Unternehmen
Meaning and Usage
"Unternehmen" in German means "company" or "enterprise." It is used to refer to a business entity or a commercial operation.
Linguistic Analysis
The word "Unternehmen" is a compound noun formed by the prefix "unter" meaning "under" or "sub" and "nehmen" which means "to take." The combination of these parts conveys the idea of "undertaking" or "undertaken."
Comparisons between German and English
The word "Unternehmen" has similarities with the English word "undertaking" in terms of the idea of a task being taken on. However, in English, "undertaking" is not commonly used to refer to a company or enterprise.
Cultural Context
In German-speaking countries, the term "Unternehmen" is commonly used in the context of business and commerce. It is a fundamental concept in the corporate and economic landscape of these countries.
Example Sentences
- Das deutsche Unternehmen hat viele Niederlassungen im Ausland. (The German company has many branches abroad.)
- Das neue Unternehmen konzentriert sich auf nachhaltige Technologien. (The new enterprise focuses on sustainable technologies.)
Memory Tips
Associate "Unternehmen" with the idea of "undertaking" a business venture or "undertaking" a commercial endeavor.
Additional Vocabulary
- die Firma (the company)
- die Gesellschaft (the corporation)
- das Unternehmen gründen (to found/establish a company)
Gender and Plural (for nouns)
Gender: Das Unternehmen (neuter) Plural: Die Unternehmen
Conjugation (for verbs)
N/A