Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ökonomie | /ˌøkonoˈmiː/ | feminine |
| Wirtschaftswissenschaft | /ˈvɪʁtʃaftsˌvɪsənʃaft/ | feminine |
In German, the term for economics can refer to the theoretical study of resource allocation, wealth, consumption, distribution, capital, investment and the management of production factors.
What does it mean word for word?
The term Wirtschaftswissenschaft is a compound word consisting of Wirtschaft, meaning economy or business and Wissenschaft, meaning science or study.
Which one should you use?
Ökonomie is typically used when referring to the theoretical study of economics. In contrast, Wirtschaftswissenschaft is the more common term used in academic contexts to describe the field of economic sciences.
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to the academic discipline, the term Wirtschaftswissenschaft is most frequently used in its plural form, Wirtschaftswissenschaften.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌøkonoˈmiː/
Did you know?
- The word Wirtschaft used in Wirtschaftswissenschaft is also the common German word for a 'pub' or 'inn'.
- The root of Ökonomie is actually about the home. It stems from the Ancient Greek words for 'house' and 'law', meaning the management of a household.
- The term Wissenschaft is much broader than the English 'science'. It is used for any systematic body of knowledge, including the humanities and social sciences.
Examples in context
- Sein Fach ist die Ökonomie.His subject is economics.This sentence is useful for stating someone's subject of study using Ökonomie.Tatoeba #7774066 by Yorwba, translation #10794562 by sundown
- Mein Sohn studiert Ökonomie.My son is studying economics.This sentence is useful for describing what someone is studying using Ökonomie.Tatoeba #1557572 by Espi, translation #1112796 by CM
- Ich studiere Ökonomie an der Universität.I'm studying economics at university.This sentence is useful for describing university studies using Ökonomie.Tatoeba #7646295 by Yorwba, translation #259325 by TRANG
- Die Volkswirtschaftslehre befasst sich mit Angebot und Nachfrage.Economics deals with supply and demand.
- Ökonomie ist eine komplexe Wissenschaft, die sich mit dem Verhalten von Märkten befasst.Economics is a complex science that studies market behavior.
- Die Wirtschaftslage in Deutschland ist momentan stabil.The economic situation in Germany is currently stable.
- Wirtschaftswissenschaft ist ein Schlüsselfach für das Verständnis der globalen Finanzmärkte.Economics is a key subject for understanding financial markets.
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Julian are discussing their college courses.
- LauraWelches Fach belegst du dieses Semester, Julian?Which subject are you taking this semester, Julian?
- JulianIch belege einen Kurs in Ökonomie.I am taking a course in economics.
- LauraIst die Ökonomie sehr schwierig?Is economics very difficult?
- JulianJa, aber es ist sehr interessant.Yes, but it is very interesting.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “economics” translations and entries Ökonomie, Wirtschaftswissenschaft, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Wirtschaftswissenschaft, Ökonomie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
