society / company
Loading your saved state.
society
All the people who live together in a political, economic, and social system, as well as their structures and relationships.
Der Klimawandel ist eine der größten Herausforderungen für die moderne Gesellschaft.
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges for modern society.
company
A group of people who are together to spend time with one another; being together with other people.
Ich verbringe den Abend lieber in guter Gesellschaft als allein.
I prefer spending the evening in good company rather than alone.
company
A business or an economic association of people; a company.
Er arbeitet für eine große internationale Gesellschaft im Finanzsektor.
He works for a large international company in the financial sector.
society
A formal association or organization with a specific scientific, cultural, or charitable goal.
Die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung gibt Empfehlungen für eine gesunde Lebensweise.
The German Nutrition Society gives recommendations for a healthy lifestyle.
The word is made up of 'Geselle' (historically: companion or partner) and the ending '-schaft'. The ending '-schaft' forms nouns that describe a group or community.
Die ganze Nachbarschaft hat beim Fest geholfen.
The whole neighborhood helped at the festival.
You can recognize the meaning from context. In the broad, political sense, it is society (m01). With friends, it means company or being together (m02). In a business context, it is a company (m03). As the name of an association, it is an organization (m04).
Er genießt die Gesellschaft seiner Freunde.
He enjoys the company of his friends.
When it is about the social system, 'Gesellschaft' (society) is often combined with adjectives like 'modern' (modern), 'offen' (open), 'bürgerlich' (middle-class/civil), or 'industriell' (industrial).
Die Digitalisierung verändert unsere moderne Gesellschaft grundlegend.
Digitalization is fundamentally changing our modern society.
In the meaning 'being together', there are fixed expressions such as 'jemandem Gesellschaft leisten' (to keep someone company; to spend time with someone so they are not alone) or 'in guter Gesellschaft sein' (to be in good company).
Meine Oma ist oft allein, deshalb leiste ich ihr gerne Gesellschaft.
My grandma is often alone, so I like keeping her company.
When 'Gesellschaft' means a company, this is often made clear by additions such as 'mbH' (limited liability company) or 'AG' (stock corporation). Verbs like 'gründen' (to found) or 'leiten' (to manage) also point to this meaning.
Die Müller & Co. GmbH ist eine bekannte Gesellschaft in der Region.
Müller & Co. GmbH is a well-known company in the region.
company / undertaking
Both das Unternehmen and die Gesellschaft can refer to an economically active organization. Unternehmen puts the economic organization at the center, while Gesellschaft can also emphasize an economic association of people. Use Unternehmen for the organization in general and Gesellschaft when the association is the focus.
Drei Fachleute gründeten eine Gesellschaft, die Möbel produziert.
Three experts founded a company that produces furniture.
Das Unternehmen produziert Möbel und beschäftigt fünfzig Personen.
The company produces furniture and employs fifty people.
