gemeinen

Gemeinen is not a standalone concept in German; it is the inflected form of the adjective gemein. The word gemein has two primary senses in modern usage: mean or cruel in behavior, and common or shared in a broader, historical sense. The form gemeinen appears in plural contexts, typically after a definite article, and also in certain singular cases depending on gender and case.

In practice, gemeinen appears most often as the plural weak inflection after a definite article: die gemeinen Leute (the common people, or more literally “the mean people” depending on context). It also appears in singular masculine accusative with a definite article: einen gemeinen Trick (a mean trick). The base form gemein can also appear in other inflections: gemeine (singular feminine nominative/accusative; plural), and other case endings in different syntactic settings.

The etymology of gemein traces back to Old High German gemein, from a root meaning shared or common, related to Proto-Germanic ideas of what is public or collective. Over time, the word acquired the sense of “mean” or “vile” in describing behavior, while the notion of “common” survives in related compounds and nouns such as Gemeinschaft (community), Gemeinde (municipality), and Gemeinwesen (commonwealth or public life).

Related terms and contrasts: gemein is distinct from gemeinsam, which means “together” or “jointly.” It also contrasts with nouns formed from the same root, such as Gemeinschaft (community) and Gemeinde (municipality), and with the noun Gemeinheit, which means meanness or vileness.

In sum, gemeinen is a grammatical form tied to the adjective gemein, used primarily in plural contexts or specific singular constructions, with meanings tied to “mean” or to “common/shared” in historical or compound senses.