die
Wohnung
🏠 What Exactly is a "Wohnung"?
Die Wohnung (noun, feminine) refers to a self-contained living space within a building, used for dwelling. It typically consists of several rooms such as a bedroom (*Schlafzimmer*), living room (*Wohnzimmer*), kitchen (*Küche*), and bathroom (*Bad*).
In German, Wohnung is always feminine, so the definite article is always die.
- Meaning 1: Accommodation, dwelling, usually rented or owned within an apartment building (*Mehrfamilienhaus*).
🚨 There are no other articles for this word; it is always die Wohnung.
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 Wohnung" in Detail
The word "Wohnung" is a feminine noun. Here are the declension tables:
Declension Singular
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die Wohnung | eine Wohnung (a/an apartment) |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der Wohnung | einer Wohnung (of an apartment) |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der Wohnung | einer Wohnung (to/for an apartment) |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die Wohnung | eine Wohnung (an apartment) |
Declension Plural
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Wohnungen (the apartments) | Wohnungen / keine Wohnungen (apartments / no apartments) |
| Genitive | der Wohnungen (of the apartments) | Wohnungen / keiner Wohnungen (of apartments / of no apartments) |
| Dative | den Wohnungen (to/for the apartments) | Wohnungen / keinen Wohnungen (to/for apartments / to/for no apartments) |
| Accusative | die Wohnungen (the apartments) | Wohnungen / keine Wohnungen (apartments / no apartments) |
Example Sentences
- Wir suchen eine neue Wohnung in der Stadt. (We are looking for a new apartment in the city.)
- Die Miete der Wohnung ist ziemlich hoch. (The rent of the apartment is quite high.)
- In meiner alten Wohnung gab es keinen Balkon. (In my old apartment, there was no balcony.)
- Die Wohnungen in diesem Gebäude sind alle sehr modern. (The apartments in this building are all very modern.)
💬 How is "Wohnung" Used?
"Wohnung" is a very common word in everyday German. It's used to talk about the place where someone lives, especially when it's not a detached house.
- Context: Renting (mieten), buying (kaufen), moving (umziehen), furnishing (einrichten), apartment size (Wohnungsgröße), location (Lage der Wohnung).
- Typical Phrases: "eine Wohnung mieten/kaufen" (to rent/buy an apartment), "eine Wohnung suchen" (to look for an apartment), "in eine Wohnung einziehen/ausziehen" (to move into/out of an apartment), "die Wohnung putzen/renovieren" (to clean/renovate the apartment).
- Distinction: Unlike das Haus (which usually refers to a single-family house or semi-detached house), a Wohnung is typically part of a larger building with multiple residential units. A small apartment is often called das Appartement.
🧠 Mnemonics for "die Wohnung"
Remembering the Article (die)
Many German nouns ending in -ung are feminine (e.g., die Rechnung - the bill, die Übung - the exercise, die Meinung - the opinion). Think: The ending "-ung" almost always takes "die". This applies to die Wohnung too.
Remembering the Meaning (apartment/flat)
The word comes from the verb "wohnen" (to live, to dwell). A Wohnung is the place where one wohnt. Imagine saying after a long day: "Finally back in my Wohnung!" – your personal sanctuary.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Appartement (das): Often used for smaller, modern apartments. Note the neuter article!
- Bleibe (die): More colloquial term for accommodation, a place to stay.
- Unterkunft (die): General term for a place to stay overnight/live, can also be temporary.
- Domizil (das): More formal/elevated term for residence.
Antonyms (Opposites)
- Haus (das): Usually a detached or semi-detached building for one family.
- Obdachlosigkeit (die): Homelessness, the state of having no fixed dwelling.
Related Terms
- Mietwohnung: A rented apartment.
- Eigentumswohnung: An owned apartment (condominium).
- Wohnungsmarkt: The housing market (specifically for apartments).
😂 A Little Joke
Deutsch: Fragt der Vermieter den neuen Mieter: "Haben Sie Haustiere?" Antwortet der Mieter: "Nur eine Stubenfliege, aber die wohnt zur Untermiete!"
English: The landlord asks the new tenant: "Do you have any pets?" The tenant replies: "Only a housefly, but she's subletting!"
✒️ Poem about the Wohnung
Deutsch:
Vier Wände, ein Dach, ein warmer Ort,
Die Wohnung, mein sicherer Hort.
Mal klein, mal groß, mal alt, mal neu,
Hier leb' ich, hier bin ich mir treu.
Die Tür fällt zu, der Tag bleibt drauß,
Willkommen in meinem Zuhaus.
English Translation:
Four walls, a roof, a place so warm,
The apartment, my safe place from storm.
Sometimes small, sometimes large, old or new,
Here I live, here I stay true.
The door shuts closed, the day stays out,
Welcome to my home, no doubt.
❓ Riddle
Deutsch:
Ich habe Zimmer, doch kein Hotel,
Ich habe eine Tür mit Klingelschell'.
Man kann mich mieten oder kaufen,
Und Nachbarn hört man manchmal laufen.
Was bin ich?
English Translation:
I have rooms, but I'm not a hotel,
I have a door with a doorbell's shell.
You can rent me or buy me outright,
And sometimes hear neighbors day or night.
What am I?
... Die Wohnung (The apartment/flat)
💡 Other Interesting Facts
Word Composition
The word Wohnung is composed of the verb wohnen (to live, to dwell) and the suffix -ung. The suffix "-ung" is frequently used to form nouns from verbs, often describing the process or result of the action. These nouns are almost always feminine in German.
Compound Nouns
Wohnung is often part of compound words (Komposita):
- Wohnungssuche: Apartment search
- Wohnungsbesichtigung: Apartment viewing
- Wohnungsmangel: Housing shortage (referring to apartments)
- Wohnungseinrichtung: Apartment furnishing
- Dachgeschosswohnung: Attic apartment
- Ferienwohnung: Holiday apartment / vacation rental
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Wohnung?
The German word Wohnung is always feminine. Therefore, the correct article is exclusively die Wohnung. The plural is die Wohnungen.