partnership / biological community
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partnership
A long-term form of cohabitation between two people that resembles a marriage but exists without a formal marriage ceremony. It is also called a non-marital partnership.
Sie leben seit zehn Jahren in einer Lebensgemeinschaft, ohne verheiratet zu sein.
They have lived in a partnership for ten years without being married.
biological community
In biology, the totality of all organisms of different species that live together in a specific habitat (biotope) and interact with one another. The technical term for this is biocenosis.
Im Korallenriff bildet sich eine komplexe Lebensgemeinschaft aus Fischen, Korallen und Algen.
In the coral reef, a complex biological community of fish, corals, and algae forms.
The word is made up of 'Leben' (life), the linking s, and 'Gemeinschaft' (community). So it literally describes a 'community of life'.
Viele Paare entscheiden sich für eine Lebensgemeinschaft statt einer Ehe.
Many couples choose a partnership instead of a marriage.
The context makes the meaning clear: if it is about people, relationships, and legal aspects, it refers to the partnership. If it is about animals, plants, and ecosystems, it refers to the biological meaning.
Sie haben ihre Lebensgemeinschaft offiziell eintragen lassen.
They had their partnership officially registered.
In connection with human relationships, 'Lebensgemeinschaft' (partnership) is a rather formal and legal term. It is often used in official documents or administrative language.
Für die Steuererklärung mussten sie den Status ihrer Lebensgemeinschaft angeben.
For the tax return, they had to state the status of their partnership.
Common phrases are 'in einer Lebensgemeinschaft leben' (to live in a partnership), 'eine Lebensgemeinschaft eingehen' (to enter into a partnership), or the more precise form 'nichteheliche Lebensgemeinschaft' (non-marital partnership).
Immer mehr Menschen leben in einer nichtehelichen Lebensgemeinschaft.
More and more people live in a non-marital partnership.
This meaning of the word is a technical term from biology. It is rarely used in everyday life unless people are talking about ecological topics.
Der Biologiekurs untersucht die Lebensgemeinschaft eines Baches.
The biology class is studying the biological community of a stream.
ecosystem
Ökosystem and Lebensgemeinschaft both refer to interconnected living organisms of different species in a habitat. An Ökosystem additionally includes the non-living environment, such as water, light, and nutrients. Use Lebensgemeinschaft when only the organisms are meant, and Ökosystem when their interaction with the environment is important.
Die Lebensgemeinschaft im Teich besteht aus Fischen, Pflanzen und kleinen Tieren.
The biological community in the pond consists of fish, plants, and small animals.
In diesem Ökosystem wirken die Fische, Pflanzen, das Wasser und das Licht zusammen.
In this ecosystem, the fish, plants, water, and light interact with one another.
