to belong
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to belong
To be part of a group, thing, or whole; to be accepted as a member.
Seit sie in der neuen Stadt wohnt, versucht sie, neue Freunde zu finden und dazuzugehören.
Since she has been living in the new city, she has been trying to make new friends and belong.
to be part of it
To be a necessary or typical part of something.
Ein bisschen Nervosität vor einer Prüfung gehört einfach dazu.
A little nervousness before an exam is simply part of it.
'Dazugehören' (to belong) is a separable verb. The prefix 'dazu-' stands at the end in a main clause. In the infinitive with 'zu', 'zu' stands between the prefix and the verb: 'dazuzugehören'.
Er gehört jetzt zu unserer Mannschaft dazu.
He now belongs to our team.
When you want to express which group someone belongs to, you use the preposition 'zu' with the dative. However, the verb often also stands alone when the context is clear.
Sie möchte unbedingt zu diesem Team dazugehören.
She really wants to belong to this team.
The phrase 'gehört einfach dazu' (is simply part of it) is very common. It expresses that something is a normal or unavoidable part of a situation or experience.
Ein bisschen Stress vor dem Urlaub gehört einfach dazu.
A little stress before a vacation is simply part of it.
The two main meanings can often be recognized from the subject. If a person is the subject, it is usually about social belonging. If a thing or an abstract concept is the subject, it is about being a component of something.
Als neues Mitglied im Verein möchte er schnell dazugehören.
As a new member of the club, he wants to belong quickly.
to belong
Both words can say that someone or something is part of a group. With „gehören“, the group is usually named with „zu“, while „dazugehören“ refers back to a group or thing that is already known. Name the group for the first time with „gehören zu“; when the reference is already clear, „dazugehören“ is often the better choice.
Mina fühlt sich in unserer Lerngruppe wohl und möchte dazugehören.
Mina feels comfortable in our study group and wants to belong.
Mina gehört zu unserer Lerngruppe.
Mina belongs to our study group.
