German word

Genossenschaft

Pronunciation

IPA/gəˈnɔsn̩ʃaft/

Meaning

  • feminine nouncooperative

Example

Ich bin Mitglied einer Genossenschaft.

I am a member of a cooperative.

Illustration for Genossenschaft (cooperative)

More examples

Ich arbeite in einer Genossenschaft.

I work for a cooperative.

Core concept

Members jointly own and run an enterprise, such as a shop, bank, or housing project, and use its services for their shared benefit.

Common phrases

  • in einer Genossenschaft arbeiten

    work for a cooperative

  • landwirtschaftliche Genossenschaft

    agricultural cooperative

  • Mitglieder der Genossenschaft wählen

    members of the cooperative elect

Similar words

Kooperative: An economic organization funded and run jointly by its members.
Verein: A nonprofit organization whose members work toward a common purpose.
Unternehmen: A business that offers goods or services in pursuit of profit.

Definition in German

Eine Genossenschaft ist ein von Mitgliedern getragenes Unternehmen, das der gemeinsamen Nutzung oder dem gemeinsamen Nutzen der Mitglieder dient.

Word origin

It combines German Genosse, meaning fellow or member, with -schaft, a suffix that forms nouns for groups or relationships.

Usage tips

  • Genossenschaft is feminine, so the forms are die Genossenschaft and, in the plural, die Genossenschaften.

Opposites

Related words

  • Genossenschaftsmitgliedmember of a cooperativenoun
  • Genossenschaftsversammlunggeneral meeting of the cooperativenoun

Word lists with this word