Privat

Privat is a German term meaning private or personal, used as an adjective and adverb to describe matters not belonging to the public or official sphere. It can refer to private life, private property, or private arrangements, and is often contrasted with öffentlich or staatlich.

Etymology and language notes: Privat derives from the French privé, which in turn goes back to Latin privatus. In German, the word is common across many compounds that denote non-public or individual aspects of life and economy. It also appears as a noun in certain contexts, such as das Private (private matters) or der Private (a private person), though this usage is more formal or context-dependent.

Common usages and compounds: Private life is expressed as Privatleben; private property as Privatbesitz or Privateigentum; the private sector as Privatwirtschaft or Privatsektor; private tutoring as Privatunterricht; and private law as Privatrecht. The term also appears in phrases that emphasize non-governmental context, for example in private arrangements, private accounts, or private housing (Privatwohnung).

Legal and social distinction: In German-speaking law, Privatrecht (private law) governs relationships between private individuals and organizations, as opposed to Öffentliches Recht (public law) that concerns the state and public administration. The word Privat underlines personal, individual, or non-state dimensions in social and economic life.

Other languages and usage: The form privat appears in several other languages with similar meanings, especially within Germanic or Romance-influenced terms. In English, Privat is typically encountered as a loanword in German phrases or as part of proper names, rather than as a common word.