good / estate / property
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good
In economics, a good, product, or service that serves to satisfy needs. Often used in the plural 'Güter' (goods).
Digitale Güter wie Software oder Musik lassen sich beliebig oft kopieren.
Digital goods such as software or music can be copied any number of times.
estate
A large agricultural property, often with a manor house and associated lands.
Die Familie besitzt seit Generationen ein Gut in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
The family has owned an estate in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania for generations.
property
Possessions or property, often used in the expression 'Hab und Gut' for a person's entire belongings.
Bei dem Hochwasser haben viele Menschen ihr gesamtes Hab und Gut verloren.
During the flood, many people lost all their worldly possessions.
valuable good
An ideal, abstract value that is regarded as especially important for a person or society.
Die Meinungsfreiheit ist ein hohes Gut in einer funktionierenden Demokratie.
Freedom of expression is a valuable good in a functioning democracy.
cargo
Goods that are transported; freight. It is often used in compound words such as 'Frachtgut' (freight) or 'Transportgut' (transported goods).
Das zu transportierende Gut muss sicher im LKW verstaut werden.
The goods to be transported must be securely stowed in the truck.
The noun 'das Gut' is closely related to the adjective 'gut' (good). Many meanings derive from the idea that something is valuable or positive, whether materially or ideally.
Gesundheit ist ein wertvolles Gut.
Health is a valuable good.
In the economic meaning, the plural 'die Güter' (goods) is almost always used. If you read or hear 'Gütern' (goods), it is usually about goods, products, or freight.
Die Firma exportiert ihre Güter in die ganze Welt.
The company exports its goods all over the world.
When 'Gut' means an agricultural estate, you often find it in connection with geographical information or the topic of agriculture. Here it is usually used in the singular.
Er hat ein altes Gut in der Toskana geerbt.
He inherited an old estate in Tuscany.
The meaning 'Besitz' (property/possessions) occurs almost exclusively in the fixed expression 'Hab und Gut' (all one's worldly possessions). This expression describes a person's entire property.
Bei dem Feuer haben die Bewohner ihr gesamtes Hab und Gut verloren.
In the fire, the residents lost all their worldly possessions.
When 'Gut' describes an ideal value, it is often combined with evaluative adjectives. Typical collocations are 'ein hohes Gut' (a high/important good), 'ein kostbares Gut' (a precious good), or 'ein schützenswertes Gut' (a good worth protecting).
Privatsphäre ist in der digitalen Welt ein schützenswertes Gut.
Privacy is a good worth protecting in the digital world.
In the context of transport and logistics, 'Gut' refers to the freight being transported. It is often used in compound words such as 'Transportgut' (transported goods), 'Frachtgut' (freight), or 'Stückgut' (general cargo).
Das Gut muss für den Seetransport wasserdicht verpackt werden.
The cargo must be packaged waterproof for sea transport.
possession
Besitz and Gut can both refer to the things someone has. Besitz is the general word for someone’s belongings or assets, while Gut, especially in „Hab und Gut“, refers to all of these things as concrete possessions. In everyday use, Besitz is usually more appropriate; Gut is more strongly associated with this fixed expression.
Nach dem Brand konnte die Familie nur wenig von ihrem Hab und Gut retten.
After the fire, the family could save only a small part of their belongings.
Nach dem Umzug musste sie ihren gesamten Besitz in Kartons packen.
After the move, she had to pack all her possessions into boxes.
