das  Engagement

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɑ̃ɡaʒəˈmɑ̃/

🤝 What does "das Engagement" mean?

Das Engagement (pronounced [ɑ̃ɡaʒəˈmɑ̃ː]) is a word borrowed from French with several meanings in German. It is always neuter (sächlich).

• Commitment / Involvement / Dedication: This is the most common meaning. It describes strong personal involvement for a cause, a person, or a goal. It can relate to social, political, professional, or private spheres.
  Example: Ihr soziales Engagement für Obdachlose ist bewundernswert. (Her social commitment to the homeless is admirable.)
• Hiring / Employment / Contract (often artistic): Especially in theatre, music, or film, it refers to a fixed-term employment or contract.
  Example: Der Schauspieler hat ein neues Engagement am Stadttheater erhalten. (The actor got a new contract/engagement at the city theatre.)
• Betrothal / Engagement (less common): Sometimes it's used synonymously for being engaged to be married, although 'die Verlobung' is more common.
  Example: Sie feierten ihr Engagement im Kreise der Familie. (They celebrated their engagement with their family.) ⚠️ This meaning is less frequent and can sound old-fashioned.

🚨 Important: Despite its French origin, it is capitalized as a noun and declined in German.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "das Engagement" in Detail

"Das Engagement" is a noun of the neuter gender (Neutrum). It is mostly used in the singular.

Singular Declension

Plural Declension

The plural "die Engagements" is possible but rather rare. It's mainly used when referring to multiple specific employment contracts (meaning 2).

📝 Example Sentences

1. Sein politisches Engagement begann schon in der Jugend.
   (His political involvement already began in his youth.)
2. Die Dauer seines Engagements am Theater ist noch unklar.
   (The duration of his contract/engagement at the theatre is still unclear.)
3. Wir danken Ihnen für Ihr langjähriges Engagement.
   (We thank you for your long-standing commitment.)
4. Das Unternehmen schätzt das hohe Engagement seiner Mitarbeiter.
   (The company values the high commitment of its employees.)
5. Die Sopranistin hatte mehrere kurze Engagements an verschiedenen Opernhäusern.
   (The soprano had several short engagements/contracts at different opera houses.)

💡 How to Use "das Engagement"?

"Das Engagement" is often used in contexts expressing personal effort, commitment, or a contractual obligation.

• Social/Political Context: Here it signifies active participation and dedication to social or political goals (e.g., bürgerschaftliches Engagement - civic engagement, politisches Engagement - political involvement, Engagement für den Umweltschutz - commitment to environmental protection).
• Professional Context: It can describe dedication and effort in a job (e.g., berufliches Engagement - professional commitment, Engagement im Team - commitment in the team) or a specific employment, often in the arts (e.g., ein Engagement als Schauspieler bekommen - to get an engagement/contract as an actor, das erste Engagement - the first engagement).
• Private Context: Less commonly used for betrothal or strong personal commitment.

Comparison:

• Der Einsatz: Similar, but often more general or related to a specific task. "Engagement" often emphasizes inner conviction and voluntariness.
• Die Verpflichtung: Sounds more like a duty or obligation, whereas "Engagement" tends to stem from internal motivation (except for the 'employment' meaning).
• Die Beteiligung: More about participating or joining in; "Engagement" usually implies a higher degree of initiative and responsibility.
• Die Verlobung: The more specific and common term for the promise to marry.

🧠 Mnemonics for "das Engagement"

Remembering the article "das":

Many nouns borrowed from French ending in "-ment" are neuter (sächlich) in German, like das Appartement, das Abonnement, das Dokument... and also das Engagement. Think of the neutral "something" (das Etwas) that you give: your commitment (Engagement).

Remembering the meaning:

Imagine someone getting 'engaged' (engagiert) in an activity: they get 'in gauge' with it, measuring up and committing fully. Or think of the English word 'engagement' itself, which shares the core meanings of commitment and betrothal. The German das Engagement just adds the artistic contract meaning more strongly.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but potentially confusing words:

• Engagiert (Adjective): Describes a person who shows Engagement (ein engagierter Mitarbeiter - a committed employee).
• Engagieren (Verb): Means to hire someone or to commit oneself to something (sich politisch engagieren - to be politically active; einen Künstler engagieren - to hire an artist).

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Schauspieler sein Engagement gekündigt?
Er wollte einfach mal eine neue Rolle spielen – die des Arbeitslosen!

(Why did the actor quit his engagement/contract?
He just wanted to play a new role – that of an unemployed person!)

✍️ Poem about Engagement

Das Engagement, ein starkes Wort,
treibt Menschen an an manchem Ort.
Für andre da, mit Herz und Hand,
knüpft es ein festes, soziales Band.

Im Job, im Verein, für eine gute Sach',
hält es die Welt oft erst im Schach.
Ein Funke Eifer, hell und klar,
macht Mühen leicht und Ziele wahr.

(Translation)

Commitment, a powerful word,
drives people on, their spirits stirred.
Being there for others, heart and hand,
it weaves a strong, societal strand.

In jobs, in clubs, for a cause so right,
it often keeps the world in sight.
A spark of zeal, so clear and bright,
makes efforts easy, goals feel light.

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich bin ein Einsatz, stark und tief,
manchmal ein Vertrag, der jemand rief.
Man zeigt mich gern für eine gute Sache,
auch wenn ich manchmal Mühe mache.
Im Theater bin ich oft zu Haus,
doch auch privat geb ich Applaus (als Versprechen).

Was bin ich?

(I am an effort, strong and deep,
Sometimes a contract, secrets to keep.
People like to show me for a worthy cause,
Even though I sometimes give them pause.
In the theatre, I'm often found,
But also privately, I make a happy sound (as a promise).

What am I?)
Solution: das Engagement

✨ Other Information

Word Origin: The word "Engagement" comes directly from French ("engagement"), where it also means "commitment," "involvement," or "betrothal." It derives from the verb "engager" (to commit, hire, engage).

Typical Collocations (word combinations):

• soziales / politisches / ehrenamtliches / bürgerschaftliches Engagement (social / political / voluntary / civic engagement)
• berufliches Engagement / Engagement zeigen (professional commitment / to show commitment)
• ein Engagement bekommen / annehmen / haben (to get / accept / have an engagement/contract - in the artistic sense)
• sein Engagement für etwas / jemanden (one's commitment to something / someone)