Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bande | /ˈbandə/ | feminine |
| Gang | /ɡaŋ/ /ɡɛŋ/ |
feminine |
The terms used to describe a gang in German depend heavily on whether you are referring to organized criminals, a modern street gang, a close group of friends or a specific organizational structure. While Bande and Gang focus on groups of criminals, Gruppierung can be used to describe the organization or structure of such a group.
Which one should you use?
Bande carries a traditional, literary or old-fashioned connotation, similar to a 'band of thieves'. In contrast, Gang is a loanword from English used to refer to modern street gangs or organized groups in a contemporary context. For a close group of buddies, the term Clique is used, while the informal term Truppe can refer to a group with a more playful or friendly connotation.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both Bande and Gang are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbandə/
Did you know?
- If you are talking about a car, the Gang refers to the 'gear' you are in, and the act of shifting gears is called Schalten.
- In a culinary context, the word Gang refers to a 'course' of a meal, such as the Hauptgang for the main course.
- The German word Gang is a doublet. One version is a native Germanic word meaning 'walk' or 'aisle', while the version meaning 'criminal group' was borrowed back from English.
Examples in context
- Ich bin in einer Gang.I'm in a gang.This sentence is useful for using the word Gang.Tatoeba #3421402 by pne, translation #2549709 by CK
- Bist du in einer Bande?Are you in a gang?This sentence is useful for using the word Bande.Tatoeba #12650223 by Waldelfe, translation #11900582 by CK
- Tom gehört zu einer Bande.Tom is in a gang.Tatoeba #7740461 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #7737882 by CK
- Sieh mal, wir sind die lustige Truppe hier!Look, we are the fun gang here!
- Die Regierung bekämpft kriminelle Banden.The government is fighting criminal gangs.
- Die Kleinen halten zusammen, wie Pech und Schwefel.The little ones stick together like glue.
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Julian are discussing a crime report they saw on the news.
- JuliaDiese Bande hat viele Geschäfte ausgeraubt.This gang has robbed many shops.
- JulianIch habe davon in den Nachrichten gelesen.I read about it in the news.
- JuliaDie Polizei sucht die ganze Bande.The police are looking for the whole gang.
- JulianHoffentlich werden sie bald gefangen.Hopefully they will be caught soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gang” translations and entries Bande, Gang, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Bande, Gang, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
