das  Erlegen

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɛɐ̯ˈleːɡn̩/

🦌 What does "das Erlegen" mean?

Das Erlegen is the nominalization (creating a noun) of the verb erlegen. It's a neuter noun.

It primarily has two meanings:

1. Hunting context: The act of killing a game animal by a hunter. This is the most common meaning of the noun. Example: Das Erlegen des Hirsches war erfolgreich. (The killing of the stag was successful.)
2. Financial context: The act of paying or settling a sum of money (less common as a noun, the verb erlegen is more frequent). Example: Für die Genehmigung musste eine Gebühr erlegt werden. (A fee had to be paid for the permit.) Here, the verb is used in the past participle; the noun phrase "das Erlegen einer Gebühr" is unusual.

🚨 The noun "das Erlegen" is almost exclusively used in the hunting sense.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "das Erlegen" in Detail

Das Erlegen is a nominalized verb and therefore always neuter (das). It is generally only used in the singular, as the plural (die Erlegen) is very uncommon and would refer to multiple individual acts of killing/paying.

Declension (Singular)

💡 Example Sentences

1. Das Erlegen von geschützten Tieren ist streng verboten. (The killing of protected animals is strictly forbidden.)
2. Man gedachte des erfolgreichen Erlegens des Keilers beim Schüsseltreiben. (They commemorated the successful killing of the boar at the post-hunt gathering.)
3. Nach dem Erlegen wird das Wild fachgerecht versorgt. (After the kill, the game is properly processed.)
4. Der Jäger meldete das Erlegen des Rehbocks der Behörde. (The hunter reported the killing of the roe deer to the authority.)

🎯 How is "das Erlegen" used?

The main area of application for das Erlegen is hunter's terminology (Jägersprache). It refers to the targeted shooting of game.

• Typical collocations: das Erlegen von Wild / eines Hirsches / eines Rehs (the killing of game / a stag / a roe deer), das erfolgreiche Erlegen (the successful kill), nach dem Erlegen (after the kill).
• Context: Hunting reports, hunting regulations, discussions about hunting practices.

In the financial context, the noun "das Erlegen" is very rare. Instead, the verb erlegen (e.g., eine Gebühr erlegen - to pay a fee) or more common nouns like die Zahlung (the payment), die Entrichtung (the remittance, often for fees/taxes), die Begleichung (the settlement, often for debts) are used.

Distinction from other words:

• Das Töten: Is a more general term for ending a life, not specific to hunting, and often has negative connotations.
• Der Abschuss: Similar to "das Erlegen", often used synonymously, but emphasizes the act of shooting itself.
• Das Bezahlen / Die Zahlung: Standard terms for financial transactions.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article mnemonic for "das Erlegen": Nouns formed from infinitives (nominalized verbs) in German are almost always neuter (das). Think of das Laufen (running), das Schwimmen (swimming), das Schreiben (writing) – and also das Erlegen. It describes a process, an action -> DAS!

Meaning mnemonic for "Erlegen": Imagine the hunter lays the game down (legen) – he ER-legt es. Or: One lays the money down (legt) on the table – one er-legt the fee.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for das Erlegen

⚠️ Similar but misleading words:

• Verlegen: To move something to another place; also: to publish; also: to be embarrassed. (Completely different meaning!)
• Unterlegen: To be inferior to someone/something; also: to place something underneath.

😂 A Little Joke

Der Förster fragt den jungen Jäger nach dem Erlegen seines ersten Rehbocks: "Na, war der Schuss auch weidgerecht?" Sagt der Jungjäger stolz: "Aber sicher! Er ist direkt neben dem Weidezaun umgefallen!"

Translation: The forester asks the young hunter after killing his first roe deer: "Well, was the shot compliant with hunting ethics (weidgerecht)?" The young hunter proudly replies: "Absolutely! It fell right next to the pasture fence (Weidezaun)!" (It's a pun: 'weidgerecht' sounds like 'Weide gerecht' - 'right for the pasture').

📜 Poem about Killing Game

Im Walde tief, der Jäger steht,
Sein Blick gespannt, kaum dass er geht.
Ein Rascheln leis', das Wild erscheint,
Mit ruhiger Hand, zum Schuss vereint.

Das Erlegen naht, ein kurzer Knall,
Im grünen Moos der Hirsch fällt jählings all.
Respekt und Demut, alt Gebrauch,
Ein Teil des Kreislaufs, Lebenshauch.

Translation:
Deep in the woods, the hunter stands,
His gaze intent, he barely lands
A footstep soft, a rustle slight,
The game appears within his sight.
With steady hand, for shot aligned,
The kill approaches, fate defined.
A sudden crack, the sound rings clear,
In mossy green, falls down the deer.
Respect, humility, ancient ways,
A part of life's cyclical maze.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin ein Akt, oft im grünen Kleid,
Beende Leben, mach' Beute weit.
Man braucht Präzision und ruhige Hand,
Bin Teil der Jagd im deutschen Land.

Was bin ich?
... Das Erlegen

Translation:
I am an act, often dressed in green,
I end a life, make bounty seen.
You need precision and a steady hand,
I'm part of hunting in this German land.

What am I?
... Das Erlegen (The act of killing game)

🧩 Other Information

Word Composition:

The word "Erlegen" is a nominalization (Substantivierung) of the verb erlegen. The verb itself consists of:

• Prefix er-: This prefix often indicates a result or the achievement of a goal (compare erreichen - to reach, erarbeiten - to work out, erzielen - to achieve). Here, it signals the successful conclusion of the hunt (killing) or the successful making of a payment.
• Stem verb legen: Meaning 'to lay down', 'to bring down'.

Type: Nominalization of a verb.