Ratingerinnen

Ratingerinnen are the female residents of Ratingen, a town in the district of Mettmann in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Ratingen lies in the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, just east of Düsseldorf. The term Ratingerin forms the feminine singular, and Ratingerinnen the feminine plural; it is derived from the town’s demonym Ratinger by adding the suffix -innen, a common German pattern for forming feminine forms. In everyday use, Ratingerinnen refers specifically to women who live in Ratingen, while men are called Ratinger and the two forms can be used together as Ratingerinnen und Ratinger to refer to all residents.

In formal writing and media, Ratingerinnen can appear in contexts dealing with demographics, culture, education, or local history. Many writers and editors prefer inclusive phrasing such as Ratingerinnen und Ratinger to acknowledge all residents regardless of gender; when only women are meant, Ratingerinnen is used alone. The term thus reflects a broader German practice of gendered demonyms, which vary by locality and language norms.

Ratingen’s regional identity and history influence how Ratingerinnen are described in local narratives, emphasizing participation in municipal life and community events without implying a separate social group. The term is primarily a linguistic construct used to refer to female inhabitants of Ratingen rather than to a distinct organization or community.

See also: Ratingen; Demonyms of Germany.