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.
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
'das Rathaus' and 'das Stadthaus' can both be public buildings belonging to the city. 'Das Rathaus' is the central building of the city administration and is often the most important place for citizens and politics. 'Das Stadthaus' can be an additional building where parts of the city administration work. But it can also mean a residential house in the city. For that reason, 'Stadthaus' is easier to misunderstand. If you want to speak clearly about the central administration of a city, 'Rathaus' is usually clearer. 'Stadthaus' fits only if that building is actually called that locally, or if a residential building is meant.
Vor dem Termin hat Paul die Unterlagen im Stadthaus abgegeben.
Before the appointment, Paul dropped off the documents at the municipal building.
Der Eingang des Rathauses ist wegen Bauarbeiten heute geschlossen.
The entrance to the town hall is closed today because of construction work.