Meaning & use
GmbH
Last updated
Meaning
abbreviationbusiness
A German abbreviation placed after a company name, indicating a private limited company whose owners' liability is limited to their investment.
Grammar: Used after the company name, e.g., 'Siemens Mobility GmbH'. It is not used before the name.
Patterns
- Company Name GmbH
The contract was signed with a German company called TechnoLab GmbH.
She works for a small GmbH in Munich that makes software.
When doing business in Germany, you may encounter companies with 'GmbH' after their name.
Common combinations
- German GmbH
- He set up a German GmbH to sell his products in Europe.
- a GmbH company
- A GmbH company must register with the commercial register.
- form a GmbH
- They decided to form a GmbH to limit their personal liability.
- GmbH & Co. KG
- Some businesses are structured as a GmbH & Co. KG, combining limited liability with a partnership.
Synonyms and how they differ
Commonly confused: GmbH or AG?
GmbH vs AG
AG is another German abbreviation for a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft), which can offer shares to the public, unlike a GmbH.
Practice
Which abbreviation would you expect to see after the name of a German private limited company?
Choose one answer.
GmbH is the German abbreviation for a private limited company. Ltd is used in the UK, LLC in the US, and Inc. for a corporation in the US.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “GmbH”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.