Verbundenen

Verbundenen is a declined form of the German adjective verbunden, meaning connected, bound, or affiliated. The form appears most often in plural contexts and when the word functions as an adjective or as a nominalized noun.

In standard German, the plural endings of the adjective verbinden vary by case and article. With a definite article, the plural form is die Verbundenen (nominative or accusative). The dative plural is den Verbundenen, and the genitive plural is der Verbundenen. Examples: Die Verbundenen arbeiten zusammen. Ich kenne die Verbundenen. Der Einfluss der Verbundenen war spürbar.

Without an article, the adjective takes a strong or mixed ending. For example: verbundene Partner or verbundene Unternehmen describe entities that are connected or affiliated, as in verbundene Partner arbeiten eng zusammen.

Verbundenen can also be used nominally, capitalized as a plural noun. In that use, Die Verbundenen refers to a group of people or entities that are connected or linked in some way. Example: Die Verbundenen trafen sich heute Abend. The genitive form der Verbundenen is also used: Der Antrag der Verbundenen wurde genehmigt.

Contexts and nuances: In general discourse, verbunden signals a relationship of linkage, alliance, or incorporation. In corporate or legal language, phrases like Verwandte oder Verbundene Unternehmen describe affiliates within a corporate group; hier die Verbundenen or die Verbundenen Unternehmen can denote parties that are legally tied or economically interdependent.

Etymology: verbunden derives from verbinden, meaning to connect; the participle form verbund en serves as the basis for the declined forms like verbundenen.