German NOUN C1 Rank 10482

die Verbandsgemeinde

collective municipality

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Meanings

die Verbandsgemeinde

collective municipality

A form of municipal cooperation in some German federal states (e.g., Rhineland-Palatinate), in which several independent local municipalities hand over certain administrative tasks to a higher-level unit. This unit acts on behalf of the affiliated municipalities.

EXAMPLE

Die Verbandsgemeinde ist für die Schulen, die Feuerwehr und die Wasserversorgung zuständig.

The collective municipality is responsible for the schools, the fire department, and the water supply.

Usage tips

Word composition

The word is made up of 'Verband' (association, federation) and 'Gemeinde' (municipality). The 's' in between is a linking element. So it literally describes a 'combined municipality.'

EXAMPLE

Mehrere kleine Dörfer bilden zusammen eine Verbandsgemeinde.

Several small villages together form a collective municipality.

Register and region

This is a specific term from German administrative language. This organizational form exists only in some federal states, such as Rhineland-Palatinate or Saxony-Anhalt, and is rare in everyday usage outside these contexts.

EXAMPLE

Die genauen Aufgaben einer Verbandsgemeinde sind im Landesgesetz geregelt.

The exact responsibilities of a collective municipality are regulated in state law.

Typical collocations

Typical verbs used in connection with this noun are 'einer Verbandsgemeinde angehören' (to belong to a collective municipality) or 'zur Verbandsgemeinde gehören' (to belong to the collective municipality). It often concerns the responsibilities of the administration.

EXAMPLE

Unser Dorf gehört zur Verbandsgemeinde Thalfang am Erbeskopf.

Our village belongs to the Thalfang am Erbeskopf collective municipality.

Compare with

Amt Samtgemeinde Verwaltungsgemeinschaft

confusable

Verbandsgemeinde vs Amt

office / agency

Both an Amt and a Verbandsgemeinde can carry out administrative tasks for several municipalities. Verbandsgemeinde, however, is a specific form of municipal organization in some German federal states. The appropriate term therefore depends on the official organizational form used in the respective federal state.

Verbandsgemeinde

In Rheinland-Pfalz erledigt die Verbandsgemeinde die Verwaltung für mehrere selbstständige Ortsgemeinden.

In Rhineland-Palatinate, the collective municipality handles the administration for several independent local municipalities.

Amt

In dieser Region erledigt das Amt die Verwaltung für mehrere selbstständige Gemeinden.

In this region, the office handles the administration for several independent municipalities.

Open full word page: Amt

In real life

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