company / troupe
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company
An outdated or deliberately traditional term for a trading company or business.
Die 'Vereinigte Ostindische Compagnie' war einst das größte Unternehmen der Welt.
The 'United East India Company' was once the largest company in the world.
The spelling 'Compagnie' with 'C' is an older form adopted from French. Today it is used deliberately to create a historical, traditional, or artistic impression.
Der Name 'Historische Segel-Compagnie' klingt bewusst altmodisch.
The name 'Historische Segel-Compagnie' (Historical Sailing Company) sounds deliberately old-fashioned.
You can recognize the meaning of 'Compagnie' from the context. In connection with trade and history, it means a company. In the area of theater, dance, or circus, it means a group of artists.
Die niederländische Ostindien-Compagnie war eine mächtige Handelsgesellschaft.
The Dutch East India Company was a powerful trading company.
In the artistic field, 'Compagnie' is often joined directly with the art form to make one word. Typical examples are 'Tanzcompagnie' (dance company), 'Theatercompagnie' (theater company), or 'Zirkuscompagnie' (circus troupe).
Er ist der Gründer einer bekannten freien Theatercompagnie.
He is the founder of a well-known independent theater company.
company / undertaking
'das Unternehmen' and 'die Compagnie' can both refer to an economic organization. 'das Unternehmen' is the normal, modern word and fits in almost all everyday situations and professional texts. 'die Compagnie', by contrast, sounds old-fashioned, traditional, or deliberately distinctive. You are more likely to find it in historical contexts, in names, or when an old style is intended. For a modern company, people usually say 'Unternehmen', not 'Compagnie'.
Auf dem alten Schild stand noch der Name der Handels-Compagnie.
The name of the trading company was still written on the old sign.
Meine Schwester arbeitet in einem Unternehmen, das Solaranlagen verkauft.
My sister works at a company that sells solar panels.