property / ownership
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ownership
The legal relationship between a person and a thing that gives them full power of disposal over it. It describes the right to own something, use it, and make decisions about it.
Nach der letzten Ratenzahlung geht das Auto in mein Eigentum über.
After the final installment payment, the car passes into my ownership.
'Eigentum' (property/ownership) is derived from the adjective 'eigen' (own). The ending '-tum' is often used in German to form abstract nouns from adjectives, as in 'Reichtum' (wealth, from 'reich' (rich)).
Das Adjektiv 'eigen' ist die Basis für das Nomen 'Eigentum'.
The adjective 'eigen' (own) is the basis for the noun 'Eigentum' (property/ownership).
The word has an abstract and a concrete meaning. The abstract, legal meaning (m01) is uncountable. The concrete meaning (m02) refers to the totality of things that belong to a person.
Mit der letzten Rate geht das Fahrrad in dein Eigentum über.
With the final installment, the bicycle passes into your ownership.
In its legal meaning, 'Eigentum' (ownership) is often used in fixed expressions. Examples are 'geistiges Eigentum' (intellectual property, e.g., for inventions or art) or the phrase 'in jemandes Eigentum übergehen' (to pass into someone's ownership).
Geistiges Eigentum ist durch das Urheberrecht geschützt.
Intellectual property is protected by copyright law.
When 'Eigentum' (property) means the totality of possessions, it is often combined with possessive pronouns and adjectives like 'gesamt' (entire) or 'persönlich' (personal): 'mein gesamtes Eigentum' (all my property), 'ihr persönliches Eigentum' (her/their personal property).
Bitte achten Sie auf Ihr persönliches Eigentum.
Please look after your personal property.
possession
'der Besitz' and 'das Eigentum' are very close in meaning, especially in everyday language. Both can refer to things that someone has. But the exact difference is important: 'Eigentum' emphasizes legal ownership. 'Besitz' can simply mean that someone actually has or uses something. That is why someone can have something in their possession without it being their property, for example a borrowed car. Learners often confuse the words because people sometimes speak imprecisely in everyday language. When it is about the legal right to something, 'Eigentum' is more precise; when it is about having or using something, 'Besitz' fits better.
Das Grundstück ist Eigentum von Herrn Weber, auch wenn seine Nachbarn es oft nutzen.
The plot of land is Mr. Weber's property, even though his neighbors often use it.
Der Mietwagen ist nur für drei Tage in meinem Besitz.
The rental car is in my possession for only three days.