partnership
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partnership
A long-term romantic relationship between two people who do not necessarily have to be married.
Nach fünf Jahren Partnerschaft haben sie sich entschieden zu heiraten.
After five years of partnership, they decided to get married.
The word consists of 'Partner' (partner) and the ending '-schaft'. This ending forms feminine nouns that describe a state, relationship, or community, as in 'Freundschaft' (friendship) or 'Gesellschaft' (society/company).
Das Suffix „-schaft“ macht aus einer Person („der Partner“) eine Beziehung („die Partnerschaft“).
The suffix '-schaft' turns a person ('der Partner' — the partner) into a relationship ('die Partnerschaft' — the partnership).
You can recognize the meaning from the context: if it is about love and living together, it means a romantic relationship. If companies, projects, or goals are mentioned, it refers to a business collaboration.
Im privaten Kontext spricht man oft von Liebe, im geschäftlichen von einer strategischen Partnerschaft.
In a private context, people often speak of love; in a business context, of a strategic partnership.
In the context of a romantic relationship, the verbs 'eine Partnerschaft eingehen' (to enter into a partnership), 'in einer Partnerschaft leben' (to live in a partnership), or 'eine Partnerschaft führen' (to maintain/conduct a partnership) are often used.
Sie leben seit über zehn Jahren in einer eingetragenen Partnerschaft.
They have lived in a registered partnership for over ten years.
In the business field, people speak of 'eine Partnerschaft schließen' (to form/conclude a partnership), 'eine Partnerschaft aufbauen' (to build a partnership), or 'eine Partnerschaft eingehen' (to enter into a partnership). It is often described more specifically with adjectives such as 'strategisch' (strategic) or 'langfristig' (long-term).
Die beiden Firmen haben eine langfristige Partnerschaft geschlossen.
The two companies formed a long-term partnership.
marriage
'die Ehe' and 'die Partnerschaft' can both mean a committed relationship between two people. However, 'die Ehe' is an officially recognized union, usually involving marriage and legal consequences. 'die Partnerschaft' is more general: two people can live in a partnership without being married. In addition, 'Partnerschaft' can also mean a professional collaboration. Learners may confuse the words because both are often used to talk about couples. When the focus is on marriage and legal status, 'Ehe' is more precise. When only the relationship is meant, or also collaboration, 'Partnerschaft' is more natural.
Die Firma plant eine Partnerschaft mit einem kleinen Betrieb aus der Region.
The company is planning a partnership with a small business from the region.
Nach zehn Jahren Ehe feiern Lena und Tom ein großes Fest.
After ten years of marriage, Lena and Tom are celebrating with a big party.