kommu

Kommu is a term used in several languages to denote a commune or collective living arrangement. Derived from the root for common, it is often used as a shortened or informal form of commune (kommuune, kommune). In many contexts, a kommu refers to a small intentional community that shares housing and resources among a group of members.

Members typically participate in joint decision making, shared meals, and pooled finances; property ownership varies from collective ownership to individual ownership with shared spaces. Communes with religious, political, or ecological aims exist worldwide. Notable historical forms include 19th- and 20th-century utopian experiments, as well as the kibbutz in Israel, which is often cited as a prominent example of a communal settlement.

In contemporary usage, kommu can refer to urban or rural communities, student living arrangements, or eco-communities that pursue sustainability goals. Legal and social structures vary: some operate with formal constitutions and elected committees; others are looser associations based on mutual aid and solidarity. The term emphasizes the element of sharing and common life more than a fixed architectural form.

Because usage and meanings differ by language and region, the exact definition of kommu may vary. In general, it denotes a communal living group formed to realize shared values, whether economic, political, spiritual, or social.

See also: Commune; Intentional community; Kibbutz; Cooperative living.