How do you say Society in German?

Whether you’re discussing modern capitalism, inviting someone to dinner, or founding a business - Germans use the word Gesellschaft. It’s about people coming together, for better or worse, in systems, relationships, and shared spaces.

The noun Gesellschaft means society, company, or association, depending on context. It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it appears in everything from sociological theory to everyday speech.

It’s a feminine noun, so we say die Gesellschaft.

Pronunciation

Gesellschaft is pronounced [guh-ZELL-shahft].

• The “Ge” is a soft “guh,”

• “sell” rhymes with “bell,”

• And “schaft” ends with a crisp “ft.”

It’s a serious, formal-sounding word - perfect for a concept as vast and structural as “society.”

Example sentences:

• In einer freien Gesellschaft ist Kritik erlaubt.In a free society, criticism is allowed.

• Sie arbeitet in einer großen Gesellschaft in Frankfurt.She works at a large company in Frankfurt.

Nuance and usage tips

Gesellschaft is highly contextual and can mean:

1. Society - as in the larger community, nation, or culture

   • moderne Gesellschaft - modern society

   • Klassengesellschaft - class-based society

   • die Gesellschaft verändern - to change society

2. Company / business entity

   • Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH) - limited liability company

   • Tochtergesellschaft - subsidiary

3. Social company / companionship

   • Ich habe gerne Gesellschaft. - I enjoy company.

   • Danke für die Gesellschaft! - Thanks for keeping me company.
     jemandem Gesellschaft leisten - to keep someone company

Grammatical case examples: