gemeinsam

Gemeinsam is a German word that functions primarily as an adverb and an adjective. As an adverb, it means “together” or “jointly” and is used to describe actions performed in concert, as in Wir arbeiten gemeinsam an dem Projekt (We are working together on the project). As an adjective, it means “common” or “shared” and modifies nouns, for example eine gemeinsame Anstrengung (a joint effort) or eine gemeinsame Sache (a shared matter). In phrases like gemeinsam mit, it indicates collaboration with others, such as Sie arbeiten gemeinsam mit ihren Partnern (They are working together with their partners).

Etymology and form: Gemeinsam derives from the German word gemein, meaning common or public, with the suffix -sam forming an adjective that denotes a characteristic. The concept of sharedness or joint action lies at the core of its meaning. The noun form Das Gemeinsame expresses the idea of something that is common or shared among people, as in “das Gemeinsame erkennen” (to recognize what is in common).

Usage and nuance: Gemeinsam is widely used in everyday language, in education, business, politics, and media. It emphasizes cooperative action or a shared attribute, and it can contrast with other words like zusammen, which also means “together” but can emphasize proximity or coordination rather than the idea of a shared purpose. In many contexts the two terms are close in meaning and can be interchangeable, though gemein­sam often carries a stronger sense of joint intent.

Related terms: Gemeinsamkeit (the sense of commonality or sharedness), Gemeinsame Sache (a common cause), and phrases such as gemeinsam arbeiten (to work together). These forms extend the core concept of shared effort or attribute intrinsic to gemeinsam.