die
Landwirtschaft
🚜 What exactly is die Landwirtschaft?
Die Landwirtschaft (feminine noun) refers to the systematic cultivation of land and the keeping of farm animals for the production of plant and animal products. In English, this is known as agriculture or farming. It encompasses arable farming (Ackerbau), horticulture (Gartenbau), animal husbandry (Viehzucht), and, in a broader sense, forestry (Forstwirtschaft).
It's a central sector for food production and the use of natural resources. The word is always feminine and uses the article die. There are no other articles or meanings associated with this word.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ft/ -schaft → almost always feminine.
All -schaft nouns are feminine, but not all -ft nouns are.
🧐 Grammar under the Microscope: Die Landwirtschaft
The noun „Landwirtschaft“ is feminine. The correct article is die. It is mostly used in the singular. The plural („die Landwirtschaften“) is rare and usually refers to different types or systems of agriculture.
Declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Landwirtschaft |
| Genitive | der | Landwirtschaft |
| Dative | der | Landwirtschaft |
| Accusative | die | Landwirtschaft |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Landwirtschaften |
| Genitive | der | Landwirtschaften |
| Dative | den | Landwirtschaften |
| Accusative | die | Landwirtschaften |
Example Sentences:
- Die moderne Landwirtschaft steht vor großen Herausforderungen. (Modern agriculture faces great challenges.)
- Der Bauer widmet sich der nachhaltigen Landwirtschaft. (The farmer is dedicated to sustainable agriculture.)
- Wir lernen viel über die Geschichte der Landwirtschaft in Deutschland. (We are learning a lot about the history of agriculture in Germany.)
- Subventionen spielen in der Landwirtschaft eine wichtige Rolle. (Subsidies play an important role in agriculture.)
💡 Everyday Application
„Die Landwirtschaft“ is used when talking about the sector of arable farming and animal husbandry. This can occur in the context of the economy, the environment, food, or rural life.
- Economic Context: Die Landwirtschaft trägt erheblich zum Bruttoinlandsprodukt bei. (Agriculture contributes significantly to the gross domestic product.)
- Environmental Context: Die Auswirkungen der intensiven Landwirtschaft auf die Umwelt werden diskutiert. (The effects of intensive agriculture on the environment are being discussed.)
- Social Context: Das Leben in der Landwirtschaft hat sich stark verändert. (Life in agriculture has changed significantly.)
Distinction: While „Landwirtschaft“ refers to the entire sector, „der Bauernhof“ refers to an individual farm.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
- Remembering the Article: Many German nouns ending in -schaft are feminine (like Freundschaft - friendship, Wissenschaft - science, Gesellschaft - society). Therefore: die Landwirtschaft.
- Remembering the Meaning: Think of the parts of the word: Land (land) + Wirtschaft (economy, management). It's about 'managing the land' or 'working the land' economically (wirtschaftlich) to produce something (like food). Picture a farmer managing their Land for economic purposes (Wirtschaft).
🔄 Similar and Opposing Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Agrarwirtschaft: Often used synonymously, sometimes with a stronger focus on economic aspects (agribusiness/agrarian economy).
- Ackerbau: Specifically refers to crop cultivation (arable farming), a part of Landwirtschaft.
- Viehzucht: Specifically refers to animal husbandry (livestock farming), a part of Landwirtschaft.
- Agrikultur: A more formal term for agriculture.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Industrie: The sector of mass production of goods in factories (industry).
- Stadtleben: Life in urban areas (city life), as opposed to rural life often associated with Landwirtschaft.
- Brachland: Uncultivated, unused land (fallow land).
😄 A Little Joke
DE: Warum hat der Bauer immer gute Laune?
Weil er das Feld bestellen kann!
EN: Why is the farmer always in a good mood?
Because he can order (cultivate) the field! (Pun: 'bestellen' means both 'to order' and 'to cultivate/till')
📜 A Poem about Landwirtschaft
DE:
Wo Felder weit sich dehnen,
und Traktoren ihre Bahnen ziehen,
wo Korn im Winde weht so sacht,
wird Nahrung für uns all gemacht.
Die Tiere grasen auf der Weid',
in der Landwirtschaft, zu jeder Zeit.
Sie schafft die Basis, Tag für Tag,
was auch die Zukunft bringen mag.
EN:
Where fields stretch far and wide,
And tractors draw their lines with pride,
Where grain gently sways in the breeze,
Food for us all is made with ease.
The animals graze in meadows green,
In agriculture, a timeless scene.
It builds the base, day after day,
Whatever future comes our way.
🧩 Who or What Am I?
DE:
Ich ernähre Mensch und Tier,
mit Pflanzen und Getier.
Ich brauch' Feld, Stall und auch 'ne Scheuer,
bin oft abhängig vom Wetter.
Wer bin ich?
EN:
I feed humans and animals,
With plants and creatures small.
I need field, stable, and a barn,
Often depend on weather's turn.
Who am I?
Solution: die Landwirtschaft (agriculture)
ℹ️ Additional Info
Word Composition: The word „Landwirtschaft“ is a compound noun, composed of:
- Land (noun): land, soil, territory, country(side).
- Wirtschaft (noun): economy, management, husbandry.
So it literally describes 'managing the land' or 'economy/husbandry of the land'.
Trivia: Ökologische Landwirtschaft (organic farming) is becoming increasingly important in Germany.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Landwirtschaft?
The word "Landwirtschaft" is feminine. The correct article is always die. Therefore, it is: die Landwirtschaft.