teil

Teil is a German noun meaning part, portion, or component. It is used to refer to a piece of a whole, a segment of a object, or a share in a quantity. In everyday language one speaks of phrases such as ein Teil des Ganzen (a part of the whole) or der obere/untere Teil des Hauses (the upper/lower part of the house). In mathematics and logic, Teil appears in terms like Teilmenge (subset) and Teilraum (subspace). The word can also denote a portion in time or sequence, for example der erste Teil eines Buches (the first part of a book).

Grammatically, Teil is a masculine singular noun. The typical forms are der Teil (nominative), des Teils (genitive), dem Teil (dative), einen Teil or ein Teil (accusative). Plural is Teile. The word commonly occurs in compounds, expanding its meaning: Teilzeit (part-time), Teilhaber (partner or shareholder), Teilstück (section or segment), Teilgebiet (subfield or region), Teilmenge (subset).

Usage and related terms: Teilnahme (participation) is a related noun formed from Teil with the suffix -nahme. Other derivations include Teilbereich, Teilaufgabe, and Teilprojekt, reflecting the general notion of a piece or segment within a larger whole. In contrast to synonyms like Abschnitt or Abschnittsteil, Teil emphasizes a component or portion rather than a discrete section of a text.

See also: Abschnitt, Komponente, Teilbereich. The concept is widely used across German-speaking regions and appears in technical, mathematical, literary, and everyday contexts.