die  Öffentlichkeit

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈœfn̩tlɪçkaɪ̯t/

🧐 What does 'die Öffentlichkeit' mean?

Die Öffentlichkeit (feminine) is a key German term encompassing several related concepts:

• The public / The general public: Refers to the people as a whole, society at large, or a specific segment accessible to information, events, or discussions. Example: Die Reaktion der Öffentlichkeit war gemischt. (The reaction of the public was mixed.)
• The public sphere: Describes the area of social life where opinions are formed and discussed, often contrasted with the private sphere. Example: Politische Debatten finden in der Öffentlichkeit statt. (Political debates take place in the public sphere / in public.)
• Publicity / Public attention: Can also denote the state of being public or known. Example: Der Skandal wurde in die Öffentlichkeit getragen. (The scandal was brought into the public eye / made public.)

It's an abstract noun, primarily used in the singular. ⚠️ The plural form (die Öffentlichkeiten) is rare and usually refers to specific, distinct public spheres (e.g., professional publics, counter-publics).

Article rules for der, die, and das

📜 Grammar Spotlight on 'Öffentlichkeit'

Die Öffentlichkeit is a feminine noun. It's mostly used in the singular.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

The plural "die Öffentlichkeiten" is rare but grammatically correct. It is declined as follows:

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die Presse informierte die Öffentlichkeit über die neuen Gesetze. (The press informed the public about the new laws.)
2. Die Meinung der Öffentlichkeit ist geteilt. (The opinion of the public is divided.)
3. Man sollte dies nicht vor der Öffentlichkeit diskutieren. (One should not discuss this in public.)
4. Die Öffentlichkeit erwartet Transparenz von Politikern. (The public expects transparency from politicians.)
5. Es gibt verschiedene Teilöffentlichkeiten in der Gesellschaft. (There are different sub-publics within society. - rare plural usage)

🌐 Usage in Context

Die Öffentlichkeit is frequently used, especially in these contexts:

• Politics & Society: Discussions about öffentliche Meinung (public opinion), political participation, government transparency. (e.g., Die Öffentlichkeit hat ein Recht auf Information. - The public has a right to information.)
• Media: Reporting aimed at the general populace. (e.g., Die Medien schaffen Öffentlichkeit für bestimmte Themen. - The media create public awareness for certain topics.)
• Law: In the context of court proceedings (principle of publicity) or public law. (e.g., Die Verhandlung fand unter Ausschluss der Öffentlichkeit statt. - The trial was held in camera / excluding the public.)
• Marketing & PR: The target audience for campaigns, public image. (e.g., Das Unternehmen pflegt sein Ansehen in der Öffentlichkeit. - The company cultivates its public image.)

Distinguishing from similar words:

• Publikum: Usually refers to a specific audience at an event or consuming media. Öffentlichkeit is more abstract and broader.
• Bevölkerung: Refers to the inhabitants of an area. Öffentlichkeit emphasizes the role as a discursive community or recipient of information.
• Allgemeinheit: Very similar to Öffentlichkeit, often interchangeable, but Öffentlichkeit carries stronger connotations of political and media relevance.

The phrase "an die Öffentlichkeit gehen/treten" means to make information public or to appear in public oneself.

💡 Mnemonics for 'die Öffentlichkeit'

Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -keit in German are almost always feminine (die). Think of other common words: die Möglichkeit (possibility), die Heiterkeit (cheerfulness), die Schwierigkeit (difficulty)... and die Öffentlichkeit. The -keit ending is your key to die! ♀️

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine doors being thrown open (offen) publicly (öffentlich) for everyone to see inside. That space which is open to all is die Öffentlichkeit (the public/public sphere).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

🚨 Careful, don't confuse with:

• Öffentlicher Dienst: Public service (employment by state/municipality), not the public itself.
• Amt: Office, agency, position, not the general public.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum flüstern Politiker im Plenarsaal?
Damit nicht gleich die ganze Öffentlichkeit mithört, was sie als Nächstes *nicht* tun werden! 😉

(Why do politicians whisper in the plenary hall?
So that the entire public doesn't immediately overhear what they are *not* going to do next!)

✍️ Poem about the Public Sphere

Die Öffentlichkeit, ein weites Meer,
Mal laut, mal leise, oft auch schwer.
Meinungen schwimmen hin und her,
Ein Echo ruft: „Wer? Bitte sehr?“

Im Netz, auf Straßen, groß und klein,
Will jeder Teil des Ganzen sein.
Was gestern privat, heut' allgemein,
So fließt das Leben, sonnenschein.

(The public sphere, a vast sea,
Sometimes loud, sometimes quiet, often heavy too.
Opinions swim back and forth,
An echo calls: "Who? If you please?"

On the net, on streets, large and small,
Everyone wants to be part of the whole.
What was private yesterday, today is general,
Thus life flows, sunshine.)

❓ Riddle

Ich habe keine Stimme, doch Meinungen trage ich weit.
Ich habe kein Gesicht, doch jeder kennt meine Gezeit.
Manchmal bin ich ein Gericht, manchmal nur ein leerer Raum.
Politiker fürchten mich, Medien leben meinen Traum.

Wer oder was bin ich?

(I have no voice, yet I carry opinions far.
I have no face, yet everyone knows my tide.
Sometimes I am a court, sometimes just an empty space.
Politicians fear me, the media lives my dream.

Who or what am I?)

Solution: die Öffentlichkeit (the public/public sphere)

🧩 Additional Insights

Word Composition:

The word Öffentlichkeit is composed of:

• The adjective öffentlich (from offen, meaning open, accessible, not private)
• The suffix -keit, which is used to form abstract nouns from adjectives (similar to -ness or -ity in English). It makes the noun feminine.

Historical Significance:

The concept of Öffentlichkeit as a political and social space developed significantly during the Enlightenment (18th century). Philosophers like Immanuel Kant and later Jürgen Habermas extensively discussed the importance of a functioning public sphere for democracy.