das
Aufkommen
📖 What does 'das Aufkommen' mean?
Das Aufkommen is a German noun with the article 'das' (the neuter 'the'). It has several meanings, often determined by the context:
- Emergence, appearance: The beginning or becoming visible of something new. Example: das Aufkommen von Zweifeln (the emergence of doubts), das Aufkommen einer neuen Mode (the emergence of a new fashion).
- Revenue, income, yield: The total amount of money received, often in an economic or fiscal context. Example: das Steueraufkommen (tax revenue), das Spendenaufkommen (donation income).
- Volume, amount: A specific quantity of something, often related to traffic, mail, or similar things. Example: das Verkehrsaufkommen (traffic volume), das Briefaufkommen (mail volume).
⚠️ It's important to consider the context to understand the correct meaning.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Deverbal nouns → immer neutral.
These are nouns derived from verbs. They are also called Verbalsubstantive or Verbalnomen.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: das Aufkommen
Das Aufkommen is a neuter noun and is mostly used in the singular. The plural (die Aufkommen) is very rare, and often a paraphrase is used instead (e.g., die verschiedenen Arten von Aufkommen - the different types of revenue/volume or more specific terms like Einnahmen - revenues, Mengen - amounts).
Declension (Singular)
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das | Aufkommen |
| Genitive | des | Aufkommens |
| Dative | dem | Aufkommen |
| Accusative | das | Aufkommen |
Example Sentences
- Das plötzliche Aufkommen von Gerüchten beunruhigte die Mitarbeiter.
(The sudden emergence of rumors unsettled the employees.) - Das hohe Steueraufkommen ermöglichte neue Investitionen.
(The high tax revenue enabled new investments.) - Wegen des Feiertags rechnet man mit einem erhöhten Verkehrsaufkommen.
(Due to the holiday, an increased traffic volume is expected.) - Das Aufkommen neuer Technologien verändert die Arbeitswelt.
(The emergence of new technologies is changing the world of work.)
💡 How to use 'das Aufkommen'?
The use of das Aufkommen strongly depends on the intended meaning:
- In an economic/financial context: Here, it usually refers to income or revenue. People talk about Steueraufkommen (tax revenue), Beitragsaufkommen (contribution income), or Spendenaufkommen (donation income).
- In the context of traffic and logistics: Here, it describes the volume or amount, e.g., Verkehrsaufkommen (traffic volume), Passagieraufkommen (passenger volume), Briefaufkommen (mail volume), Frachtaufkommen (freight volume).
- In general language: Here, it means emergence or appearance, often of abstract things like feelings, ideas, trends, or problems. Example: das Aufkommen von Widerstand (the emergence of resistance), das Aufkommen der sozialen Medien (the emergence of social media).
Comparison:
- Die Entstehung (the emergence/origin) is similar but emphasizes the process of coming into being more. Das Aufkommen emphasizes the sudden or visible appearance.
- Der Ertrag (the yield/profit) or die Einnahme (the income/receipt) are more specific for financial gains than das Aufkommen (which can also be the gross amount).
- Die Menge (the amount/quantity) or das Volumen (the volume) are more general terms for quantity. Das Aufkommen is specifically used in contexts like traffic or mail.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic: Imagine seeing something unexpected pop up and exclaiming in surprise: "DAS ist ja ein Aufkommen!" (Wow, THAT'S quite an appearance/amount!). The neutral 'das' fits the often abstract nature of the word (an emergence, an amount, a revenue are rather neutral concepts).
Meaning Mnemonic: The word consists of "auf" (up/on) and "kommen" (to come). Think about how things "come up" (aufkommen):
- An idea comes up (emerges).
- Money comes up into the cash register (revenue/income).
- Many cars come up onto the road (traffic volume).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for das Aufkommen
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- For 'emergence/appearance': die Entstehung, das Erscheinen, das Auftauchen, die Herausbildung
- For 'revenue/income': der Ertrag, die Einnahme(n), der Erlös, das Einkommen, die Einkünfte (pl.)
- For 'volume/amount': die Menge, das Volumen, der Umfang, die Frequenz (depending on context)
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)
- For 'emergence/appearance': das Verschwinden (disappearance), das Ausbleiben (absence), der Rückgang (decline), die Auflösung (dissolution)
- For 'revenue/income': der Ausfall (shortfall/loss), der Verlust (loss), die Ausgabe(n) (expenditure), die Kosten (costs, pl.)
- For 'volume/amount': der Mangel (lack), der Rückgang (decline), die Abnahme (decrease), die Flaute (lull/slump)
⚠️ Similar but Misleading Words
😂 A Little Joke
Frage: Was sagt der Finanzminister, wenn das Steueraufkommen überraschend hoch ist?
Antwort: "Da ist uns aber ein schönes Sümmchen aufgekommen!" 😉
(Question: What does the finance minister say when the tax revenue is surprisingly high?)
(Answer: "Well, quite a nice little sum has 'come up' for us!") (play on words with aufkommen = to emerge/arise)
📜 Poem about the Word
Ein Zweifel sacht, man spürt ihn kaum,
dann wächst er schnell, verlässt den Traum.
Das Aufkommen, leis und zart,
wird oft zu einer neuen Art.
Die Straße voll, zur Rushhour-Zeit,
das Aufkommen macht sich breit.
Autos, Laster, dicht an dicht,
man sieht kaum noch das Tageslicht.
(A doubt so soft, you barely feel,
then grows so fast, becomes unreal.
The emergence, gentle, slight,
often becomes a different type.)
(The street is full, at rush hour time,
the volume spreads, a paradigm.
Cars and trucks, a solid sight,
one barely sees the daylight bright.)
🧩 Little Riddle
Ich bin mal Geld, mal eine Schar,
mal ein Gedanke, wunderbar.
Man misst mich auf der Autobahn,
auch im Finanzamt bin ich dran.
Ich komme auf, doch bin kein Held,
mal heiß ersehnt, mal schlecht bestellt.
Was bin ich?
(Sometimes I'm money, sometimes a crowd,
Sometimes a thought, spoken aloud.
They measure me on the highway lane,
At the tax office, I cause joy or pain.
I 'come up', but I'm no hero bold,
Sometimes desired, sometimes left in the cold.)
(What am I?)
(Answer: das Aufkommen)
✨ Other Information
Word Composition
Das Aufkommen is a nominalized verb. It derives directly from the verb aufkommen.
- auf- : Prefix often indicating an upward movement, a beginning, or an opening.
- kommen: Verb for movement or arrival ('to come').
The combination thus suggests something that 'comes up', 'comes to light', or 'increases in quantity'.
Trivia
The term Steueraufkommen (tax revenue) is a key indicator of the financial capacity of a state or local authority in German-speaking countries.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Aufkommen?
The correct article for Aufkommen is das. It is a neuter noun with the main meanings of emergence/appearance, revenue/income, or volume/amount, depending on the context.