die Versammlung, -en

Definition & meaning

Versammlung is a feminine German noun: die Versammlung, plural die Versammlungen.

It has two closely related meanings:

1. A gathering or meeting
   A group of people who come together for a specific purpose, such as discussion, decision-making, or celebration.

   • Die Versammlung beginnt um 18 Uhr. — “The meeting begins at 6 p.m.”

2. An assembly or organized body
   A formal group of representatives or members, sometimes with political or institutional authority.

   • Die Generalversammlung stimmte über den Antrag ab. — “The general assembly voted on the motion.”

Depending on context, it can refer to anything from a small meeting to a large public assembly.

Grammar & Word origin

• Gender: feminine
• Article: die
• Plural: die Versammlungen
• Pronunciation: approximately fehr-ZAHM-loong

The word is derived from the verb versammeln [vocabuo://word/versammeln], meaning “to gather” or “to assemble,” with the noun-forming suffix -ung [vocabuo://word/-ung]. The verb is related to sammeln [vocabuo://word/sammeln], “to collect” or “to gather.” Thus, Versammlung literally refers to the act or result of gathering people together.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

• Treffen [vocabuo://word/Treffen] — a meeting or get-together; usually more informal and less institutional than Versammlung.
• Zusammenkunft [vocabuo://word/Zusammenkunft] — a gathering; somewhat formal and often emphasizes people coming together.
• Meeting [vocabuo://word/Meeting] — a meeting, especially in a professional or business context; more modern and frequently used in corporate language.
• Zusammenkunft [vocabuo://word/Zusammenkunft] — a formal gathering, often literary or official in tone.
• Sitzung [vocabuo://word/Sitzung] — a formal session or committee meeting, usually with a defined agenda; it is more specific than Versammlung.

Antonyms

• Zerstreuung [vocabuo://word/Zerstreuung] — dispersal or scattering, the opposite of people gathering together.
• Auflösung [vocabuo://word/Auflösung] — dissolution or disbandment, especially when an organized assembly ends.
• Trennung [vocabuo://word/Trennung] — separation, emphasizing that people or groups move apart rather than come together.

Common phrases & collocations

• eine Versammlung abhalten [vocabuo://word/eine%20Versammlung%20abhalten] — to hold a meeting or assembly
• an einer Versammlung teilnehmen [vocabuo://word/an%20einer%20Versammlung%20teilnehmen] — to take part in a meeting
• eine Versammlung einberufen [vocabuo://word/eine%20Versammlung%20einberufen] — to convene or call a meeting
• eine Versammlung eröffnen [vocabuo://word/eine%20Versammlung%20eröffnen] — to open a meeting
• eine Versammlung schließen [vocabuo://word/eine%20Versammlung%20schließen] — to close a meeting
• öffentliche Versammlung [vocabuo://word/öffentliche%20Versammlung] — public assembly
• Mitgliederversammlung [vocabuo://word/Mitgliederversammlung] — members’ meeting or general meeting
• Generalversammlung [vocabuo://word/Generalversammlung] — general assembly, often of an organization or company
• Versammlungsfreiheit [vocabuo://word/Versammlungsfreiheit] — freedom of assembly