gründete

Gründete is the simple past tense (Präteritum) of the German verb gründen, meaning to found, establish, or set up an organization, company, institution, or project. It is typically used in written narratives, historical descriptions, or formal contexts to indicate that something was founded in the past. In everyday speech, the Perfekt with haben is more common: Die Firma hat 1999 gegründet.

Conjugation and related forms: In Präteritum, the forms are: ich gründete, du gründetest, er/sie/es gründete, wir gründeten, ihr gründetet, sie gründeten. The past participle is gegründet, which combines with haben to form the present perfect: Die Firma hat gegründet being used in fixed expressions; more natural is Die Firma hat 1999 gegründet. The noun forms include Gründung (foundation, establishment) and Gründer (founder).

Etymology and related terms: Gründen derives from the sense of establishing a foundation or base, linked to the noun Grund meaning foundation or ground. Related words include Gründung (founding), Gründer (founder), and gegründete as a participial adjective when describing something that has been founded.

Usage notes: Gründete appears mainly in formal writing or historical narration. In contemporary spoken German, speakers usually prefer the Perfekt: hat gegründet. Gründung and Gründer provide common noun counterparts when discussing the act or people involved in founding activities. Example: Der Verein gründete 2005 eine neue Abteilung.