das
Darlehen
💰 What exactly is 'das Darlehen'?
A Darlehen (article: das) refers to a sum of money that a person or institution (the Darlehensgeber - lender) provides to another person or institution (the Darlehensnehmer - borrower) for a specific period. The borrower typically commits to repaying the Darlehen along with interest (Zinsen).
Essentially, it's a loan agreement (Kreditvertrag). Various types exist, e.g., Immobiliendarlehen (real estate loans), Konsumentendarlehen (consumer loans), or Unternehmensdarlehen (business loans).
⚠️ Important: Don't confuse it with a Schenkung (donation or gift), where repayment is not expected!
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: Declension of 'das Darlehen'
The noun 'Darlehen' is neuter (sächlich) and is declined as follows:
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | das | Darlehen |
| Genitive (Whose?) | des | Darlehens |
| Dative (To/For whom?) | dem | Darlehen |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | das | Darlehen |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Darlehen |
| Genitive | der | Darlehen |
| Dative | den | Darlehen |
| Accusative | die | Darlehen |
📝 Usage Examples
- Die Bank gewährte uns das Darlehen für unser Haus. (The bank granted us the loan for our house. - Accusative Singular)
- Die Zinsen des Darlehens sind relativ niedrig. (The interest rates of the loan are relatively low. - Genitive Singular)
- Mit dem Darlehen konnten wir die Renovierung finanzieren. (With the loan, we could finance the renovation. - Dative Singular)
- Das Unternehmen hat mehrere Darlehen aufgenommen. (The company took out several loans. - Nominative/Accusative Plural)
🏦 When and how to use 'das Darlehen'?
The term das Darlehen is mainly used in the context of finance, business, and law (Finanzen, Wirtschaft und Recht).
- Typical Contexts: Banking (Bankgeschäfte), real estate financing (Immobilienfinanzierung), business start-ups (Unternehmensgründung), private money lending (although more informal terms like „Geld leihen“ - to borrow money - are often used here).
- Formal Term: 'Darlehen' is the formal and legally correct term for a loan agreement. In everyday language, you often hear simply 'Kredit'.
- Compounds: You frequently find the word in compounds like Immobiliendarlehen (mortgage loan), Bauspardarlehen (building society loan), Studentendarlehen (student loan), Annuitätendarlehen (annuity loan).
- Verbs: Typical verbs are: ein Darlehen aufnehmen (to take out a loan), gewähren (to grant), zurückzahlen (to repay), tilgen (to amortize/pay off), beantragen (to apply for).
Example: „Für den Kauf des Autos mussten wir ein Darlehen aufnehmen.“ (We had to take out a loan to buy the car.)
🧠 Mnemonics for 'das Darlehen'
Remembering the Article (das):
Think of loan paperwork as *a document*. In German, many official documents ending in '-ent' or similar neutral concepts are *'das'*, like *das Dokument*. So, think of the loan agreement as *das* important paper, *das Darlehen*.
Remembering the Meaning (loan):
The word sounds a bit like "*Dare* I *lend* him?". This question reflects the nature of a *Darlehen* – providing something (money) that needs to be returned.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Words
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- der Kredit: Very common synonym, often used in general conversation.
- die Anleihe: Bond; more common for securities and larger sums (government bonds, corporate bonds).
- der Vorschuss: Advance payment; often a smaller amount paid beforehand (e.g., salary advance).
- die Finanzierung: Financing; a broader term that can include a Darlehen.
- der Pump (colloquial): Informal term for borrowed money.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- die Schenkung: Donation, gift; money or goods given without expectation of return.
- die Schuld / Verbindlichkeit: Debt / Liability; the perspective of the debtor (whereas Darlehen often refers to the lender's perspective or the contract itself).
- das Guthaben / die Einlage: Credit balance / Deposit; money one owns or has invested.
🚨 Potential for Confusion:
Sometimes Darlehen is confused with Hypothek (mortgage). However, a Hypothek is collateral (a lien on real property) *for* a Darlehen*, usually related to real estate.
😄 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Bankdirektor den Kunden: „Benötigen Sie das Darlehen für einen bestimmten Zweck?“ Kunde: „Ja, um Ihnen die Zinsen zahlen zu können!“
English Translation: The bank manager asks the customer: "Do you need the loan for a specific purpose?" Customer: "Yes, to be able to pay you the interest!"
📜 A Little Poem
German:
Ein Traum vom Haus, so groß und schön,
doch fehlt das Geld, man kann's versteh'n.
Zur Bank der Weg, mit Plan und Mut,
man bittet um das Darlehen gut.
Mit Zins und Tilgung, Jahr um Jahr,
wird so der Traum vielleicht doch wahr.
English Translation:
A dream of a house, so big and fine,
but money's short, a common sign.
To the bank one goes, with plan and might,
asking for the loan just right.
With interest and payments, year by year,
perhaps the dream will then appear.
❓ Little Riddle
German:
Ich bin geborgt, nicht geschenkt,
mit Zinsen werd' ich oft gelenkt.
Ich helfe bauen, kaufen, starten,
doch muss man mich zurückerwarten.
Was bin ich?
English Translation:
I am borrowed, not given free,
With interest, they manage me.
I help to build, buy, start anew,
But you must expect me back from you.
What am I?
Solution: das Darlehen (the loan)
🤓 Trivia
Word Origin (Wortherkunft)
The word 'Darlehen' is composed of the prefix 'dar-' (meaning 'forth', 'to hand over') and the verb 'leihen' (to lend/borrow). So, it literally means something like 'to hand something over for lending'.
Legal Basis (Gesetzliche Grundlage)
In Germany, loan agreements (Darlehensverträge) are governed by the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch - BGB), specifically in Sections 488 et seq.
Summary: is it der, die or das Darlehen?
The correct article for the word Darlehen is das. It is a neuter noun that refers to a sum of money lent to someone, usually requiring repayment with interest over time; essentially, a loan.