gemeinschaftlich

Gemeinschaftlich is a German adjective meaning communal, joint, or shared, used to describe actions, arrangements, or properties that involve a group rather than an individual. It often conveys a sense of solidarity, mutual obligation, or collective use.

The word derives from Gemeinschaft (community, fellowship) and uses the suffix -lich to form an adjective. It appears in everyday language (zum Beispiel gemeinschaftliche Nutzung, gemeinschaftliche Verantwortung) as well as in formal or legal contexts (gemeinschaftliche Eigentumsverhältnisse, gemeinschaftliche Vereinbarungen).

In sociology and social theory, the term is linked to the concept of Gemeinschaft as described by Ferdinand Tönnies, which contrasts with Gesellschaft, a more impersonal, contract-based association. In this frame, "gemeinschaftlich" labels practices grounded in kinship, close social ties, tradition, and reciprocal obligations, though it can be used more broadly to denote any cooperative, jointly undertaken activity.

Common contexts include housing or resources shared by a group (eine gemeinschaftliche Wohnung, gemeinschaftliche Küche), collaborative projects, and joint responsibilities (gemeinschaftliche Verantwortung). In translations, it is often rendered as "communal" or "joint."