Generellen

Generellen is an inflected form of the German adjective generell, which means general or overall. It is not a standalone lexical item but an inflectional ending that appears in sentences when the adjective modifies a plural noun and the appropriate case requires that ending. In standard German, generellen commonly appears in the plural when the adjective is used without a strong determiner in the dative or after a determiner that triggers weak inflection; for example, in generellen Fällen (in general cases) or in diese generellen Merkmale (these general features).

Etymology and forms: The base adjective generell derives from the word general, itself from the Latin generalis via French général. In German, the form generell has become standard for “general.” When declined for plural, the ending -en yields generellen in contexts such as the dative plural or after definite determiners that require weak endings.

Usage notes: Generellen typically appears in formal or analytical writing, policymaking, and journalism when discussing broad principles, common characteristics, or overview statements. It can pair with nouns describing categories, features, cases, or principles. The exact form—generelle, generellen, or other inflections—depends on the grammatical case and whether a determiner precedes the adjective.

Limitations: Generellen is not a separate term with a distinct meaning beyond “general” in its inflected plural form. Misunderstandings can arise for learners who treat generellen as a standalone noun rather than as a grammatical ending attached to generell.

See also: generell, generell, Generell and related German adjective inflections.