German NOUN B2 Rank 21358

das Ghetto

ghetto

das Ghetto, die Ghettos

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Meanings

das Ghetto

ghetto

A city district in which members of a minority or socially disadvantaged population group predominantly live, largely separated from the rest of the population. Such districts often arise through poverty, exclusion, or discrimination.

EXAMPLE

Viele der zugewanderten Familien leben in einem Ghetto am Stadtrand und haben kaum Kontakt zur übrigen Bevölkerung.

Many immigrant families live in a ghetto on the outskirts of the city and have little contact with the rest of the population.

das Ghetto

ghetto

Historically, a segregated city district assigned as a residential area for the Jewish population. In particular, the word refers to the enclosed residential districts established by the Nazis, where Jewish people were forced to live under inhumane conditions in most cases.

EXAMPLE

Die Nationalsozialisten zwangen Hunderttausende jüdische Menschen, im Warschauer Ghetto zu leben.

The Nazis forced hundreds of thousands of Jewish people to live in the Warsaw Ghetto.

das Ghetto

ghetto

Figuratively, a form of social or intellectual isolation in which a group remains largely among itself and has little exchange with others.

EXAMPLE

Mit öffentlichen Diskussionsveranstaltungen will die Forschungsgruppe aus ihrem akademischen Ghetto herauskommen.

The research group wants to break out of its academic ghetto by holding public discussion events.

Forms

Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Ghetto, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.

At a glance

gender	masculine der
plural	die Ghettos
genitive	des Ghettos

The four cases

	singular	plural
nominative	das Ghetto	die Ghettos die Ghetti
accusative	das Ghetto	die Ghettos die Ghetti
dative	dem Ghetto	den Ghettos den Ghetti
genitive	des Ghettos	der Ghettos der Ghetti

The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.

Usage tips

Negative connotation

When referring to present-day city districts, 'Ghetto' (ghetto) can sound derogatory or stigmatizing because the word often carries associations of poverty, exclusion, and a lack of participation. In the historical context of the persecution of Jewish people, however, the term has a factual and historical meaning.

EXAMPLE

Die Bewohnerinnen und Bewohner wehren sich dagegen, dass ihr Viertel pauschal als Ghetto bezeichnet wird.

The residents object to their neighborhood being labeled a ghetto across the board.

Typical collocations

For the meaning of a socially or geographically isolated district, typical phrases include 'in einem Ghetto leben' (to live in a ghetto), 'in einem Ghetto aufwachsen' (to grow up in a ghetto), and 'ein Ghetto verlassen' (to leave a ghetto).

EXAMPLE

Viele Jugendliche wachsen in einem Ghetto auf und wünschen sich bessere Bildungschancen.

Many young people grow up in a ghetto and hope for better educational opportunities.

Historical signals

The historical meaning is often indicated by words such as 'Nationalsozialisten' (Nazis), 'jüdische Menschen' (Jewish people), 'Zwang' (force), 'Deportation' (deportation), or by a historical place name. In this context, the word usually refers to a forced and guarded residential district.

EXAMPLE

Im Ghetto von Łódź mussten jüdische Menschen unter großer Not leben.

In the Łódź Ghetto, Jewish people had to live in great hardship.

Figurative collocations

In its figurative meaning, 'Ghetto' (ghetto) is often used with areas such as 'akademisch' (academic), 'kulturell' (cultural), or 'geistig' (intellectual). Typical phrases include 'aus einem Ghetto ausbrechen' (to break out of a ghetto) and 'aus einem Ghetto herauskommen' (to get out of a ghetto).

EXAMPLE

Durch den Austausch mit anderen Fachbereichen wollte die Gruppe aus ihrem akademischen Ghetto ausbrechen.

By exchanging ideas with other departments, the group wanted to break out of its academic ghetto.

In real life

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