community
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community
A group of people connected by shared interests, a place of residence, values, or goals.
In unserer Hausgemeinschaft kennen und helfen sich alle Nachbarn.
In our residential community, all the neighbors know and help each other.
The word is made up of 'gemein' (in the sense of 'gemeinsam' — shared/common) and the suffix '-schaft' (-ship/-hood). The suffix '-schaft' is often used to form nouns that describe a group, a state, or a relationship.
Die Freundschaft zwischen den beiden Ländern ist sehr stark.
The friendship between the two countries is very strong.
Common verbs used with 'Gemeinschaft' (community) are 'eine Gemeinschaft bilden' (to form a community), 'einer Gemeinschaft angehören' (to belong to a community), or 'die Gemeinschaft stärken' (to strengthen the community).
Die Anwohner haben eine Gemeinschaft gebildet, um den Park zu pflegen.
The residents formed a community to maintain the park.
When 'Gemeinschaft' (community) means the abstract feeling of belonging together, it is often combined with verbs like 'fühlen' (to feel), 'erleben' (to experience), 'spüren' (to sense), or adjectives like 'stark' (strong) and 'eng' (close).
Beim gemeinsamen Singen entstand ein tiefes Gefühl von Gemeinschaft.
A deep sense of community developed while singing together.
In legal, political, or economic contexts, 'Gemeinschaft' (community/association) often forms compound nouns to specify the type of connection. Examples are 'Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft' (economic community), 'Erbengemeinschaft' (community of heirs), or 'Staatengemeinschaft' (community of states).
Nach dem Tod der Eltern bildeten die Kinder eine Erbengemeinschaft.
After the parents' death, the children formed a community of heirs.
family
'die Familie' and 'die Gemeinschaft' both describe groups in which people belong together. But 'Familie' usually means relatives, for example parents, children, or also uncles and grandparents. 'Gemeinschaft' is more appropriate when people are connected by a place, a goal, an interest, or a feeling. Learners may confuse the words because both express closeness and cohesion. When it is about relatives, 'Familie' is more natural. When it is about a group with shared values or goals, 'Gemeinschaft' is more precise.
In der kleinen Gemeinschaft helfen die Nachbarn einander beim Einkaufen.
In the small community, the neighbors help each other with shopping.
Am Sonntag besucht Lisa ihre Familie in Köln.
On Sunday, Lisa visits her family in Cologne.