die
Versammlung
👥 What does "die Versammlung" mean?
Die Versammlung (noun, feminine) generally refers to the gathering of a larger number of people for a specific purpose. This purpose can vary widely.
- Öffentliche Versammlung (Public Assembly): Often in a political or social context, e.g., a demonstration (Demonstration), rally (Kundgebung), or town hall meeting (Bürgerversammlung). The right to freedom of assembly (Versammlungsfreiheit, German Basic Law Article 8) is central here.
- Private oder geschäftliche Versammlung (Private or Business Meeting/Assembly): A meeting of a closed group, e.g., a members' meeting of an association (Mitgliederversammlung eines Vereins), a works council meeting (Betriebsversammlung), or an annual general meeting of a corporation (Hauptversammlung einer Aktiengesellschaft).
- Allgemein (General): Any kind of gathering or assembly of people (or sometimes things, less common).
The word derives from the verb versammeln, meaning "to gather" or "to assemble".
⚠️ It's important to consider the context to understand the specific type of Versammlung.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ung → always feminine.
There are many -ung words, we won't list them all. There are only a few exceptions.
🧐 Grammar of "die Versammlung" in Detail
"Versammlung" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
Deklination (Declension):
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Versammlung | eine Versammlung |
| Genitive | der Versammlung | einer Versammlung |
| Dative | der Versammlung | einer Versammlung |
| Accusative | die Versammlung | eine Versammlung |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Versammlungen | - Versammlungen |
| Genitive | der Versammlungen | - Versammlungen |
| Dative | den Versammlungen | - Versammlungen |
| Accusative | die Versammlungen | - Versammlungen |
Beispielsätze (Example Sentences)
- Die Versammlung wurde friedlich aufgelöst.
(The assembly was dissolved peacefully.) - Der Vorstand lud zur jährlichen Versammlung ein.
(The board invited [everyone] to the annual meeting.) - Wir nehmen an einer wichtigen Versammlung teil.
(We are participating in an important meeting/assembly.) - Auf dem Platz fanden mehrere politische Versammlungen statt.
(Several political assemblies took place on the square.)
🗣️ Usage in Context
"Die Versammlung" is often used in more formal contexts, especially when referring to organized gatherings.
- Politik & Gesellschaft (Politics & Society): Demonstrations (Demonstrationen), rallies (Kundgebungen), town hall meetings (Bürgerversammlungen). Example: "Die Versammlungsfreiheit ist ein hohes Gut." (Freedom of assembly is a precious asset.)
- Vereine & Organisationen (Clubs & Organizations): Member meetings (Mitgliederversammlung), annual general meetings (Jahreshauptversammlung). Example: "Die nächste Versammlung des Sportvereins findet am Freitag statt." (The next meeting of the sports club takes place on Friday.)
- Unternehmen (Companies): Works council meetings (Betriebsversammlung), annual general meetings (Hauptversammlung, HV). Example: "Die Belegschaft wurde zur Betriebsversammlung gerufen." (The workforce was called to the works council meeting.)
Abgrenzung zu ähnlichen Wörtern (Distinction from similar words):
- Treffen: Often more informal and smaller than a Versammlung. (e.g., ein Treffen mit Freunden - a meeting with friends)
- Konferenz: Usually subject-specific, often with lectures and discussions over several days. (e.g., eine wissenschaftliche Konferenz - a scientific conference)
- Tagung: Similar to Konferenz, often shorter and with a specific focus. (e.g., eine Fachtagung - a specialist conference/symposium)
- Kundgebung: A public assembly for expressing opinions, often political.
The word "Versammlung" emphasizes the organized coming together for a common purpose.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
-
Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -ung are almost always feminine (die). Think of: die Heizung (the heating), die Meinung (the opinion), die Übung (the exercise)... and, of course, die Versammlung. The -ung ending is like a feminine marker! ♀️
-
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine many people needing to ver-semble (sounds like assemble) for an important discussion. The verb "sammeln" (to collect/gather) is inside – people gather themselves in one place for the Versammlung. 🐜🐜➡️🏛️
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyme (Synonyms):
- Zusammenkunft: General word for a gathering.
- Treffen: Often more informal or smaller.
- Tagung: Usually professional, focused meeting or conference.
- Konferenz: Larger, often international or multi-day conference.
- Sitzung: Often a working meeting of a committee (e.g., Ausschusssitzung - committee meeting).
- Kundgebung: Public rally or demonstration.
- Meeting (Anglicism): Business meeting (widely used but less formal than some uses of Versammlung).
🚨 Caution: Although "Meeting" is often used synonymously, "Versammlung" in German can be more formal or have a specific legal or official connotation.
😂 A Little Joke
German: Warum nehmen Skelette nicht an Versammlungen teil? - Sie haben keinen "Körper", um hinzugehen!
English: Why don't skeletons attend assemblies? - They have no "body" to go with!
(Pun involving "Körper" meaning physical body and also a corporate body/committee.) 😉
✍️ Poem about the Assembly
German:
Von nah und fern, aus Stadt und Land,
reicht man sich hier nun die Hand.
Die Versammlung, groß und klein,
soll heute unser Mittelpunkt sein.
Man diskutiert, man hört gut zu,
findet gemeinsam seine Ruh'.
Ob Verein, ob Politik,
es geht um das Gemeindestück.
English Translation:
From near and far, from town and land,
Here people now extend a hand.
The assembly, large and small,
Shall be our focus, stand up tall.
They discuss, they listen well,
Together find their peace, dispel
Concerns, for club or politics,
It's 'bout the common piece, the fix.
🧩 Riddle
German:
Ich bin ein Ort, wo Stimmen klingen,
wo Menschen ihre Meinung bringen.
Mal laut, mal leise, oft geplant,
im Grundgesetz sogar benannt.
Man trifft sich hier zu einem Zweck,
verlässt gemeinsam dann den Fleck.
Was bin ich?
English Translation:
I am a place where voices sound,
Where people bring opinions round.
Sometimes loud, sometimes low, often planned,
Even mentioned in the law of the land.
You meet here for a purpose true,
Then leave together, the spot eschew.
What am I? (Answer: Die Versammlung / The Assembly)
💡 Other Information
Wortzusammensetzung (Word Composition):
The word "Versammlung" is composed of:
- The prefix ver-: This can have various meanings, here in the sense of "together" or indicating a process.
- The verb stem sammel(n): Means "to collect" or "to gather".
- The suffix -ung: Turns the verb into a noun, denoting the process or result. Nouns ending in -ung are typically feminine.
Rechtliche Bedeutung (Legal Meaning): In Germany, the right to assemble peacefully and unarmed (Versammlungsfreiheit - freedom of assembly) is enshrined in Article 8 of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz). This highlights the societal importance of public assemblies.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Versammlung?
The correct article for the word "Versammlung" is exclusively die. It is a feminine noun (die Versammlung, genitive: der Versammlung, plural: die Versammlungen).