die  Mehrheit

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈmeːɐ̯haɪt/

🗳️ What does "die Mehrheit" mean?

The word die Mehrheit (feminine) generally refers to the larger part of a group of people or things. It's often contrasted with die Minderheit (the minority).

• Quantitative Meaning: It refers to a number that is greater than half of the whole (absolute Mehrheit - absolute majority) or greater than any other subgroup (relative Mehrheit - relative majority). Example: Die Mehrheit der Wähler stimmte für den Vorschlag. (The majority of voters voted for the proposal.)
• Figurative Meaning: Sometimes it's used to describe the main part or predominant character of something. Example: Die Mehrheit seiner Zeit verbrachte er mit Lesen. (He spent the majority of his time reading.)

Because the word ends in -heit, it's grammatically feminine (die Mehrheit).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "die Mehrheit" in Detail

Mehrheit is a feminine noun. It's primarily used in the singular. The plural die Mehrheiten exists but is less common and often refers to different types of majorities (e.g., in different votes or committees).

Singular Declension

Plural Declension (less common)

💡 Example Sentences

1. Die Mehrheit der Anwesenden war für den Antrag.
   (The majority of those present were in favour of the motion.)
2. Eine knappe Mehrheit entschied die Wahl.
   (A narrow majority decided the election.)
3. Er gehört zur schweigenden Mehrheit.
   (He belongs to the silent majority.)
4. Im Parlament bildeten sich neue Mehrheiten.
   (New majorities formed in parliament.)

🌐 How to use "die Mehrheit"?

Die Mehrheit is very commonly used in political, social, and statistical contexts.

• Politics: In votes, elections, or to describe power structures (e.g., Regierungsmehrheit - government majority, parlamentarische Mehrheit - parliamentary majority).
• Statistics/Everyday Life: To describe the largest part of a studied group or quantity (e.g., Die Mehrheit der Deutschen trinkt gerne Kaffee. - The majority of Germans enjoy drinking coffee.).
• Expressions: Set phrases like die breite Mehrheit (a vast majority), die schweigende Mehrheit (the silent majority), eine Mehrheit finden (to find/get enough votes/support).

Distinction: While die Mehrheit denotes the larger part (often >50%), die Vielzahl means a large, indefinite number, and der Großteil emphasizes the main portion of something, often spatially or temporally.

🧠 Mnemonics for Mehrheit

Article Mnemonic

Words ending in -heit in German are almost always feminine (die). Think of other -heit words like Schönheit (beauty), Freiheit (freedom). The ending -heit rhymes (sort of) with 'height', and you can imagine 'the height' (die Höhe) of the majority.

Meaning Mnemonic

Mehrheit contains the word mehr, which means 'more'. The Mehrheit simply has more votes, more people – it's more than the other side.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but Different Words

• Die Vielzahl: A multitude, a large number (not necessarily >50%).
• Die Menge: A quantity, amount, crowd.

😂 A Little Joke

DE: Warum hat die Mehrheit immer Recht?
Weil die Minderheit zu leise widerspricht!

EN: Why is the majority always right?
Because the minority contradicts too quietly!

📜 Poem about the Majority

DE:
Die Mehrheit, stark und groß,
entscheidet oft das Schicksalslos.
Ob laut sie ruft, ob still sie schweigt,
ihr Wille meist den Ausschlag zeigt.
Doch Weisheit fragt, nicht nur die Zahl,
ist Mehrheit immer erste Wahl?

EN:
The majority, strong and grand,
often decides fate's command.
Whether it calls out loud or stays silent,
its will mostly shows the final bent.
But wisdom asks, not just the count,
is majority always paramount?

❓ Riddle Time

DE:
Ich bin mehr als die Hälfte, das ist klar,
bei Wahlen bin ich oft der Star.
Hab' ich das Sagen, ist's entschieden,
wer bin ich, von so vielen geliebt, von manchen gemieden?

EN:
I am more than half, that is clear,
in elections, I'm often the star held dear.
When I have the say, the matter's decided,
who am I, loved by so many, by some avoided?

Solution: die Mehrheit (the majority)

🧩 Other Information

Word Composition

The word Mehrheit is composed of:

• mehr: Comparative of 'viel' (much/many), meaning 'more'.
• -heit: A suffix used to form nouns from adjectives or numerals, often denoting a state or quality. It makes the noun feminine.

Trivia

In democratic systems, the concept of the majority (die Mehrheit) is fundamental (e.g., in elections or parliamentary votes). There are different types of majorities, such as simple, absolute, relative, or qualified majority (einfache, absolute, relative, qualifizierte Mehrheit), each with different requirements depending on the context.