Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mehrfamilienhaus | /ˈmeːɐ̯famiːli̯ənˌhaʊ̯s/ | neuter |
| Mehrparteienhaus | neuter | |
| Wohnhaus | [ˈvoːnˌhaʊ̯s] (narrow) | neuter |
| Mehrwohnungshaus | neuter |
All provided forms are neuter nouns. While Mehrfamilienhaus specifically denotes a building designed for multiple families or apartments, the word Gebäude can be used to refer to a building in general.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Mehrfamilienhaus is a compound of mehr (more), Familien (families) and Haus (house), literally meaning 'multi-family house'.
Which one should you use?
Mehrfamilienhaus is the most common and precise term for a building designed for multiple families or apartments. In contrast, Wohnhaus is a more general term for any residential building, which may include a single-family home or an apartment building. The forms Mehrparteienhaus and Mehrwohnungshaus are also available to describe such structures.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Mehrfamilienhaus is Mehrfamilienhäuser, and the plural form of Wohnhaus is Wohnhäuser.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmeːɐ̯famiːli̯ənˌhaʊ̯s/
Did you know?
- German apartment buildings often feature a Hausordnung, a strict set of house rules that may dictate specific days for cleaning the stairwells.
- Historically, many city Mehrfamilienhäuser in Berlin were built as Mietskasernen, or 'rental barracks', to house the working class during the Industrial Revolution.
- The term Mehrparteienhaus uses the word Partei, which usually means 'political party' in English, but here it refers to an 'occupancy unit' or 'party' of residents.
Examples in context
- Tom und ich leben im selben Wohnhaus.Tom and I live in the same apartment building.This sentence shows how to use Wohnhaus to say that people live in the same building.Tatoeba #8627332 by Melang, translation #6238400 by CK
- Sami folgte uns vom Geschäft zu unserem Wohnhaus.Sami followed us from the store to our apartment building.This sentence shows how to use Wohnhaus to describe a destination.Tatoeba #7251359 by dost, translation #7248610 by OsoHombre
- In diesem Wohnhaus gibt es insgesamt fünfzehn Wohnungen.In this apartment building, there are a total of fifteen apartments.
- Hast du schon gesehen, wie groß dieser Wohnblock ist?Have you seen how big this apartment building is?
- Das Mietshaus wurde erst vor kurzem renoviert.The apartment building was recently renovated.
- Das Mehrfamilienhaus ist sehr modern.The apartment building is very modern.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Hannah are looking for a new place to live.
- JulianIst dieses Mehrfamilienhaus zu teuer?Is this apartment building too expensive?
- HannahNein, Julian, es ist sehr preiswert.No, Julian, it is very affordable.
- JulianGefällt dir die Lage?Do you like the location?
- HannahJa, die Umgebung ist toll.Yes, the surroundings are great.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “apartment building” translations and entries Mehrfamilienhaus, Wohnhaus, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
