German word

Volksgruppe

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈfɔlksˌgʁʊpə/

Meaning

  • feminine nounethnic group

Example

In vielen Ländern leben verschiedene Volksgruppen.

Different ethnic groups live in many countries.

Illustration for Volksgruppe (ethnic group)

More examples

Indigene Volksgruppen kämpfen oft für Landrechte.

Indigenous ethnic groups often fight for land rights.

Core concept

A recognizable cultural community whose members share a heritage, language, or customs, whether or not it forms a majority.

Common phrases

  • indigene Volksgruppen

    indigenous ethnic groups

  • zu einer Volksgruppe gehören

    belong to an ethnic group

  • die Rechte der Volksgruppen

    the rights of ethnic groups

Similar words

Ethnie: People connected by a shared culture and ancestry.
Volk: A large ethnic community with a shared history, culture, and sense of identity.
Nation: People united by a common political framework or bond as a state.
Minderheit: A group that makes up a smaller share of the population.

Definition in German

Eine Gemeinschaft von Personen, die durch gemeinsame Sprache, Tradition oder Herkunft verbunden sind.

Word origin

In Volksgruppe, Volk supplies the inherited Germanic sense of a people, while Gruppe entered German as a Romance loanword through French.

Usage tips

  • Volksgruppe names a collective, while an individual member can be called ein Angehöriger einer Volksgruppe.

Other meanings

  • ethnic minoritynoun

Opposites

  • Mehrheitsbevölkerungmajority populationnoun

Related words

  • Volksgruppenforschungethnic group researchnoun
  • volksgruppenspezifischspecific to ethnic groupsadjective

Word lists with this word