Diözese

diocese

noun di-oe-TSE-ze Rare

Origin: from Greek dioikesis (administration)

Usage Note

Diözese is the geographical administrative unit of the Catholic Church under a bishop. In everyday German it is used interchangeably with Bistum; Diözese is the more formal ecclesiastical term, while Bistum is more common in historical and journalistic contexts.

Examples

"Die Diözese Köln ist eine der größten katholischen Diözesen in Deutschland."

Natural Translation

The Diocese of Cologne is one of the largest Catholic dioceses in Germany.

Literal Translation

The diocese Cologne is one of-the largest Catholic dioceses in Germany.

Free starter pack

Building your German vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common German words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

GermanNow

German Modal Verbs: Können, Müssen, Wollen and More

German modal verbs put the modal in position 2 and the real verb at the end. Master können, müssen, wollen and the rest with charts and clear examples.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

GermanNow

Du vs. Sie: When to Use Each in German

Use Sie with strangers, elders, and at work; use du with friends, family, kids, and peers. Here's how to pick the right German you every time.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

Tipping in Germany: A Visitor's Etiquette Guide

Tipping in Germany means saying your total out loud, not leaving coins. Learn the exact phrases, how much to tip, and the Sie-vs-du etiquette travelers need.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

Wo, Wohin, Woher: Three Ways to Say Where

German splits where into three: wo (location), wohin (destination), and woher (origin). Learn the wo vs wohin rule, the hin/her logic, and common mistakes.

June 5, 2026 6 min read