locality / settlement
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locality / settlement
An inhabited place such as a village, small town, or settlement. The term is often used in a geographical or administrative context.
Die nächste größere Ortschaft ist etwa zehn Kilometer entfernt.
The next larger locality is about ten kilometers away.
local district
A part of a municipality that has its own name and often its own local representation (local council). Several local districts can together form one municipality.
Unsere Gemeinde besteht aus der Kernstadt und fünf weiteren Ortschaften.
Our municipality consists of the central town and five other local districts.
'Ortschaft' (locality/settlement) is derived from 'der Ort' (place) with the ending '-schaft'. This ending makes the word sound more formal and official than simply 'Ort' (place) or 'Dorf' (village).
Bitte geben Sie Ihre vollständige Adresse inklusive der Ortschaft an.
Please provide your full address, including the locality.
This word belongs more to formal or official language. You often find it on signs, in official documents, in the news, or in connection with traffic rules.
Laut dem amtlichen Verzeichnis hat die Ortschaft 500 Einwohner.
According to the official register, the locality has 500 inhabitants.
The term 'geschlossene Ortschaft' (built-up area) is very important in road traffic. It refers to the built-up area of a town or village where a general speed limit applies.
Innerhalb einer geschlossenen Ortschaft darf man meist nur 50 km/h fahren.
Within a built-up area, you are usually only allowed to drive 50 km/h.
When 'Ortschaft' (local district) is used in connection with 'Gemeinde' (municipality) or 'Ortsrat' (local council), it usually means a specific administrative part of a larger municipality. Without this context, it simply means 'Siedlung' (settlement).
Die Gemeinde Bergdorf besteht aus drei einzelnen Ortschaften.
The municipality of Bergdorf consists of three individual local districts.
place / town
„Ort“ and „Ortschaft“ can both refer to a settlement. „Ortschaft“ explicitly means an inhabited settlement and often sounds more geographical or administrative. „Ort“ is also possible here, but sounds more neutral and is used more generally in everyday language.
Die Ortschaft liegt zehn Kilometer nördlich von Bonn.
The locality lies ten kilometers north of Bonn.
Der Ort liegt zehn Kilometer nördlich von Bonn.
The town lies ten kilometers north of Bonn.
