das  Aufgebot

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈaʊfɡəˌboːt/

📖 What does "das Aufgebot" mean?

Das Aufgebot is a German noun with several meanings, often carrying an official or collective connotation:

• Official Summons/Order: An official call or summons issued by an authority or court. E.g., das Aufgebot von Zeugen (the summons of witnesses). Example: Das Gericht erließ ein Aufgebot für alle Gläubiger. (The court issued a public notice/summons for all creditors.)
• Public Notice of Intended Marriage (historical): 📜 Formerly, the required public announcement of an intended wedding at the registry office or church to allow for objections. This practice is abolished in Germany today, but the term might still be used colloquially or be historically relevant. Example: Früher musste man vor der Hochzeit das Aufgebot bestellen. (In the past, one had to arrange for the public notice before the wedding.)
• Levy/Muster/Contingent: The entirety of people called up, often in a military sense (recruits, reservists) or figuratively (e.g., das Aufgebot an Experten - the contingent of experts). Example: Der Feldherr musterte sein Aufgebot. (The commander inspected his levy/troops.)
• Best Effort / Selection (less common): In some contexts, it can also mean the best available selection or effort. Example: Die Firma schickte ihr bestes Aufgebot an Beratern. (The company sent its best lineup of consultants.)

⚠️ Context is crucial to understand the specific meaning.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar & Declension of 'Aufgebot'

Das Aufgebot is a neuter noun.

📝 Example Sentences

1. (Official summons) Das amtliche Aufgebot wurde öffentlich bekannt gemacht.
   (The official summons was made public.)
2. (Marriage notice - historical) Sie bestellten das Aufgebot beim Standesamt.
   (They arranged for the public notice of marriage at the registry office.)
3. (Group) Ein großes Aufgebot an Polizisten sicherte die Veranstaltung.
   (A large contingent of police officers secured the event.)
4. (Group) Der Trainer brachte sein bestes Aufgebot zum Finale.
   (The coach brought his best lineup/team to the final.)

🗣️ How to use "das Aufgebot"?

• Context: It's mostly used in formal, official, legal, or military contexts. The meaning related to marriage announcement is now primarily historical or used regionally/colloquially in German-speaking areas.
• Tone: Sounds rather official and formal, sometimes a bit dated (especially regarding the marriage meaning).
• Potential Confusion: Don't confuse it with Angebot (offer) or Gebot (commandment, bid). Aufgebot always implies some kind of calling together, ordering, or public announcement.
• Typical Phrases: "das Aufgebot bestellen" (archaic for marriage notice), "ein Aufgebot erlassen" (to issue an official notice/summons), "ein großes Aufgebot von..." (a large contingent/presence of...).

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Article Mnemonic: Think of das Dokument (the document) or das Papier (the paper) on which das Aufgebot (the official notice, the summons) is written. It's something official, neutral -> das Aufgebot.

Meaning Mnemonic: "Auf-ge-BOT" sounds like a Gebot (command, order) that makes people get auf (up) or be called auf (out/up) – whether for marriage (historically), court, or the military.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words

• Angebot: Means 'offer' or 'sale item'. Sounds similar but is unrelated to orders or groups.
• Gebot: Means 'commandment', 'bid' (at auction), or 'necessity'. It's part of 'Aufgebot' but not the same thing.

😄 A Little Joke

Warum hat das Brautpaar das Aufgebot per Eilkurier bestellt?
Damit niemand mehr Einspruch erheben kann, bevor die Tinte trocken ist! 🖋️💨
(Why did the bridal couple order the marriage banns via express courier?
So that nobody could object before the ink was dry!)

📜 Poem about the Word

Das Aufgebot, ein starkes Wort,
ruft Menschen fort an manchen Ort.
Zum Amt, zur Wehr, zur Hochzeitsschrift (wie's früher war),
versammelt ernsthaft eine Schar.
Ein Ruf, der hallt, ob laut, ob leis,
man folgt dem amtlichen Geheiß.

(Das Aufgebot, a powerful word,
Calls people forth, their steps are spurred.
To office, arms, or marriage writ (as it used to be),
Gathers a crowd quite seriously.
A call that echoes, loud or low,
Following the official order's flow.)

🧩 What am I?

Ich rufe Leute offiziell zusammen,
mal für die Liebe, mal für ernste Dramen.
Ich kann Soldaten auf den Plan bringen,
oder ließ früher Hochzeitsglocken klingen.
Was bin ich?

(I call people together officially,
Sometimes for love, sometimes for serious misery.
I can bring soldiers onto the scene,
Or used to make wedding bells ring keen.
What am I?)

Solution: das Aufgebot

💡 More Trivia

Word Composition: The word "Aufgebot" is composed of the prefix/preposition "auf" (up, on, open) and the noun "Gebot" (from the verb "gebieten" - to command, to order).

Historical Context (Marriage): The requirement for a public Aufgebot before marriage was abolished in Germany on July 1, 1998. Its purpose was to publicly announce potential impediments to marriage (e.g., existing marriage, close kinship) and allow for objections.