die
Partei
🗳️ What does "die Partei" mean?
The word die Partei (feminine) has several meanings in German:
- Political Organization: The most common meaning is a political party, an organized group of people with similar political goals who participate in elections (e.g., die SPD, die CDU).
- Involved Party (Law/Conflict): It refers to one of the sides involved in a legal dispute, a contract, or a conflict (e.g., die klagende Partei - the plaintiff party, die Vertragspartei - the contracting party).
- Group/Side (General): Less commonly, it can simply refer to a group of people or a side in an argument (e.g., Partei ergreifen für jemanden - to take someone's side).
🚨 Attention: Don't confuse die Partei with die Party (celebration)! Although they sound similar, they have completely different meanings.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ei → mostly feminine.
📜 Grammar in Detail: die Partei
Partei is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die Partei | eine Partei |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der Partei | einer Partei |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der Partei | einer Partei |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die Partei | eine Partei |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Parteien | Parteien |
| Genitive | der Parteien | Parteien |
| Dative | den Parteien | Parteien |
| Accusative | die Parteien | Parteien |
📝 Example Sentences
- Welche Partei wirst du wählen?
(Which party will you vote for?) - Die beiden Parteien konnten sich vor Gericht nicht einigen.
(The two parties could not reach an agreement in court.) - Er ergriff sofort Partei für seinen Freund.
(He immediately took his friend's side.) - Viele neue politische Parteien wurden gegründet.
(Many new political parties were founded.)
🗣️ How to Use "die Partei"?
The use of die Partei heavily depends on the context:
- In a political context: When discussing elections, government, political platforms, etc., it almost always refers to the political organization. Example: "Die grüne Partei setzt sich für Umweltschutz ein." (The Green Party advocates for environmental protection.)
- In a legal context: In contracts, court proceedings, or arbitrations, "Partei" refers to the participating individuals or organizations. Example: "Beide Vertragsparteien müssen unterschreiben." (Both contracting parties must sign.)
- In general language: The phrase "Partei ergreifen" means to take sides or support someone. Example: "Sie ergriff Partei für die Schwächeren." (She took the side of the weaker ones.)
It's crucial not to confuse die Partei (organization, group) with die Party (celebration, festivity). Although they sound similar, their meanings are entirely different. "Party" is a loanword from English.
🧠 Mnemonics for "die Partei"
For the article 'die': Think of 'the' organization, 'the' community, 'the' group – many social entities in German are feminine (die). A Partei is such an organization, so it's die Partei.
For the meaning: Imagine a political party (like celebration, but spelled differently in German!) needs structure and rules - it's an organized group, a Partei. Or picture two opposing parties in court.
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
- For political party: politische Vereinigung (political association), Gruppierung (grouping), Fraktion (parliamentary group), Bewegung (movement)
- For legal party: Vertragspartei (contracting party), Prozesspartei (litigant), Streitpartei (disputing party), Beteiligter (participant), Kontrahent (opponent)
- For side/group: Seite (side), Lager (camp), Gruppierung (grouping)
Antonyms:
- For political party: parteilos (non-partisan), unabhängig (independent)
- For legal party: Unbeteiligter (uninvolved person), neutrale Person (neutral person), Richter (judge), Schlichter (arbitrator)
- For taking sides: Neutralität (neutrality), Unparteilichkeit (impartiality)
⚠️ Similar Words:
😂 A Little Joke
Richter: "Angeklagte, warum streiten sich die Parteien so heftig um das Erbe?" Angeklagte: "Keine Ahnung, Herr Richter, ich bin die einzige Erbin!"
(Judge: "Defendant, why are the parties fighting so fiercely over the inheritance?" Defendant: "I have no idea, Your Honor, I'm the sole heir!")
(A little wordplay on 'Parteien' as disputing parties vs. just one person.)
✍️ Poem about Partei
Im Bundestag, da sitzt sie breit,
die Partei, zu allem bereit.
Mal links, mal rechts, mal in der Mitt‘,
sie kämpft für ihren nächsten Schritt.
(In parliament, there it sits wide,
the party, ready for any stride.
Sometimes left, sometimes right, sometimes in the middle,
it fights for its next step, solving life's riddle.)
🤔 A Little Riddle
Ich habe Mitglieder, aber keinen Körper.
Ich habe ein Programm, aber keinen Computer.
Man kann mich wählen, aber nicht anfassen.
Ich stehe vor Gericht, aber bin kein Mensch allein.
Wer oder was bin ich?
(I have members, but no body.
I have a program, but no computer.
You can elect me, but not touch me.
I stand in court, but am not a single person.
Who or what am I?)
(Answer: die Partei)
🧩 Other Information
Word Compounds (Wortzusammensetzungen): The word "Partei" is part of many other German words, especially in political and legal contexts:
- Parteitag: A convention or congress of a political party.
- Parteibuch: A membership book/card for a political party.
- Parteivorsitzender: The leader/chairperson of a political party.
- Vertragspartei: A contracting party (one of the signers of a contract).
- parteiisch: Biased, partisan.
- unparteiisch: Impartial, unbiased.
Origin (Herkunft): The word "Partei" comes from the French word "partie", meaning "part" or "side".
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Partei?
The German word "Partei" is always feminine. The correct article is die Partei. It primarily refers to a political organization or an involved side in a conflict or contract.