noun

die Heimatstadt, ¨-e

hometown

Die Stadt, aus der jemand kommt oder in der jemand lange gelebt hat und sich verbunden fühlt.

Definition & meaning

Heimatstadt means hometown or home city: a city that someone regards as home, often because they were born or grew up there. It can also refer to the city where someone has deep personal or family roots, even if they no longer live there.

Grammar & word origin

Heimatstadt is a feminine compound noun: die Heimatstadt. Its plural is die Heimatstädte.

It combines Heimat (“home,” “homeland,” or “place one feels connected to”) and Stadt (“city” or “town”). As a compound, its grammatical gender comes from the final element, Stadt.

Synonyms & antonyms

Geburtsstadt — “birth city.” This is more specific: it means the city where someone was born, which may not be the place they consider their hometown.
Heimatort — “home town” or “place of origin.” This is broader than Heimatstadt, since it can refer to a village or other place, not just a city.
Wohnort — “place of residence.” This refers to where someone lives, not necessarily the place they regard as home.

There is no direct antonym. Fremde (“an unfamiliar or foreign place”) can provide a contrast, but it is not a precise opposite.