die  Wohngegend

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈvoːnɡəˌɡeːt/

🏘️ What exactly is a Wohngegend?

The German noun die Wohngegend (feminine, article: die) refers to a geographically defined area within a city or municipality that is primarily used for housing. So, it's an area where mainly residential buildings and apartments are located, rather than shops, offices, or industrial facilities.

Essentially, it's the German word for a residential area or neighborhood where people live. It describes the character of an area as primarily residential.

🚨 Important: The word is always feminine: die Wohngegend.

🧐 Grammar under the Microscope: Declension of Wohngegend

The noun "Wohngegend" is feminine. Here are the declension tables:

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

The plural "die Wohngegenden" is grammatically correct but used less frequently than the singular. Often, people talk about "verschiedene Wohngegenden" (different residential areas) or rephrase it.

💬 Example Sentences

• Wir suchen eine Wohnung in einer ruhigen Wohngegend. (We are looking for an apartment in a quiet residential area.)
• Die Mieten in dieser Wohngegend sind sehr hoch. (The rents in this neighborhood are very high.)
• Die Polizei patrouilliert regelmäßig in den örtlichen Wohngegenden. (The police regularly patrol the local residential areas.)
• Die Infrastruktur der Wohngegend muss verbessert werden. (The infrastructure of the residential area needs to be improved.)

💡 How to use "Wohngegend" correctly?

"Wohngegend" is used to describe an area characterized mainly by residential buildings. It's a general term and can refer to smaller or larger areas.

• Typical context: Real estate search (Immobiliensuche), urban planning (Stadtplanung), describing one's own place of residence, discussing quality of life in different districts.
• Distinction from similar words:
  • Das Viertel (quarter/district): Can be a Wohngegend, but also a business district, trendy district, etc. Often smaller and associated with a more specific character.
  • Der Stadtteil (borough/district): Often a larger, officially defined administrative area of a city, which can include various types of zones (residential, commercial, parks).
  • Die Siedlung (housing estate/settlement): Often a planned group of residential buildings, sometimes on the outskirts of the city or developed as a new housing area.

For instance, you might talk about a "gepflegte Wohngegend" (well-kept residential area), a "belebte Wohngegend" (lively neighborhood), or a "familienfreundliche Wohngegend" (family-friendly residential area) to describe its character more precisely.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Remembering the article: The word ends in "-gegend". Many German nouns ending in "-end" or "-d" that describe an area or state are feminine (e.g., die Gegend - area, die Jugend - youth, die Tugend - virtue). Just think of die Gegend (the area) where one wohnt (lives). Both parts suggest feminine: die Gegend -> die Wohngegend.

Remembering the meaning: The word is a compound of wohnen (to live/reside) and Gegend (area/region). So, logically, it's the Gegend (area) where you wohnen (live). Simple, right? 😉

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

⚠️ Be careful: Not every Viertel is a Wohngegend (e.g., Bankenviertel - banking district).

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt ein Stadtplaner den anderen: "Was ist der Unterschied zwischen einer guten und einer schlechten Wohngegend?"
Sagt der andere: "In einer guten Wohngegend hört man die Vögel zwitschern, in einer schlechten die Alarmanlagen!"

(Translation: One urban planner asks another: "What's the difference between a good and a bad residential area?"
The other replies: "In a good residential area, you hear the birds chirping; in a bad one, you hear the car alarms!")

📜 Poem about the Wohngegend

Die Wohngegend, still und fein,
Hier lässt es sich gut heimisch sein.
Häuser reihen sich aneinander,
Nachbarn grüßen miteinander.

Kinderlachen auf der Straß',
Gärten blühen ohne Maß.
Ein Ort des Lebens, froh und bunt,
Zu jeder Stund'.

(Translation:
The neighborhood, quiet and fine,
Here one can feel quite at home.
Houses stand in rows together,
Neighbors greet each other.

Children's laughter on the street,
Gardens bloom beyond all measure.
A place of life, happy and bright,
At every hour, day and night.)

❓ Little Riddle

Ich bin ein Ort, kein Haus allein,
Hier ziehen Leute ein und aus, und ein.
Man schläft bei mir, man lebt, man lacht,
Doch Arbeit wird hier kaum gemacht.
Geschäfte gibt's, doch nicht gar viele,
Mein Hauptzweck sind der Menschen Ziele:
Ein trautes Heim, ein Ruheerich.
Wie nennt man mich?

(Translation:
I am a place, not just one house alone,
People move in and out, it's widely known.
You sleep here, live here, laugh with glee,
But work is rarely done in me.
There are some shops, but not too many,
My main purpose serves the goals of any:
A cozy home, a peaceful spot.
What am I called? Give it a shot!)

(Solution: die Wohngegend - the residential area/neighborhood)

🧩 Word Building Blocks: Wohn + Gegend

The word "Wohngegend" is a compound noun (Kompositum). It's made up of:

• wohnen: The verb meaning 'to live', 'to reside'.
• die Gegend: The noun meaning 'area', 'region', 'vicinity'.

Together, they form the meaning: An area / region for living.