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:
Society – as in the larger community, nation, or culture
moderne Gesellschaft – modern society
Klassengesellschaft – class-based society
die Gesellschaft verändern – to change society
Company / business entity
Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH) – limited liability company
Tochtergesellschaft – subsidiary
Social company / companionship
Ich habe gerne Gesellschaft. – I enjoy company.
Danke für die Gesellschaft! – Thanks for keeping me company.
Its antonyms depend on context:
For society: Einsamkeit (loneliness) or Isolation
For company (legal): Einzelunternehmen – sole proprietorship
For companionship: Alleinsein – being alone
Grammatical case examples:
Nominative: Die Gesellschaft verändert sich ständig.
Society is constantly changing.Accusative: Ich brauche heute keine Gesellschaft.
I don’t need company today.Dative: Mit der Gesellschaft ging es wirtschaftlich bergab.
The company was in economic decline.Genitive: Wegen der Gesellschaft wurde er eingeladen.
Because of the company, he was invited.
Feminine case pattern: die, die, der, der
Word variations and language tidbits
Variation Station:
Gesellschafter – shareholder / partner
Geselligkeit – sociability
Gesellschaftsform – business structure (e.g. GmbH, AG)
Gesellschaftstanz – ballroom dance
gesellschaftlich – social (in the societal sense)
Cultural note: German thinkers like Max Weber, Ferdinand Tönnies, and Theodor Adorno wrote extensively about Gesellschaft, often contrasting it with Gemeinschaft (community)—a more intimate, personal form of human relationship.
📘 Duden entry: https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Gesellschaft
🎥 Learn Gesellschaft and the rest of the top 1000 German nouns in our free online video course:
https://deutschable.com/nouns/
Alternate translations note:
For intimate, personal community, Gemeinschaft may be a better fit. For legal entities, Firma (company/business) is more casual and often used in speech. But for larger structures—whether it’s society at large, a formal company, or the presence of others—Gesellschaft is your go-to.
Ready for two more German words of the day? How about Gesetz or Griff?