das  Gefälle

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɡəˈfɛlə/

🏞️ What does "das Gefälle" actually mean?

The German word das Gefälle primarily has two meanings:

1. Slope or gradient of a surface: This refers to the degree to which a surface (e.g., a road, a slope, a riverbed) descends or ascends. This is often referred to as a physical or geographical *Gefälle*.
2. Difference or disparity between values or levels: This meaning is more abstract and describes a difference between two poles, often in a social, economic, or regional context. Examples include *Preisgefälle* (price difference), *Lohngefälle* (wage gap), or *Bildungsgefälle* (educational gap).

🚨 Attention: Although it often relates to 'falling' (from the verb fallen), *Gefälle* can technically also describe an incline (*Steigung*), but mostly it refers to the degree of slope itself, often downward.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "das Gefälle" in Detail

Das Gefälle is a neuter noun (*sächliches Substantiv*). It is mostly used in the singular, especially in its abstract meaning.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

The plural *die Gefälle* is rare and primarily used for multiple concrete slopes (e.g., different hillsides).

💡 Application Examples

1. Die Straße hat ein starkes Gefälle.
   (The road has a steep slope/gradient.)
2. Das Gefälle des Flusses beeinflusst seine Fließgeschwindigkeit.
   (The river's gradient influences its flow speed.)
3. Es besteht ein deutliches Gefälle zwischen Arm und Reich.
   (There is a clear disparity between rich and poor. - Social gradient)
4. Das Nord-Süd-Gefälle bei den Einkommen ist immer noch spürbar.
   (The North-South divide in income is still noticeable.)
5. Wir müssen das Gefälle des Daches berechnen.
   (We need to calculate the slope of the roof.)

🌐 When and how to use "das Gefälle"?

The use of das Gefälle strongly depends on the context:

• Geografie & Bauwesen (Geography & Construction): Here, it describes the slope of terrain, roads, roofs, or watercourses. Example: Ein Gefälle von 5% means that the height decreases by 5 meters over a distance of 100 meters.
• Wirtschaft & Soziologie (Economics & Sociology): In this field, it denotes differences or inequalities, e.g., between regions, social groups, or prices. It often forms compound words like Preisgefälle (price difference), Lohngefälle (wage gap), Sozialgefälle (social divide), Wohlstandsgefälle (wealth gap), Bildungsgefälle (educational gap).
• Physik & Technik (Physics & Technology): It can also describe pressure gradients (*Druckgefälle*), temperature gradients (*Temperaturgefälle*), or concentration gradients (*Konzentrationsgefälle*).

Differentiation: While Steigung specifically describes an incline or ascent, Gefälle can refer to both a descent and the degree of slope in general, but it is more commonly used for descending terrain. Neigung is a more general term for inclination or tilt.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

For the article: Think of das Gelände (the terrain), which often has a Gefälle. The -e ending for neuter nouns derived from verbs (fallen -> Gefälle) is common, e.g., das Gebäude (building, from bauen - to build), das Gemälde (painting, from malen - to paint).

For the meaning: Imagine something falling down – that happens on a slanted surface, a Gefälle (slope). Or think of prices falling – a Preisgefälle (price difference).

🔄 Similar and Opposite Words

⚠️ Beware of Confusion: Do not confuse with der Gefallen (the favour) or the verb gefallen (to please, to like).

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Lehrer: „Was ist ein Lohngefälle?“
Meldet sich Fritzchen: „Das ist, wenn der Lohn so niedrig ist, dass er fast vom Konto runterfällt!“

Teacher asks: "What is a wage gap (Lohngefälle)?"
Little Fritz answers: "That's when the wage is so low, it almost falls (fällt) off the bank account!"

📜 A Little Poem

Das Wasser sucht sich seinen Weg,
Folgt stetig dem Gefälle.
Ob sanft, ob steil, auf jedem Steg,
Zur tiefsten, kühlen Stelle.

Auch zwischen Menschen gibt's die Kluft,
Ein Wohlstandsgefälle, kalt,
Das ruft nach Brücken durch die Luft,
Dass Ausgleich finde bald.

--- English Translation ---

The water searches for its way,
Steadily follows the slope/gradient.
Whether gentle, whether steep, on every path,
To the deepest, coolest spot.

Between people, too, there is the gap,
A wealth disparity, cold,
That calls for bridges through the air,
So balance may soon unfold.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich zeige an, wie steil es ist,
Ob Straße, Dach, ob Fluss.
Auch bei Geld und Wissen, ganz gewiss,
Zeig' ich den Unterschied, den 'Überdruss'.

Mal bin ich groß, mal bin ich klein,
Man misst mich oft in Prozent.
Was kann ich nur sein?

--- English Translation & Clues ---

I indicate how steep it is,
Whether road, roof, or river's flow.
Also with money and knowledge, quite surely,
I show the difference, the 'excess' or disparity.

Sometimes I am large, sometimes I am small,
I'm often measured in percent.
What can I possibly be?

(Solution: das Gefälle)

🧩 Other Interesting Details

Word Formation (Wortbildung): The word *Gefälle* is a nominalization (substantivization) of the Old High German/Middle High German verb *„vallen“* (to fall), with the prefix *ge-*, which often expresses a collective or a result. So, it describes the result of falling or the tendency to fall.

Compound Words (Zusammensetzungen): As mentioned, *Gefälle* is very productive in forming compound words that describe specific types of differences or slopes:

• Preisgefälle (price difference/gradient)
• Lohngefälle (wage gap)
• Sozialgefälle (social divide/gradient)
• Bildungsgefälle (educational gap)
• Nord-Süd-Gefälle / Ost-West-Gefälle (North-South divide / East-West divide)
• Temperaturgefälle (temperature gradient)
• Druckgefälle (pressure gradient)