German word

Bürgerschaft

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈbʏʁgɐˌʃaft/

Meaning

  • feminine nouncitizens

Example

Die Bürgerschaft forderte mehr Transparenz.

The citizens demanded greater transparency.

Illustration for Bürgerschaft (citizens)

More examples

Ein großer Teil der Bürgerschaft nahm an der Demonstration teil.

A large part of the citizenry took part in the demonstration.

Core concept

A body of citizens acting together, with the same body represented by a local parliament in some German-speaking places.

Common phrases

  • die Bürgerschaft der Stadt

    the citizens of the city

  • ein Teil der Bürgerschaft

    a part of the citizenry

Similar words

Bürger: An individual citizen belonging to a country or region.
Bevölkerung: All people living in a country or area.
Einwohner: People who live in a particular town or district.
Parlament: An institution of elected representatives that decides laws and policies.

Definition in German

Die Gesamtheit der Bürger einer Stadt oder eines Staates; in einigen Gebieten auch die Bezeichnung für das Parlament dieser Gemeinschaft.

Word origin

Bürgerschaft combines Bürger, meaning citizen or townsman, with -schaft, a suffix that forms collective or abstract nouns, and it can also name the related parliamentary body.

Usage tips

  • Bürgerschaft is feminine, so the phrase is die Bürgerschaft and its genitive form is der Bürgerschaft.

Other meanings

  • parliamentnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • Bürgerpflichtcivic dutynoun
  • Bürgernähecloseness to citizensnoun

Word lists with this word