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Illustration of the B1 German word “die Zivilgesellschaft”, which translates to “civil society”. A big circle of many different animals all holding paws together around a huge glowing shared heart-shaped lantern, a fox, owl, rabbit and bear side by side in a warm community ring.
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Zivilgesellschaft is one of the B1 words in the free course — with this picture, the audio, and spaced repetition.

dieZivilgesellschaft, -en

civil society

/t͡siˈviːlɡəˌzɛlʃaft/

Examples — Zivilgesellschaft in a sentence

Die Zivilgesellschaft spielt eine wichtige Rolle.

Civil society plays an important role.

Sie engagiert sich stark in der Zivilgesellschaft.

She is heavily involved in civil society.

How to remember it

TSEE-VEEL-GE-ZEL-SHAFT sounds like 'civil gaze elf shaft' — the *civil society* is composed of elves gazing at a tree sh

More B1 words

Illustration of the B1 German word “als ob”, which translates to “as if (+ Konjunktiv II)”. A cat in a tuxedo belts opera on a grand stage as though it were perfectly ordinary, owning the entire concert hall.
als ob

/als ʔɔp/

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as if (+ Konjunktiv II)

Examples

Er tut, als ob er nichts wüsste.

He acts as if he knew nothing.

Sie sah aus, als ob sie müde wäre.

She looked as if she were tired.

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Illustration of the B1 German word “das Attribut”, which translates to “attribute (grammar term)”. Close-up of a plain grey teapot as a tiny tailor rabbit pins one huge glittering golden bow onto it, the teapot shimmering into color exactly where the bow touches
das Attribut

/ˌatʁiˈbuːt/

attribute (grammar term)

Examples

Das Adjektiv 'rot' ist ein Attribut.

The adjective 'red' is an attribute.

Ein Attribut beschreibt ein Nomen näher.

An attribute describes a noun in more detail.

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Illustration of the B1 German word “die BRD”, which translates to “FRG (West Germany)”. Close-up of a huge weathered stone city gate filling the frame, warm golden light glowing through its central arch, a single old lantern hanging above it in a quiet dusk. No people, empty street.
die BRD

/ˌbeːʔɛʁˈdeː/

FRG (West Germany)

Examples

Viele Menschen lebten damals in der BRD.

Many people lived in the FRG back then.

Die BRD wurde 1949 gegründet.

The FRG was founded in 1949.

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Illustration of the B1 German word “der Bürger”, which translates to “citizen”. Close-up of a proud badger standing tall on a cobblestone square, a small key of the city glowing warmly in its raised paw, town rooftops soft behind it.
der Bürger

/ˈbʏʁɡɐ/

citizen

Examples

Jeder Bürger hat das Recht auf freie Meinungsäußerung.

Every citizen has the right to free speech.

Die Bürger fordern mehr Transparenz von der Regierung.

The citizens demand more transparency from the government.

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Illustration of the B1 German word “die DDR”, which translates to “GDR (East Germany)”. A long grey concrete wall runs across a snowy field, and a single small watchtower stands beside it under a heavy sky, one lonely crow perched on the parapet.
die DDR

/ˌdeːdeːˈʔɛʁ/

GDR (East Germany)

Examples

Meine Großeltern lebten früher in der DDR.

My grandparents used to live in the GDR.

Die DDR existierte von 1949 bis 1990.

The GDR existed from 1949 to 1990.

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Illustration of the B1 German word “die Demokratie”, which translates to “democracy”. Close-up of a badger dropping one glowing ballot leaf into a giant transparent jar that fills the frame, already brimming with countless softly shining leaves.
die Demokratie

/demokʁaˈtiː/

democracy

Examples

Wir leben in einer stabilen Demokratie.

We live in a stable democracy.

Die Demokratie schützt die Rechte der Bürger.

Democracy protects the rights of citizens.

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als ob — as if (+ Konjunktiv II)

als obAttributBRDBürgerDDRDemokratieAll German word pages

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