Nachhaltigkeit
/ˈnaːχhaltɪçkaɪ̯t/feminine
Sustainability in German is Nachhaltigkeit.
Nachhaltigkeit is used to refer to the concept of sustainability, specifically in an ecological sense.
Meaning: ecological sense (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the adjective nachhaltig (meaning lasting or sustainable) and the suffix -keit, which is used to turn adjectives into abstract nouns.
How does it change in a sentence?
Nachhaltigkeit is a feminine noun. It uses the article die in the nominative case and der in the genitive case. The related adjective form is nachhaltig.
Did you know?
- The term Nachhaltigkeit was coined in 1713 by Hans Carl von Carlowitz to prevent a timber crisis in the mining industry.
- While it is an environmental term today, the root adjective nachhaltig is often used by Germans to describe a sense of 'persistence' or 'long-lastingness' in non-ecological ways, such as a 'lasting' smell or a 'persistent' feeling.
- While Nachhaltigkeit is the standard German word, corporate reports and business news in Germany frequently use the English word 'Sustainability' instead.
Examples in context
- Fahrräder sind Hilfsmittel für städtische Nachhaltigkeit.Bicycles are tools for urban sustainability.This sentence shows how to use Nachhaltigkeit in the context of urban environments.Tatoeba #539 by MUIRIEL, translation #1734 by steverules123
- Nachhaltigkeit ist von entscheidender Bedeutung für unser Unternehmen.Sustainability is of crucial importance to our company.
- Wir müssen mehr für die Nachhaltigkeit tun.We must do more for sustainability.
Example conversation
A couple is discussing their lifestyle choices at home.
- SarahWas denkst du über die Nachhaltigkeit unseres Lebensstils?What do you think about the sustainability of our lifestyle?
- MaximilianIch finde, wir könnten noch grüner leben, Sarah.I think we could live even more green, Sarah.
- SarahHast du eine Idee für eine Veränderung?Do you have an idea for a change?
- MaximilianVielleicht sollten wir weniger Plastik kaufen.Maybe we should buy less plastic.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sustainability” translations and entries Nachhaltigkeit, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
