In German, Stadt means "city," and Dorf means "village." These nouns highlight contrasting ways of life: Stadt evokes urban environments with busy streets and tall buildings, while Dorf brings to mind small, close-knit communities in rural settings. Knowing these words helps you understand and describe places and lifestyles in Germany.
- Stadt = city, urban center
- Dorf = village, rural community
- Different lifestyles and environments are implied by each word
Dorf means 'village' in German.
Stadt means 'city' in German.
Gender and Plural
Stadt is feminine (die Stadt, plural die Städte), and Dorf is neuter (das Dorf, plural die Dörfer).
| Noun | Gender | Singular | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stadt | Die | Stadt | Städte | City |
| Dorf | Das | Dorf | Dörfer | Village |
- Stadt is feminine; Dorf is neuter
- Plurals show typical German changes: -e with umlaut for Stadt, -er with umlaut for Dorf
The plural of 'Stadt' is 'Städte'.
'Stadt' is feminine, and 'Dorf' is neuter, not masculine.
Usage in Sentences
- Die Stadt ist groß und laut.
(The city is big and loud.)
- In unserem Dorf kennt jeder jeden.
(In our village, everyone knows each other.)
- Städte bieten mehr Arbeitsplätze als Dörfer.
(Cities offer more jobs than villages.)
- Jedes Dorf hat seine eigene Kirche.
(Every village has its own church.)
- Stadt often contrasts with Dorf in discussions about lifestyle
- Plural forms can be used to talk about multiple cities or villages
Correct: 'Die Stadt ist interessant.' and 'Ich wohne in der Stadt.'
Unser Dorf ist ruhig.
Related Vocabulary
| German | English |
|---|---|
| städtisch | urban |
| ländlich | rural |
| Vorort | suburb |
| Metropole | metropolis |
| Gemeinde | municipality |
| Nachbarort | neighboring place |
- städtisch = urban, related to Stadt
- ländlich = rural, related to Dorf
- Vorort often bridges city and village (suburb)
'ländlich' means rural.
'ländlich' and 'Gemeinde' are related to 'Dorf'.
Conclusion
Stadt and Dorf are key German nouns that embody the contrast between urban and rural life, complete with distinct genders, plural forms, and cultural associations.
- Stadt = city (die Stadt, Städte), Dorf = village (das Dorf, Dörfer)
- Urban vs. rural lifestyles and related adjectives (städtisch, ländlich)
- Using these words helps describe places, travel, and social contexts in Germany
The plural of 'Dorf' is 'Dörfer'.
Stadt/Städte and Dorf/Dörfer are correct.
'Ich wohne in einem Dorf.' is correct for 'I live in a village.'