§ What does vereint mean and when do people use it?
The German word vereint (pronounced fer-EYENT) is an adjective. It means 'united' or 'joined together for a common purpose'. Think of it as people, groups, or even ideas coming together with a shared goal. It's often used when talking about solidarity, teamwork, or a sense of community.
DEFINITION
united; joined together for a common purpose
You'll hear vereint in many contexts. For example, a sports team might be vereint in their effort to win a game. Nations can be vereint in a peace treaty. Even different ideas can be vereint to form a new concept. It emphasizes a strong sense of togetherness and shared objective. It's not just about being physically together, but about having a common spirit or aim.
Die Familie ist vereint im Kampf gegen die Krankheit.
(The family is united in the fight against the illness.)
Alle Bürger waren vereint für eine bessere Zukunft.
(All citizens were united for a better future.)
The word comes from the verb vereinigen, which means 'to unite' or 'to combine'. So, vereint is essentially the past participle used as an adjective, describing something that has been united or is in a state of being united.
You'll often see it in formal or slightly elevated language, especially when discussing political, social, or historical events where groups of people came together. However, it's also perfectly valid in everyday conversations when you want to emphasize solidarity.
When describing a group with a common goal:
Die Teams waren vereint im Sieg.
(The teams were united in victory.)
When discussing a collective effort:
Durch ihre Anstrengungen waren sie vereint.
(Through their efforts, they were united.)
So, when you want to express the idea of people or things coming together with a shared vision or objective, vereint is the word you're looking for. It's a powerful word that conveys a sense of strength and commonality.
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Adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case. 'Vereint' is a strong adjective here, meaning it is not preceded by an article.
Die vereinten Nationen (The united nations).
When used predicatively (after a verb like 'sein' - to be), adjectives do not change their form.
Die Familie ist vereint. (The family is united.)
As an adjective, 'vereint' can also describe a state of being together or combined, similar to 'together' in English.
Wir sind vereint im Kampf gegen Ungerechtigkeit. (We are united in the fight against injustice.)
'Vereint' is derived from the verb 'vereinen' (to unite, to combine), and can sometimes be used as a past participle.
Die Kräfte wurden vereint. (The forces were united.)
When used in conjunction with a preposition, the case of the noun following the preposition will be determined by that preposition.
Sie kämpfen vereint für den Frieden. (They fight united for peace.)
