das Departement
administrative district
An administrative unit or district in certain countries, especially in France and Switzerland.
EXAMPLE
Paris liegt im Departement Île-de-France.
Paris is located in the Île-de-France department.
das Departement
department / administrative district
das Departement, die Departements
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Meanings
das Departement
department
A department within a larger organization, such as a university, ministry, or company. In Germany, 'Abteilung' (department) or 'Institut' (institute) is used more often.
EXAMPLE
Er leitet das Departement für Politikwissenschaft an der Universität Genf.
He heads the Department of Political Science at the University of Geneva.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Departement, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Departements |
| genitive | des Departements |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Departement | die Departements die Departemente |
| accusative | das Departement | die Departements die Departemente |
| dative | dem Departement | den Departements den Departementen |
| genitive | des Departements | der Departements der Departemente |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
French origin
'Departement' (department) is a loanword from French. This influences the pronunciation and points to the origin of the concept, especially for administrative districts.
EXAMPLE
Die Weinregion Bordeaux liegt im Departement Gironde.
The Bordeaux wine region is located in the Gironde department.
Context clue
The context makes the meaning clear: If it is about geography, countries, or administration (especially in France), it means a district. If it is about universities, ministries, or companies (especially in Switzerland), it means a department.
EXAMPLE
Jedes Schweizer Ministerium wird als Departement bezeichnet.
Each Swiss ministry is referred to as a department.
Regional usage
As a term for a department in an organization, 'Departement' (department) is very common especially in Switzerland (e.g., at universities or in government). In Germany, this use is less common.
EXAMPLE
Sie ist Professorin am Departement für Geschichte der Universität Basel.
She is a professor in the Department of History at the University of Basel.
Compare with
Departement vs Department
department
Both words can refer to a department or organizational unit. The German term „Department“ is usually used attributively and reflects the Anglo-American organizational model, while „Departement“ refers especially to an administrative district in France or Switzerland, but can also mean a department. Pay attention to the country and institutional context.
Departement
Der Kanton hat das Departement für Bildung neu organisiert.
The canton has reorganized the Department of Education.
Department
Die Universität hat ein neues Department für internationale Studien eingerichtet.
The university has established a new department for international studies.
In real life
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