die
Zusammenkunft
🤝 What does "die Zusammenkunft" mean?
The noun die Zusammenkunft (feminine) refers to the planned or unplanned meeting of several people in one place. It can be a formal or informal gathering.
- Meaning 1: A meeting, a conference, or an assembly (often with a specific purpose or occasion). Example: Eine geschäftliche Zusammenkunft (a business meeting).
- Meaning 2: A social get-together, often in a private setting. Example: Eine familiäre Zusammenkunft zum Geburtstag (a family gathering for a birthday).
It emphasizes the event of coming together itself. Since it only takes the article "die", there are no different meanings based on the article. 🚨 Watch out: Don't confuse it with "Ankunft" (arrival)!
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ft/ -schaft → almost always feminine.
All -schaft nouns are feminine, but not all -ft nouns are.
📚 Grammar of "die Zusammenkunft" in Detail
The word "Zusammenkunft" is a feminine noun. The plural is "die Zusammenkünfte". Here is the declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Zusammenkunft |
| Genitive | der | Zusammenkunft |
| Dative | der | Zusammenkunft |
| Accusative | die | Zusammenkunft |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Zusammenkünfte |
| Genitive | der | Zusammenkünfte |
| Dative | den | Zusammenkünften |
| Accusative | die | Zusammenkünfte |
Example Sentences
- Die nächste Zusammenkunft des Vereins findet am Freitag statt.
(The next meeting of the club takes place on Friday.) - Wir freuen uns auf eine gemütliche Zusammenkunft mit alten Freunden.
(We look forward to a cozy get-together with old friends.) - Während der Zusammenkunft wurden wichtige Entscheidungen getroffen.
(During the meeting, important decisions were made.) - Er organisierte regelmäßige Zusammenkünfte für die Projektmitglieder.
(He organized regular meetings for the project members.)
🗣️ How to Use "die Zusammenkunft"
"Die Zusammenkunft" is used to describe the event of people coming together. It can be used for both formal and informal occasions, but often sounds slightly more elevated or official than the simpler word "das Treffen".
- Formal Contexts: Business meetings, conferences, official assemblies. Example: Die jährliche Zusammenkunft der Aktionäre (The annual shareholder meeting).
- Informal Contexts: Family reunions, meetings among friends, social gatherings. Example: Eine fröhliche Zusammenkunft im Garten (A cheerful get-together in the garden).
Compared to "das Treffen", which is more common in everyday language, "die Zusammenkunft" often emphasizes the organized or special nature of the event more strongly.
You might hear phrases like "eine kurze Zusammenkunft" (a brief meeting), "eine wichtige Zusammenkunft" (an important meeting), or "eine zufällige Zusammenkunft" (a chance meeting).
💡 Mnemonics for "die Zusammenkunft"
-
Mnemonic for the Article (die):
Imagine a group of women elegantly arriving (coming) together for a meeting: eine Zusammenkunft. The feminine article "die" fits the feminine ending "-kunft" (like in die Ankunft, die Herkunft) and the image of the ladies' gathering. The ending -kunft is almost always feminine in German!
-
Mnemonic for the Meaning (meeting/gathering):
Think: People come zusammen (together) and arrive at a place -> a Zusammenkunft. It’s the result of ‘coming together’.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Das Treffen: More general and commonly used than Zusammenkunft. (the meeting/get-together)
- Die Versammlung: Usually formal, often with an agenda and a specific goal (e.g., Mitgliederversammlung - members' meeting). (the assembly)
- Das Meeting: Loanword from English, often used in a business context. (the meeting)
- Die Besprechung: Focuses on discussion and decision-making, mostly professional. (the discussion/meeting)
- Das Beisammensein: Emphasizes the social, informal character. (the get-together)
⚠️ Similar Words:
😄 A Little Joke
Warum war die Zusammenkunft der Mathematiker so laut?
(Why was the mathematicians' meeting so loud?)
Weil sie ständig über Probleme sprachen!
(Because they were constantly talking about problems!) 😂
📜 A Little Poem
Von nah und fern, bei Tag, bei Nacht,
ist eine Zusammenkunft erdacht.
Man trifft sich, spricht, lacht und berät,
bevor ein jeder wieder geht.
Ob Arbeit, Freundschaft, Familie,
stets ist's ein Moment der Idylle.
(From near and far, by day, by night,
A gathering is conceived with might.
They meet, talk, laugh, deliberate,
Before each one must separate.
Be it work, friendship, family near,
Always a moment of idyllic cheer.)
❓ Riddle Time
Ich bringe Menschen an einen Platz,
bin mal ein ernster, mal ein lust'ger Satz.
Ich kann geplant sein oder spontan,
ich fange oft mit 'Zusammen-' an.
Ich bin feminin, vergiss das nie!
Wer bin ich?
... Die Zusammenkunft
(I bring people to one place,
Sometimes serious, sometimes full of grace.
I can be planned or arise by chance,
Often starting with 'Zusammen-' (together) at first glance.
I am feminine, never forget this plea!
Who am I?
... Die Zusammenkunft (the meeting/gathering))
🧩 More Details: Word Composition
The word "Zusammenkunft" is a compound noun, composed of:
- zusammen: Adverb meaning 'together', 'jointly'.
- die Kunft: An old noun, no longer used independently today, related to "kommen" (to come). It only survives in compounds like Ankunft (arrival), Herkunft (origin), Zukunft (future), and indeed Zusammenkunft. All these words are feminine (die).
The structure zusammen + -kunft literally describes the event of 'coming' or arriving together at one place.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Zusammenkunft?
The noun "Zusammenkunft" is always feminine. The correct article is die Zusammenkunft. The plural is "die Zusammenkünfte".