das  Budget

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/bydʒɛt/

💰 What exactly is 'das Budget'?

The German word das Budget [bʏˈd͡ʒeː] or [buˈd͡ʒeː] refers to a financial plan or a household plan. It represents the pre-determined sum of funds available for a specific purpose or period. You can create a Budget for personal expenses, a project, a company department, or even an entire country.

It is a neuter noun and always uses the article das. It originates from French.

Example: Die Abteilung hat ihr Budget für dieses Quartal bereits ausgeschöpft. (The department has already exhausted its budget for this quarter.)

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar of 'das Budget' in Detail

The noun 'Budget' is neuter and follows the regular declension pattern for many foreign words ending in -et, often taking '-s' in the plural.

Example Sentences for Grammar

• Nominative: Das Budget für die Marketingkampagne ist genehmigt. (The budget for the marketing campaign is approved.)
• Accusative: Wir müssen das Budget einhalten. (We have to stick to the budget.)
• Dative: Mit diesem Budget können wir nicht viel erreichen. (We can't achieve much with this budget.)
• Genitive: Die Planung des Budgets erfordert viel Zeit. (The planning of the budget requires a lot of time.)
• Plural: Die verschiedenen Abteilungen haben unterschiedliche Budgets. (The different departments have different budgets.)

📝 How to Use 'das Budget'

'Das Budget' is frequently used in the context of finance, planning, and management. It can relate to various areas:

• Personal Finance: The monthly Haushaltsbudget (household budget) of an individual or family. (Mein persönliches Budget ist diesen Monat sehr knapp. - My personal budget is very tight this month.)
• Business: Allocated funds for departments, projects, or marketing activities. (Das Marketing-Budget wurde gekürzt. - The marketing budget was cut.)
• Public Sector: The national budget (Staatshaushalt) or the budget of a municipality. (Der Bundestag debattiert über das Bundesbudget. - The parliament is debating the federal budget.)

It is often combined with verbs like 'aufstellen' (to set up), 'einhalten' (to adhere to), 'überschreiten' (to exceed), 'kürzen' (to cut), or 'erhöhen' (to increase).

Although 'Budget' and 'Etat' are often used synonymously, 'der Etat' can sometimes refer to a more formal or specific financial framework, especially in a governmental context.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'das Budget'

1. For the article 'das': Think of "das cash". Cash is neutral, and das Budget manages das cash. Many technical or international words related to concepts or systems are 'das' in German (like das System, das Management, das Marketing).
2. For the meaning: Imagine you get a little bag (an old French 'bougette') with your allowance – das Budget. You have to plan how to spend das money.

Remember: It's das plan for das Geld (money).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Caution: Do not confuse with 'Budgetierung' (budgeting - the process of creating a budget).

😂 A Little Budget Joke

Frage: Was ist der Unterschied zwischen einem normalen Menschen und einem Buchhalter?

Antwort: Der normale Mensch schaut auf sein Budget und fragt sich, wohin das ganze Geld gegangen ist. Der Buchhalter weiß es genau!

Translation:

Question: What's the difference between a normal person and an accountant?

Answer: The normal person looks at their budget and wonders where all the money went. The accountant knows exactly!

📜 A Poem About the Budget

Das Budget, ein Plan so klar,
\Zeigt uns, was möglich war und war.
\Für jeden Euro, groß und klein,
\Muss ein Platz im Schema sein.
\Mal knapp, mal üppig, stets präsent,
\Ein wichtiges Finanzinstrument.

Translation:

The budget, a plan so clear,
\Shows us what was possible and here.
\For every Euro, large and small,
\A place within the scheme must fall.
\Sometimes tight, sometimes lush, always present,
\An important financial instrument.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich habe Zahlen, aber kann nicht rechnen.
\Ich setze Grenzen, doch habe keine Mauern.
\Manchmal bin ich knapp, manchmal kann man mit mir prahlen.
\Ich helfe beim Planen, um Schulden zu vermeiden.

Was bin ich?

Lösung/Solution: Das Budget

Translation:

I have numbers, but cannot calculate.
\I set limits, yet have no walls.
\Sometimes I'm tight, sometimes you can boast with me.
\I help with planning to avoid debts.

What am I?

Solution: The Budget

🧐 Other Information

Word Origin: The word 'Budget' comes from the Old French word 'bougette', meaning 'small leather bag' or 'pouch'. Originally, it referred to the bag in which the Chancellor of the Exchequer carried his financial plans to Parliament.

Compounds (Wortzusammensetzungen): There are many compound words with 'Budget' in German, e.g.: Budgetplanung (budget planning), Budgetverantwortung (budget responsibility), Budgetkürzung (budget cut), Jahresbudget (annual budget), Marketingbudget (marketing budget), Personalbudget (personnel budget).