municipality / commune
Loading your saved state.
municipality
A municipality, town, or village as the lowest political and administrative unit in a state.
Die Kommune ist für die Instandhaltung der örtlichen Straßen und Schulen verantwortlich.
The municipality is responsible for maintaining the local roads and schools.
The meaning of 'Kommune' depends heavily on the context. In a political or administrative context, it means a municipality. In a social or private context, it refers to an alternative living community.
Unsere Kommune hat beschlossen, einen neuen Kindergarten zu bauen.
Our municipality has decided to build a new kindergarten.
In the meaning of 'Gemeinde' (municipality), 'Kommune' is a formal term used mainly in administrative language, political discussions, and official documents.
Die Finanzen der Kommune müssen dringend saniert werden.
The municipality's finances urgently need to be restructured.
When referring to a shared living community, typical phrases are 'in einer Kommune leben' (to live in a commune), 'eine Kommune gründen' (to found a commune), or 'eine alternative Kommune' (an alternative commune).
Sie träumten davon, auf dem Land eine eigene Kommune zu gründen.
They dreamed of founding their own commune in the countryside.
city
'die Stadt' and 'die Kommune' can both refer to a local administration. 'Stadt' is very common in everyday language when talking about the administration of a city, for example about fees, roads, or schools. 'Kommune' is more general and more official: it can mean a city, a village, or a municipality as an administrative unit. The words can be confusing in news reports or official texts because they often refer not to the place itself, but to the administration. As a practical rule: 'Stadt' fits when it is really about a city; 'Kommune' fits when you are speaking more generally about local administration.
Viele Kommunen suchen neue Lösungen für günstige Wohnungen.
Many municipalities are looking for new solutions for affordable housing.
Die Stadt repariert im Sommer die alte Brücke.
The city is repairing the old bridge in the summer.