descent / ancestry
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ancestry
A person's origin from a particular family, people, or social group. It refers to ancestors and the genetic or cultural line.
Er ist deutscher Abstammung, aber in den USA aufgewachsen.
He is of German ancestry, but grew up in the United States.
The noun 'Abstammung' (descent/ancestry) comes from the verb 'abstammen' (to descend from). This verb contains 'Stamm' (stem/trunk), which points to a root or origin. It literally means to 'come down' from a particular origin.
Diese Tradition stammt aus dem Mittelalter ab.
This tradition comes from the Middle Ages.
You can recognize the meaning from the context. If it is about families, nationalities, or social classes, it refers to people's origin. In texts about biology or evolution, it refers to the origin of species.
Er ist polnischer Abstammung.
He is of Polish ancestry.
A very common construction is 'von [adjektivischer] Abstammung sein' (to be of [adjectival] descent/ancestry). The adjective describes the type of origin.
Sie ist von einfacher Abstammung, hat aber viel erreicht.
She is of humble origins, but has achieved a lot.
The biological meaning of 'Abstammung' (descent) is used mainly in scientific and technical language, for example in the fields of biology, paleontology, and anthropology.
Die Abstammungslehre war eine revolutionäre Idee.
The theory of descent was a revolutionary idea.
line
'die Linie' and 'die Abstammung' can both have to do with ancestors and family. 'die Abstammung' describes a person's ancestry, that is, which family, group, or culture they come from. In this context, 'die Linie' more often means a sequence of ancestors or descendants, for example the maternal or paternal line. The words can be confused because both talk about origin. 'Abstammung' is more about the source or origin; 'Linie' arranges people in a sequence within the family.
Yara spricht offen über ihre Abstammung und die Geschichte ihrer Familie.
Yara speaks openly about her ancestry and her family's history.
In der mütterlichen Linie gab es viele Ärztinnen in der Familie.
On the maternal side of the family, there were many women doctors.