townhouse / municipal building
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townhouse
A residential building located within a city, often designed as a terraced house or multi-story building for one or more families.
Sie haben ein altes Stadthaus im Zentrum renoviert und wohnen jetzt dort.
They renovated an old townhouse in the center and now live there.
municipal building
A public building that houses parts of the city administration and often serves as an addition to the town hall.
Für die Ummeldung müssen Sie zum Stadthaus am Marktplatz gehen, nicht ins Rathaus.
For the change of address registration, you need to go to the municipal building on the market square, not to the town hall.
The word is made up of 'Stadt' (city) and 'Haus' (house). The 's' in between is a linking s that connects the two words. Literally, it simply means 'a house in the city'.
Viele junge Familien träumen von einem eigenen Stadthaus mit kleinem Garten.
Many young families dream of having their own townhouse with a small garden.
Context tells you whether a residential building (meaning 1) or an administrative building (meaning 2) is meant. Words like 'Amt' (office), 'Behörde' (authority), or 'Ummeldung' (change of address registration) clearly point to the public building, while verbs like 'wohnen' (to live) or 'renovieren' (to renovate) point to the private residence.
Für meinen neuen Personalausweis musste ich ins Stadthaus gehen.
I had to go to the municipal building for my new ID card.
When referring to a residential building, 'Stadthaus' is often used with verbs like 'kaufen' (to buy), 'mieten' (to rent), 'besitzen' (to own), or 'renovieren' (to renovate). Typical adjectives are 'alt' (old), 'historisch' (historic), or 'modern' (modern).
Ein modernes Stadthaus in dieser Lage ist sehr teuer.
A modern townhouse in this location is very expensive.
When the administrative building is meant, movement there is expressed with 'zum Stadthaus' (to the municipal building). Being or doing something inside it is described with 'im Stadthaus' (in the municipal building).
Ich fahre morgen zum Stadthaus, um meinen Pass abzuholen.
I'm going to the municipal building tomorrow to pick up my passport.
town hall
The Rathaus is the central administrative building with the mayor, city council, and administration. A Stadthaus houses parts of the city administration and often complements the Rathaus, although local usage may vary. Rathaus is the right term for the municipal headquarters; Stadthaus may fit another administrative building.
Die Bauabteilung arbeitet heute im Stadthaus nebenan.
The building department is working in the municipal building next door today.
Der Stadtrat tagt heute im Rathaus.
The city council is meeting at the town hall today.
