noun
marital status, civil status
B1
Personenstand (der) means 'marital status' or 'civil status', indicating whether someone is single, married, divorced, etc. Formal legal term used in registry offices and documents. Masculine noun with plural 'Personenstände'. Declension: genitive 'des Personenstandes'. Appears on identity documents and forms; used in official records and certificates.
Examples
Das Standesamt änderte den Personenstand, nachdem die neuen Papiere vorlagen.
The registry office changed the civil status after the new papers were available.
Im Formular müssen Sie Ihren Personenstand angeben.
On the form, you must state your marital status.
Der Personenstand wird im Melderegister vermerkt.
Civil status is recorded in the registry.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a form field labeled 'Personenstand' where you tick 'ledig' or 'verheiratet'.
Imagine a registry clerk saying 'der Personenstand' to remember the masculine article.
Notes
Used in official contexts (forms, registries) to indicate marital/civil status (e.g., single, married, divorced).