this post was submitted on 28 Dec 2023
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Why is it called “Das Kapital” and not just “Kapital” in German? (hexbear.net)
submitted 1 year ago by star_wraith@hexbear.net to c/askchapo@hexbear.net
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I’m not a native German speaker obviously, but doesn’t “Das Kapital” translate to “THE Capital”?

Also, English-speakers should call it just “Capital”. Calling it “Das Kapital” is just propaganda to make the title sound more menacing than it is.

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[–] Wertheimer@hexbear.net 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

German and English treat abstract nouns somewhat differently. In the singular, German attaches the definite article to certain kinds of abstraction, while English does not: e.g., Die Liebe versagt nie (Love never fails). Yet one can also say, Kinder brauchen Liebe (Children need love). In other words, the German employs the article when naming a unique abstract quality (die Liebe) and omits it when labeling an individualized quality or entity whose form or quantity is of importance (Liebe). Put another way, die Liebe refers to the absolute category of love, while Liebe designates a specific kind of love. The English structure does not mark this differentiation.

From here

Ancient Greek also uses the article for abstract nouns, and also for proper names. The wisdom; the Socrates.