Wohnung

German

Etymology

From Middle High German wonunge, from Old High German wonunga, from Proto-Germanic *wunungō, equivalent to wohnen +‎ -ung. Related to Dutch woning (“house”), English woning (“dwelling-place”). More at woning.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈvoːnʊŋ/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Wohnung f (genitive Wohnung, plural Wohnungen)

1. domicile; dwelling; lodging; abode; accommodation (any place someone lives in for a span of time longer than a holiday)
2. (especially) flat; apartment (such a place when it occupies only part of a building)

Usage notes

• Wohnung almost invariably refers to a flat when used of some specific place, as in unsere neue Wohnung (“our new flat”). When used more generally, without a particular place in mind, this association is less pronounced and Wohnung may be used as a broad term for any abode.

Derived terms

• Einraumwohnung
• wohnungslos
• wohnungssuchend
• Zweitwohnung
• Einzimmerwohnung
• Zweiraumwohnung

Further reading

• “Wohnung” in Duden online