German word

Unterhaus

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʊntɐˌhaʊ̯s/

Meaning

  • neuter nounlower house

Example

Im Unterhaus diskutieren die Abgeordneten das Gesetz.

In the lower house, lawmakers are debating the bill.

Illustration for Unterhaus (lower house)

More examples

Nach der Wahl zogen neue Abgeordnete ins Unterhaus ein.

After the election, new members of parliament entered the lower house.

Core concept

A chamber in a two-house legislature where representatives debate and vote on laws.

Common phrases

  • Mehrheit im Unterhaus

    majority in the lower house

  • Wahl ins Unterhaus

    election to the lower house

  • Opposition im Unterhaus

    opposition in the lower house

Similar words

Parlament: A legislative institution whose elected members make and pass laws.
Bundestag: The German federal legislature's lower chamber, where members debate and pass bills.
Oberhaus: The upper chamber of a legislature, which reviews and may amend bills.

Definition in German

Die niedrigere Kammer eines Zweikammerparlaments, in der meist die direkt gewählten Abgeordneten Gesetze beraten und beschließen.

Word origin

Unterhaus is a compound of unter ('below') and Haus ('house'), with a metaphorical sense of the lower chamber in a legislature.

Usage tips

  • Unterhaus is neuter, so the definite article is das and the locative phrase is im Unterhaus.

Other meanings

  • House of Commonsnoun

Opposites

  • Oberhausupper housenoun

Related words

  • Unterhausmehrheitlower-house majoritynoun
  • Unterhausdebattelower-house debatenoun

Word lists with this word