Sitte

Sitte is a German noun meaning custom, habit, or practice of a community. In sociological and cultural contexts, it denotes the informal norms, conventions, and patterns of behavior that guide daily life, often without formal enforcement. Sitte encompasses etiquette and conventional standards of conduct, such as greetings, dress codes, and table manners, but also broader expectations about appropriate behavior in public, family life, and work.

The term derives from Old High German and is related to notions of habit and customary life. In the history of German philosophy and anthropology, Sitte is used to distinguish informal social norms from laws (Gesetz) and moral principles (Moral). The related concept Sittlichkeit, often translated as "ethical life," refers to the integrated system of norms, institutions, and practices that a community upholds as legitimate and authoritative.

Sitte can vary across cultures and change over time. What is considered proper conduct in one society or period may be seen differently in another, and changes may occur through social modernization, urbanization, or contact with other cultures. Violations of Sitte are typically sanctioned by social mechanisms such as shame, ostracism, or informal sanctions rather than by formal penalties.

The term also appears in academic discourse on culture and traditional societies, where it is used to analyze how everyday practices maintain social order and identity. While closely related to etiquette in everyday language, Sitte emphasizes the broader social expectations and customary life that shape behavior beyond explicit rules.