Mitbewohner
/ˈmɪtbəvoːnɐ/
The German word for roommate is Mitbewohner.
Mitbewohner is used to describe someone with whom you share an apartment or house.
Meaning: US: with whom one shares an apartment or house (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of mit (with/co-) and Bewohner (dweller/resident), literally meaning 'co-dweller' or 'co-resident'.
Which one should you use?
While the English word 'roommate' can sometimes imply that two people share a single bedroom, Mitbewohner generally refers to people sharing an apartment (often called a WG) while maintaining separate rooms.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of the word is Mitbewohnerin. When referring to a group of female roommates, the plural form is Mitbewohnerinnen.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmɪtbəvoːnɐ/
Did you know?
- A WG-Casting is a common process where potential Mitbewohner are interviewed like job candidates to see if their personalities fit the house.
- In Germany, it is common for Mitbewohner to share a 'Putzplan', a strict cleaning schedule taped to a wall to avoid conflict.
- The word Bewohner can also describe the inhabitants of a zoo enclosure or a bird's nest, making the root of Mitbewohner applicable to animals.
Examples in context
- Wer ist Ihr Mitbewohner?Who's your roommate?This sentence is useful for asking who someone's Mitbewohner is.Tatoeba #9008198 by Luiaard, translation #2254915 by CK
- Ich bin dein Mitbewohner.I'm your roommate.This sentence is useful for identifying yourself as someone's Mitbewohner.Tatoeba #2999898 by pne, translation #2248328 by CK
- Tom war mein Mitbewohner.Tom was my roommate.This sentence is useful for identifying someone who was a Mitbewohner in the past.Tatoeba #8074973 by Luiaard, translation #3821086 by CK
- Ich wohne mit zwei Mitbewohnern zusammen.I live with two roommates.
- Kommst du mit meinen WG-Mitbewohnern gut klar?Do you get along well with my flat share roommates?
- Ich schaue heute Abend einen Film mit meinem Mitbewohner.I'm watching a movie with my roommate tonight.
- 57 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Felix are talking about their living situation in a café.
- JuliaHast du einen neuen Mitbewohner?Do you have a new roommate?
- FelixJa, mein Mitbewohner ist sehr nett.Yes, my roommate is very nice.
- JuliaWann zieht er ein?When is he moving in?
- FelixEr kommt nächsten Montag.He is coming next Monday.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Mitbewohner, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
