How do you say constitution or condition (Verfassung) in German?

Whether it’s a country’s highest law or someone’s emotional state, if you want to say constitution in German, use the word Verfassung. It’s one of those powerful double-meaning words: legal and deeply personal.

The noun Verfassung means both constitution (as in the foundational law of a nation) and condition or state (especially emotional or physical). It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German.

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

Pronunciation

Verfassung is pronounced approximately [fer-FAS-ung], with short a and short u.

• Stress is on the second syllable: fer-FASS-ung
• The final -ung has a short u as in “put” and ng as in “sing”
• It’s formal and weighty - just like its meanings

Example sentences:

• Das Grundgesetz ist die Verfassung Deutschlands.The Basic Law is Germany’s constitution.
• Sie war nicht in der Verfassung, darüber zu sprechen.She wasn’t in a state to talk about it.

Nuance and usage tips

Verfassung has two distinct meanings:

1. Political/legal meaning
   • Verfassungsgericht - constitutional court; the federal court is das Bundesverfassungsgericht in Karlsruhe
   • Verfassungsrecht - constitutional law
   • Verfassungsänderung - constitutional amendment
   • In Germany, Grundgesetz is the actual constitution, but Verfassung is still the technical term for it.
2. Emotional / physical state
   • in schlechter Verfassung sein - to be in bad shape
   • psychische Verfassung - mental state
   • körperliche Verfassung - physical condition

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