das  Feedback

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈfiːdbɛk/

🧐 What does "das Feedback" mean?

Das Feedback is a German noun borrowed directly from English. It refers to a response, reply, or reaction to a specific action, performance, statement, or product. It often serves the purpose of evaluation or improvement.

In German, it is used as a neuter noun, hence das Feedback.

Examples of contexts:

• After a presentation: "Ich hätte gerne Ihr Feedback zur Präsentation." (I would like your feedback on the presentation.)
• In product development: "Das Kundenfeedback war sehr positiv." (The customer feedback was very positive.)
• In a personal conversation: "Danke für dein ehrliches Feedback." (Thanks for your honest feedback.)

🚨 Note: Although widely used, the German equivalent "die Rückmeldung" is sometimes preferred, especially in more formal contexts.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📚 Grammar and Declension of "Feedback"

"Feedback" is a noun of neuter gender (Neutrum), so it takes the article "das". It is mostly used in the singular. The plural ("die Feedbacks") is possible but less common and sometimes considered stylistically awkward. Often, phrases like "Feedback von mehreren Personen" (feedback from several people) or "mehrere Rückmeldungen" (several responses) are used instead.

Declension

Example Sentences

1. Das Feedback des Chefs war sehr konstruktiv. (The boss's feedback was very constructive.)
2. Aufgrund des positiven Feedbacks setzen wir das Projekt fort. (Due to the positive feedback, we are continuing the project.)
3. Ich stimme deinem Feedback vollkommen zu. (I completely agree with your feedback.)
4. Bitte geben Sie mir Ihr Feedback bis morgen. (Please give me your feedback by tomorrow.)
5. Die vielen positiven Feedbacks haben uns gefreut. (The many positive feedbacks pleased us. - *Using 'Rückmeldungen' is often better here.*)

🗣️ How to use "das Feedback"?

"Feedback" is a very common word, especially in professional environments, education, and technology.

• Profession & Work: It's standard here. People ask for feedback on performance, projects, presentations, or employee behavior. "Regelmäßiges Feedback ist wichtig für die Mitarbeiterentwicklung." (Regular feedback is important for employee development.)
• Education & Learning: Teachers give students feedback on their assignments; students give feedback on lessons. "Das Feedback des Professors half mir, meine Arbeit zu verbessern." (The professor's feedback helped me improve my paper.)
• Products & Services: Companies collect customer feedback to optimize their offerings. "Wir nutzen das Feedback unserer Kunden zur Produktverbesserung." (We use our customers' feedback for product improvement.)
• Technology & Acoustics: Here, feedback can also refer to the unwanted acoustic feedback loop (whistling sound from microphones). "Achtung, das Mikrofon erzeugt ein Feedback!" (Careful, the microphone is creating feedback!) - *Also known as 'die Rückkopplung'.*

Comparison with similar words:

• Die Rückmeldung: The German equivalent. Often used synonymously, sometimes sounds a bit more formal or less "modern".
• Die Kritik: Usually refers to a judgment or evaluation, often (but not always) negative or pointing out weaknesses. Feedback can be neutral, positive, or negative and is often broader.
• Die Resonanz: Describes the general reaction or echo to something (e.g., an event, an idea).
• Die Beurteilung: Is often more formal and aims at a classification or rating according to specific criteria (e.g., school grade, performance review).

Although an Anglicism, "Feedback" is very established in German and understood in most contexts.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

For the article (das): Think of things that are often neutral results or pieces of information, like das Ergebnis (the result) or das Dokument (the document). Das Feedback is like a neutral piece of information you receive. It's 'the thing' (neuter) you get back.

For the meaning (response/return info): It's borrowed directly from English! Think of 'feeding' information 'back' to the source. The meaning is essentially the same as in English.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Be careful with distinctions: While Feedback can be positive, neutral, or negative, Kritik is often perceived as primarily negative, even though it can technically include praise (Lob und Kritik - praise and criticism). The goal is often konstruktives Feedback (constructive feedback).

😂 A Little Joke

Der Chef fragt den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Wie gefällt Ihnen die Arbeit hier bei uns?"
Sagt der Mitarbeiter: "Gut, aber ich hätte gerne mehr Feedback."
Der Chef nickt, geht zum Computer und druckt eine Seite mit "BACK" in großer Schrift aus. "Hier, bitte!"

(Translation: The boss asks the new employee: "How do you like working here with us?"
The employee says: "Good, but I'd like more feedback."
The boss nods, goes to the computer, and prints out a page with "BACK" in large letters. "Here you go!")

📜 Poem about Feedback

Ob Lob, ob Tadel, gut gemeint,
Das Feedback oft als Freund erscheint.
Es zeigt uns auf, was wir nicht seh'n,
lässt uns verstehen und weitergeh'n.

Mal sanft, mal laut, mal kurz, mal lang,
verbessert es den Arbeitsgang.
Drum hör gut zu, sei nicht beklommen,
wenn Rückmeldungen sind gekommen.

(Translation:)

Whether praise or blame, well-intentioned it seems,
Feedback often appears like a friend in our dreams.
It points out to us what we don't see,
lets us understand and move forward, free.

Sometimes gentle, sometimes loud, sometimes short, sometimes long,
it improves the workflow, makes it strong.
So listen closely, don't be dismayed,
when responses or feedback have been made.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich bin eine Antwort, doch keine auf Fragen,
Ich helfe zu wachsen an kritischen Tagen.
Mal positiv, mal negativ, oft konstruktiv gedacht,
Nach Präsentation und Arbeit werd' ich oft gebracht.

Was bin ich?

(Translation:)

I am a response, but not to a query asked,
I help you to grow when critically tasked.
Sometimes positive, negative, often constructively conceived,
After presentations and work, I am often received.

What am I?

Solution: Das Feedback

💡 Other Information

Word Origin: As mentioned, "Feedback" comes directly from English, combining "feed" and "back". The term originated in cybernetics and control engineering, describing the return of a portion of the output signal to the input of a system (die Rückkopplung).

Prevalence: The word is extremely common in German-speaking countries and used in almost all areas of life where evaluations or reactions play a role. It's a classic example of an Anglicism that has become firmly established.

Pronunciation: Pronunciation follows the English model: [ˈfiːdbɛk].

Denglish? While widely accepted, using too many English loanwords can sometimes lead to what Germans call "Denglish" (a mix of Deutsch and English). However, "Feedback" is generally considered standard vocabulary now.