Zugehörige

Zugehörige is a German noun derived from the adjective zugehörig, meaning belonging or connected. It refers to people who belong to, are connected with, or are associated with a group, organization, household, or individual. The term is used in formal or administrative contexts to describe those who have a relationship to another person or entity, such as relatives, dependents, or affiliates, but it can also denote colleagues or members linked by a common affiliation.

In practice, Zugehörige can cover a range of relationships from family members to individuals connected through an organization. It is often used in official documents, forms, and records to identify people related to or associated with a subject, such as a client, a deceased person, or a company. The term is somewhat broader and more neutral than Angehörige, which more specifically refers to relatives or household members, whereas Zugehörige emphasizes belonging or association to a group or person.

Grammatically, Zugehörige is a noun. The masculine singular is der Zugehörige, the feminine singular is die Zugehörige, and the plural is die Zugehörigen. The corresponding articles in the other cases are des Zugehörigen, der Zugehörigen, dem Zugehörigen, and den Zugehörigen (singular and plural forms vary by case). The word can also appear in the plural possessive or combined phrases like Zugehörige eines Haushalts or Zugehörige eines Unternehmens.

See also: Zugehörigkeit (belonging, affiliation), Angehörige (relatives or household members).