NGO
/ˌɛn.d͡ʒiˈɔʊ̯/
NGO in German, meaning a non-governmental organization, is also NGO.
German speakers use the English abbreviation NGO in everyday speech and in the news.
Meaning: non-governmental organization (noun)
Which one should you use?
The full German term is Nichtregierungsorganisation, used in formal writing.
How does it change in a sentence?
NGO is feminine, so it takes the article die NGO. In the dative the indefinite article becomes einer NGO.
How do you pronounce it?
NGO is said letter by letter as in English, /ˌɛn.dʒiˈɔʊ̯/, with the stress on the last of three syllables.
Did you know?
- The German word for 'government' inside Nichtregierungsorganisation is Regierung. This word literally means 'steering' and describes the state as a ship being steered by its leaders.
- While an NGO is a global entity, Germans often use the word Verein for local non-profits. A Verein is a distinct legal form with its own strict tax laws and registration rules that differ from an international NGO.
- In highly formal bureaucratic contexts, you might see the term Nichtstaatliche Organisation. This swaps 'non-governmental' for 'non-state', emphasizing a lack of state affiliation rather than just a lack of government control.
Examples in context
- Mein bester Freund arbeitet für eine NGO in Afghanistan.My best friend works for an NGO in Afghanistan.eine NGO shows the feminine article used with the abbreviation.Tatoeba #621112 by BraveSentry, translation #536683 by darinmex
- Die NGO arbeitet an humanitären Projekten.The NGO works on humanitarian projects.
- Die Hilfsorganisation unterstützt bedürftige Familien.The NGO supports needy families.
- Die Hilfsorganisation leistet wertvolle Arbeit in Entwicklungsländern.The NGO does valuable work in developing countries.
- Der Wohltätigkeitsverein unterstützt lokale Projekte.The NGO supports local projects.
- Die NGO arbeitet weltweit an verschiedenen Projekten.The NGO works globally on various projects.
- Die NGO hilft den Menschen vor Ort.The NGO helps the people on site.
- Er arbeitet bei einer großen NGO.He works at a large NGO.
Example conversation
Felix and Hannah are discussing their career goals.
- FelixWas willst du nach dem Studium machen, Hannah?What do you want to do after your studies, Hannah?
- HannahIch möchte gerne bei einer NGO arbeiten.I would like to work for an NGO.
- FelixWelche Themen interessieren dich besonders?Which topics interest you in particular?
- Hannahvor allem Umweltschutz und Menschenrechte.Above all, environmental protection and human rights.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ngo” translations and entries NGO, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
