Definition
To belong to someone or something; to be a part of a group or category.
Example
Dieses Buch gehört meiner Schwester.
Show translation
This book belongs to my sister.
Etymology
From Middle High German *gehören*, derived from Old High German *hōren* ("to hear, heed") with the prefix *ge-*, giving a sense of "to pertain to." The semantic shift from "to be heard/heeded by" to "to belong to" parallels similar developments in other Germanic languages.
Cultural note
Germans use *gehören* in a broad range of contexts beyond physical ownership — for example, *Das gehört sich nicht* ("That's not appropriate / That's bad manners") is a common set phrase used to express social norms. You'll also hear *dazugehören* (to belong to a group), which carries a strong sense of social inclusion.