German word

Nationalrat

Pronunciation

IPA/natsi̯oˈnaːlˌʁaːt/

Meaning

  • masculine nounnational council

Example

Die Debatte des Nationalrats dauerte den ganzen Tag.

The National Council's debate lasted all day.

Illustration for Nationalrat (national council)

More examples

Wir haben gestern über den Nationalrat gesprochen.

We talked about the National Council yesterday.

Core concept

A national-level council where elected representatives debate and decide public matters, and sometimes an individual representative.

Common phrases

  • über den Nationalrat sprechen

    talk about the National Council

  • eine Sitzung des Nationalrats verfolgen

    follow a session of the National Council

  • Berichte über den Nationalrat lesen

    read reports about the National Council

Similar words

Parlament: The general assembly representing a country and deciding laws or policies.
Abgeordneter/Abgeordnete: An individual elected representative who speaks for citizens in parliament.
Bundestag: The German federal parliament responsible for national laws.
Landtag: A parliament that governs a German state or region through its laws.

Definition in German

Ein Parlament bzw. eine Parlamentskammer, deren gewählte Mitglieder das Volk vertreten; manchmal auch die Bezeichnung für ein Mitglied.

Word origin

Nationalrat is a compound of the learned element "National" and German "Rat", meaning a council or deliberative body.

Usage tips

  • Nationalrat is masculine, with the genitive form "des Nationalrats" and the plural "Nationalräte"; context determines whether it means the body or a member.

Other meanings

  • member of the National Councilnoun

Related words

  • Nationalratspräsidentpresident of the National Councilnoun
  • NationalratsfraktionNational Council parliamentary groupnoun

Word lists with this word