Mittelstand

German

Etymology

From mittel- (“middle, central”) +‎ Stand (“stand(ing), position, estate”); perfectly parallel to cognate Dutch middenstand.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɪtl̩ˌʃtant/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Mittelstand m (genitive Mittelstandes or Mittelstands, plural Mittelstände)

1. (literally) The middle class, wealthy ('bourgeois') section of the third estate

   Synonyms: Bourgeoisie, Mittelklasse

2. The independent professionals, private initiative, notably tradesmen, entrepreneurs etc.

Derived terms

• mittelständisch (adjective)
• Mittelständler m

Related terms

• Arbeiterstand
• Mittelstadt

See also

• Adel
• Geistlichkeit, Klerus
• Bürgerschaft

Further reading

• “Mittelstand” in Duden online