die
Wohnungssuche
🔍 What does 'die Wohnungssuche' mean?
Die Wohnungssuche refers to the process or activity of actively searching for a new apartment or house to rent or buy. It's a compound noun formed from 'die Wohnung' (apartment, flat) and 'die Suche' (search).
Because the base word 'die Suche' is feminine, the compound word 'die Wohnungssuche' is also feminine.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar Corner: Declining die Wohnungssuche
'Wohnungssuche' is a feminine noun. It is mainly used in the singular because it refers to a process. The plural ('die Wohnungssuchen') is rare and would refer to multiple, separate search processes.
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Wohnungssuche |
| Genitive | der | Wohnungssuche |
| Dative | der | Wohnungssuche |
| Accusative | die | Wohnungssuche |
Example Sentences
- Nominative: Die Wohnungssuche gestaltet sich schwierig. (The apartment search is proving difficult.)
- Genitive: Trotz intensiver Wohnungssuche fand er nichts Passendes. (Despite an intensive apartment search, he found nothing suitable.)
- Dative: Er widmet sich voll und ganz der Wohnungssuche. (He is fully dedicated to the apartment search.)
- Accusative: Sie hat die Wohnungssuche vorerst aufgegeben. (She has given up the apartment search for now.)
💬 Using 'Wohnungssuche' in Context
The term die Wohnungssuche is used when talking about the act of looking for a new place to live. Typical contexts include:
- Moving to a new city (e.g., for work or study - wegen Arbeit oder Studium).
- Changes in life circumstances (e.g., starting a family, separation - Familiengründung, Trennung).
- Desire for a larger, smaller, or nicer apartment.
- Moving out of the parental home (aus dem Elternhaus ausziehen).
Common collocations (word combinations) are:
- auf Wohnungssuche sein (to be looking for an apartment)
- die Wohnungssuche beginnen/starten (to start the apartment search)
- die Wohnungssuche gestaltet sich schwierig/einfach (the apartment search is proving difficult/easy)
- bei der Wohnungssuche helfen (to help with the apartment search)
- Erfolg bei der Wohnungssuche haben (to have success in the apartment search)
💡 Mnemonics for 'die Wohnungssuche'
Article Mnemonic: The word ends in '-suche'. Remember that 'die Suche' (the search) is feminine. Therefore, 'die Wohnungssuche' is also feminine. Think: She (feminine 'die') is searching for a flat.
Meaning Mnemonic: Break it down: Wohnung (apartment) + Suche (search). It literally means 'apartment search'.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- Immobiliensuche: Property search (broader, includes houses and commercial properties).
- Unterkunftssuche: Search for accommodation (even broader, can include temporary stays like hotel rooms).
- Quartiersuche: Search for quarters/lodging (slightly dated).
Antonyms (in a broader sense)
- Wohnungsangebot: Apartment supply/offerings (the available apartments).
- Wohnungsvermittlung: Apartment placement/brokerage (the act of mediating an apartment, often by an agent).
- gefundenes Zuhause / sesshaft sein: Having found a home / being settled (the state after a successful search).
⚠️ Similar but different words
- Hausdurchsuchung: House search (by police). This is an official search of premises, completely different from looking for a house to live in!
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Freund: "Na, wie läuft die Wohnungssuche?"
Antwortet der Suchende: "Super! Ich habe jetzt drei verschiedene Apps, vier Maklerkontakte und einen riesigen Stapel Absagen. Nur eine Wohnung fehlt noch!"
English: A friend asks: "So, how's the apartment search going?"
The searcher replies: "Great! I now have three different apps, four contacts for real estate agents, and a huge pile of rejections. Only the apartment itself is still missing!"
📜 Poem about Apartment Hunting
Portale klicken, spät und früh,
Besichtigungstermine, Ach und Müh'.
Der Makler lächelt, preist das Licht,
Doch passt die Wohnung wieder nicht.
Die Konkurrenz ist groß und schnell,
Man hofft auf Glück, auf jeden Fall.
Die Suche nach dem eignen Raum,
Ein manchmal harter Großstadttraum.
English: Clicking portals, late and early,
Viewing appointments, oh the toil and worry.
The agent smiles, praises the light,
But still the apartment isn't right.
Competition is fierce and fast,
Hoping for luck, hoping it'll last.
The search for one's own space,
Sometimes a tough big-city race.
❓ A Little Riddle
Ich bin ein Prozess, oft lang und schwer,
mit vielen Klicks und noch viel mehr.
Ich führe dich durch manch fremde Tür,
bis du dein neues Heim findest hier.
Was bin ich?
English: I am a process, often long and hard,
with many clicks and much regard.
I lead you through many a foreign door,
until you find your new home to adore.
What am I?
Solution: Die Wohnungssuche (The apartment search)
✨ Other Information about Wohnungssuche
Word Composition
Die Wohnungssuche is a compound noun (Kompositum) made up of:
Trivia
In many large German cities, die Wohnungssuche is a very relevant and frequently discussed topic due to housing shortages and rising rents. Online platforms like 'ImmobilienScout24' or 'WG-Gesucht' (for shared flats) are key tools in modern apartment hunting in Germany.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Wohnungssuche?
The German word "Wohnungssuche" is feminine. The correct article is die: die Wohnungssuche. It derives its gender from the feminine base word "die Suche" (the search).