das  Einkommen

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈaɪnˌkɔmən/

💰 What exactly is 'das Einkommen'?

The German word das Einkommen (neuter gender) generally refers to the total sum of revenue or earnings that a person, household, or company receives over a specific period. This can be in the form of money or benefits in kind.

It typically includes:

• Gehalt (salary) or Lohn (wages) from employment
• Gewinne (profits) from self-employment or a business
• Income from rent (Vermietung und Verpachtung)
• Capital gains (Kapitalerträge, e.g., interest, dividends)
• State benefits (staatliche Leistungen, e.g., pension, unemployment benefits)

Unlike words like 'Band', which can have multiple articles depending on meaning, 'Einkommen' always takes the article das. There are no exceptions to note here. 🚨 It's almost exclusively used in the singular; the plural is very rare.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Das Einkommen

Das Einkommen is a neuter noun (sächlich, Neutrum). It is generally only used in the singular. The plural form (die Einkommen) exists but is uncommon and mostly used in specific economic or statistical contexts when comparing different types of income or the incomes of different groups.

Example Sentences

1. Sein Einkommen reicht gerade so zum Leben. (His income is just enough to live on.)
2. Das durchschnittliche Einkommen in Deutschland ist gestiegen. (The average income in Germany has risen.)
3. Die Höhe des Einkommens beeinflusst die Steuerlast. (The amount of income influences the tax burden.)
4. Mit diesem Einkommen können wir uns ein Haus leisten. (With this income, we can afford a house.)
5. (Rare, plural): Die Studie analysiert die Einkommen verschiedener Berufsgruppen. (The study analyzes the incomes of different professional groups.)

💡 How to Use 'das Einkommen'?

Das Einkommen is a central term in economics, politics, and personal life. It's used to describe financial capacity.

• In everyday life: People talk about their own Einkommen, the family Einkommen, or compare Einkommen when considering job offers. ("Mein Einkommen ist zu niedrig." - My income is too low.)
• In economics: Here, Einkommen refers to company profits, national income, or gross domestic product. ("Das Unternehmen meldet ein höheres Einkommen als im Vorjahr." - The company reports higher income than last year.)
• In politics/sociology: Income distribution (Einkommensverteilung), minimum income (Mindesteinkommen), and income inequality (Einkommensungleichheit) are important political and social topics. ("Die Regierung diskutiert Maßnahmen zur Stärkung niedriger Einkommen." - The government is discussing measures to strengthen low incomes.)

Distinction from similar terms:

• Gehalt: Regular payment for salaried employees (usually monthly). Part of Einkommen.
• Lohn: Payment for workers, often calculated hourly. Also part of Einkommen.
• Verdienst: General term for salary and wages, often used synonymously with income from work.
• Ertrag/Gewinn: More common in a business context or for investment returns.

⚠️ Be careful not to confuse 'Einkommen' with 'Einnahmen' (revenue/receipts). Einnahmen are all inflows, whereas Einkommen often refers to the net amount after deducting certain costs (e.g., for self-employed individuals).

🧠 Memory Aids for 'das Einkommen'

Article Mnemonic (das)

Imagine you need data (das sounds a bit like data) about your income for your taxes. Data is neutral, like the neuter article das. Or think: What does come in? -> das Einkommen.

Meaning Mnemonic (Income)

The word is composed of "ein-" (in/into) and "kommen" (to come). So it describes what financially "comes in" to you. Picture money coming in to your wallet. Ein-kommen = Income.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for 'Einkommen'

⚠️ Similar but Different Words:

• Einkünfte: Sources of income (a legal/tax term, often synonymous but with specific definitions in tax law).
• Umsatz: Turnover, revenue (total value of goods/services sold before deducting costs).

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Chef seinen neuen Mitarbeiter: "Was erwarten Sie denn für ein Einkommen?"
Sagt der Mitarbeiter: "Naja, so um die 100.000 Euro im Jahr, einen Firmenwagen und sechs Wochen Urlaub."
Meint der Chef: "Sind Sie verrückt?"
Fragt der Mitarbeiter: "Wer hat denn damit angefangen?"

Translation:
The boss asks his new employee: "What kind of income are you expecting?"
The employee says: "Well, around 100,000 Euros a year, a company car, and six weeks of vacation."
The boss says: "Are you crazy?"
The employee asks: "Who started it?"

✒️ Poem about Income

Das Einkommen, das liebe Geld,
ist oft der Mittelpunkt der Welt.
Mal ist es hoch, mal ist es klein,
es kommt zum Leben grade rein.
Man zählt es, spart es, gibt es aus,
für Miete, Essen, und das Haus.
Des einen Freud, des andern Leid,
bestimmt es oft die Lebenszeit.

Translation:
The income, the dear money,
is often the center of the world.
Sometimes it's high, sometimes it's small,
it just comes in for life.
One counts it, saves it, spends it,
for rent, food, and the house.
One person's joy, another's sorrow,
it often determines the lifetime.

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich komme regelmäßig, mal mehr, mal minder.
Ich zahle Rechnungen und ernähre Kinder.
Manche haben viel, manche haben wenig davon,
man nennt mich Gehalt, Verdienst oder Lohn.

Was bin ich?

Lösung / Solution: das Einkommen

Translation:
I come regularly, sometimes more, sometimes less.
I pay bills and feed children.
Some have much, some have little of me,
I'm called salary, earnings, or wages.

What am I?

Solution: income (das Einkommen)

📎 More Information

Word Composition:

The word 'Einkommen' is a nominalized verb (a verb turned into a noun). It derives from the verb 'einkommen', which means 'to come in' or 'to be received' (in the sense of money).

• ein- (prefix, meaning 'in/into')
• kommen (verb, meaning 'to come')

Interesting Fact: The term 'Einkommensteuer' (income tax) is a direct derivative and refers to the tax levied on income.