German word

gehören

Pronunciation

IPA/gəˈhøːʁən/

Meaning

  • verbbelong to

Example

Ich gehöre zu dieser Gruppe.

I belong to this group.

Illustration for gehören (belong to)

More examples

Das neue Mitglied gehört zur Marketingabteilung.

The new member is affiliated with the marketing department.

Core concept

An item sits in the set where it has a proper place, or with the person to whom it belongs.

Common phrases

  • gehören zu + Dativ

    be affiliated with ___

  • gehören zu einer Gruppe

    be affiliated with a group

Similar words

dazugehören: Be included in a group or setting as part of it.
angehören: Be an official member of an organization or association.
zählen zu: Be counted as part of a particular group or category.

Definition in German

Zu etwas gehören; in eine Gruppe oder Kategorie einbezogen sein.

Word origin

Gehören is an inherited Germanic verb, attested as Old High German gihōren and related to hören, with its modern sense developing through older ideas of association and attachment.

Usage tips

  • Gehören takes zu with the dative for membership, as in zu dieser Gruppe; possession uses the dative owner, as in Das Buch gehört mir.

Other meanings

  • be owned byverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word