01
die Bevölkerung
population
All the inhabitants who live in a specific area such as a city, region, or country.
example
Die Bevölkerung Deutschlands beträgt über 83 Millionen Menschen.
The population of Germany is over 83 million people.
die Bevölkerung
population
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word family
The word 'Bevölkerung' (population) belongs to the word family of 'das Volk' (the people). It is derived from the verb 'bevölkern' (to populate), which means that people live in an area. The ending '-ung' turns the verb into a noun.
EXAMPLE
Viele kleine Dörfer in der Region sind nur noch dünn bevölkert.
Many small villages in the region are now only sparsely populated.
Use in the singular
'Bevölkerung' (population) is a collective noun and is almost always used in the singular, even when talking about many millions of people. The plural 'Bevölkerungen' (populations) is rare and is used only in scientific contexts to compare different groups.
EXAMPLE
Die gesamte Bevölkerung wurde über die neuen Maßnahmen informiert.
The entire population was informed about the new measures.
Typical collocations
Common verbs used in connection with 'Bevölkerung' (population) describe changes, such as 'wachsen' (to grow), 'schrumpfen' (to shrink), 'zunehmen' (to increase), or 'altern' (to age). Typical adjectives include 'einheimisch' (native), 'städtisch' (urban), or 'ländlich' (rural).
EXAMPLE
Die Bevölkerung des Landes ist in den letzten zehn Jahren stark gewachsen.
The population of the country has grown significantly over the last ten years.
Compare with
Bevölkerung vs Leute
people
'die Leute' and 'die Bevölkerung' both refer to people, but on a very different scale and in a different style. 'die Leute' is general and everyday. You use it for people in a situation, in a place, or in a specific group. 'die Bevölkerung' means all the inhabitants of a specific area, for example a city, region, or country. The word sounds more factual and fits well in news, politics, or statistics. Learners may confuse the words because both mean 'people'. As a guide: for a small or imprecise number of people, you usually say 'Leute'; for all the inhabitants of an area, 'Bevölkerung'.
Bevölkerung
Die Bevölkerung der Stadt wächst seit einigen Jahren schnell.
The population of the city has been growing quickly for several years.
Leute
Heute fragen die Leute im Haus den Mitarbeiter nach der neuen Heizung.
Today the people in the building are asking the employee about the new heating system.
In real life
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