we shape the politics anew.)
Für Bildung, Straßen, Sicherheit,
(For education, roads, security,)
ist diese Wahl von Wichtigkeit.
(this election is of importance.)

Who or What Am I? A Riddle 🤔

Ich komme alle paar Jahre wieder,
(I return every few years,)
entscheide über die Landeslieder (im übertragenen Sinne).
(decide on the state's songs (figuratively).)
Ich bestimme, wer im Landesparlament sitzt,
(I determine who sits in the state parliament,)
und sorge dafür, dass Politik erhitzt.
(and ensure that politics gets heated.)

Ich bin nicht national, nicht kommunal,
(I am not national, not municipal,)
mein Fokus liegt regional, ganz klar.
(my focus is clearly regional.)
Mein Artikel ist feminin, das ist wahr.
(My article is feminine, that is true.)

Was bin ich? / What am I?

Lösung / Solution: Die Landtagswahl (The state election)

Trivia & Word Breakdown 🧩

Word Composition

"Landtagswahl" is a classic example of a German compound noun (Kompositum). It consists of three parts:

• Das Land: Refers to the federal state (e.g., Bavaria, Hesse).
• Der Tag: Originally meaning "Tagung" or assembly/meeting (compare Reichstag, Bundestag). So, the "Landtag" is the assembly of the state.
• Die Wahl: The act of voting or the election event itself.

The gender of the entire compound noun is determined by its last component: die Wahl → die Landtagswahl (feminine).

Trivia

• In the city-states of Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen, the state parliaments and their elections have different names: Abgeordnetenhauswahl (Berlin), Bürgerschaftswahl (Hamburg and Bremen). However, their function is equivalent to Landtagswahlen.
• The legislative periods (time between two elections) vary across the federal states, usually lasting 4 or 5 years.