Informelle

Informelle is the feminine form of the adjective informal in German and is used in other languages with similar forms to describe non-formal or non-official qualities. In German, informell means not formal or not strictly bound by formal rules, and its feminine form informelle is used before feminine singular nouns, for example in phrases like eine informelle Kleidung or informelle Kontakte.

In practice, informelle appears in a range of contexts. German language usage often discusses informal settings, communications, or relations as opposed to formal ones. Phrases such as informelle Gespräche (informal conversations), informelle Treffen (informal meetings), or informelle Sprache (informal language) are common in discussions of social behavior, workplace culture, or governance. The form informs how agreement, dress, or behavior are described when they are casual or not ceremonial.

Beyond German, informelle or its equivalents appear in other languages with similar feminine forms of the adjective meaning informal. In French, informelle is used to describe feminine nouns, as in activité informelle (informal activity) or relation informelle (informal relationship). In various Romance and Germanic languages, the term is employed to characterize non-official, non-structured, or casual aspects of life, work, or social interaction.

In economics and sociology, the term informal often appears in the phrase informal economy or informal sector, referring to activities not registered or regulated by formal institutions. While informelle per se is primarily a grammatical form, its usage reflects the broader concept of formality versus informality in social, linguistic, and institutional contexts.

See also: formality, informal economy, informal sector, informal language, informal networks.