wohnen
to live
To have one's permanent place of residence or home in a house, an apartment, or another place.
EXAMPLE
Seit meiner Kindheit wohne ich in derselben Stadt.
I have lived in the same city since my childhood.
wohnen
to live
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Meanings
einer Sache innewohnen
to be inherent in
To be contained in something as a quality or characteristic; to be intrinsic to something. This expression is formal.
EXAMPLE
Jedem Anfang wohnt ein Zauber inne.
A magic is inherent in every beginning.
Usage tips
Correct preposition
'Wohnen' (to live) is usually used with the preposition 'in' (+ dative) for a place (city, country, house) or with 'bei' (+ dative) for a person.
EXAMPLE
Meine Tante wohnt in einem kleinen Dorf an der Küste.
My aunt lives in a small village on the coast.
Separable verb
In the expression 'einer Sache innewohnen' (to be inherent in something), the verb 'innewohnen' is separable. In a main clause, the prefix 'inne' comes at the end. The subject is the quality that is inherent in something (in the dative).
EXAMPLE
Dieser alten Tradition wohnt eine besondere Bedeutung inne.
A special meaning is inherent in this old tradition.
Elevated style
The expression 'einer Sache innewohnen' (to be inherent in something) is very formal and belongs to a poetic or philosophical style of language. It is practically not used in normal everyday speech.
EXAMPLE
Der Richter sprach von der Gerechtigkeit, die dem Gesetz innewohnen sollte.
The judge spoke of the justice that should be inherent in the law.
Compare with
wohnen vs leben
to live
Leben and wohnen can both name a permanent place of residence. Wohnen specifically refers to the home or the concrete living situation. Leben is broader and can include having one's entire center of life in a place. For an address or apartment, wohnen is therefore usually more precise.
wohnen
Seit fünf Jahren wohnt Nina in Hamburg in einer Wohnung nahe dem Hafen.
Nina has lived in Hamburg for five years, in an apartment near the harbor.
leben
Seit fünf Jahren lebt Nina in Hamburg und hat dort ihren Lebensmittelpunkt.
Nina has lived in Hamburg for five years and has her main base there.
In real life
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