das  Gesamtergebnis

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɡəˈzamtɛʁˌɡɛbnɪs/

📊 What Exactly is das Gesamtergebnis?

The word das Gesamtergebnis (noun, neuter) signifies the result obtained by summing up or consolidating all individual parts or individual results. It stands for the final result, grand total, or overall outcome after considering all factors.

It's frequently used in contexts like finance (e.g., annual financial statements - Jahresabschluss), sports (e.g., final score of a tournament - Endstand eines Turniers), elections (e.g., final election result - finales Wahlergebnis), or evaluations.

There's only this one article (das) and one main meaning. Confusion is rare. ⚠️ Remember it's always das!

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Spotlight: das Gesamtergebnis

The word "Gesamtergebnis" is neuter, hence it takes the article das. It follows the standard declension pattern for strong nouns.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Das Gesamtergebnis der Firma war dieses Jahr sehr positiv.
   (The company's overall result was very positive this year.)
2. Nach Auszählung aller Stimmen steht das Gesamtergebnis der Wahl fest.
   (After counting all votes, the final result of the election is determined.)
3. Das Gesamtergebnis des Sportturniers wurde am Abend bekannt gegeben.
   (The overall result of the sports tournament was announced in the evening.)
4. Addiere die einzelnen Posten, um das Gesamtergebnis zu erhalten.
   (Add the individual items to get the total result.)
5. Das schlechte Wetter beeinflusste das Gesamtergebnis der Ernte negativ.
   (The bad weather negatively affected the overall result of the harvest.)

💡 Context is Key: Using Gesamtergebnis

"Das Gesamtergebnis" is used when talking about the final result or the sum of several parts. It implies that various components or steps have been combined to arrive at a final value or state.

• Business/Finance: Often refers to the profit or loss after deducting all costs and considering all revenues (e.g., "Das Gesamtergebnis nach Steuern betrug..." - The net result after taxes was...).
• Sports: Describes the final score after multiple games or disciplines (e.g., "Das Gesamtergebnis im Zehnkampf..." - The overall result in the decathlon...).
• Assessments/Tests: The total score or final grade (e.g., "Sein Gesamtergebnis im Test war hervorragend." - His overall result in the test was excellent.).
• Projects/Processes: The final outcome of a complex procedure (e.g., "Das Gesamtergebnis der Studie wird nächste Woche veröffentlicht." - The overall result of the study will be published next week.).

It's a more formal term than just "Ergebnis" or "Resultat" as it emphasizes completeness and summary.

🧠 Memory Hooks for Gesamtergebnis

Article Mnemonic: Think of "das Result" or "das End-result". Many German nouns ending in "-nis" are neuter (sächlich), like das Ergebnis (result), das Zeugnis (certificate), das Geheimnis (secret). "Gesamtergebnis" fits this pattern: It's das result of everything (gesamt) put together.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine gathering (sammeln) many puzzle pieces (individual results - Einzelergebnisse). Only when all pieces are put together (gesamt) do you see the full picture – that's das Gesamtergebnis (the overall result).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words

• Ergebnis: A general term for a result, not necessarily the final or comprehensive one.
• Resultat: Similar to Ergebnis, often interchangeable.

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Chef den Buchhalter: "Wie sieht das Gesamtergebnis dieses Quartals aus?"

Antwortet der Buchhalter: "Es kommt darauf an... Wollen Sie die Version für die Aktionäre, die für das Finanzamt oder die, mit der ich meinen Job behalte?" 😉

Translation:

The boss asks the accountant: "What does the overall result look like for this quarter?"

The accountant replies: "It depends... Do you want the version for the shareholders, the one for the tax office, or the one that lets me keep my job?" 😉

✍️ Poem about the Word

Zahl um Zahl, Fakt um Fakt,
Alles wird genau gepackt.
Am Ende, klar und rein,
soll das Gesamtergebnis sein.

Ob Minus oder Plus,
es zeigt den Schluss,
nach aller Müh und Plag',
am Ende von dem Tag.

Translation:

Number by number, fact by fact,
Everything precisely packed.
In the end, clear and pure,
shall be the overall result, secure.

Whether minus or plus,
it shows the final conclusion thus,
after all toil and strain,
at the end of the day's domain.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich bin die Summe aller Teile,
entstehe oft erst nach einer Weile.
Im Sport, Geschäft, bei jeder Wahl,
zeige ich die Endeszahl.

Was bin ich?

(I am the sum of all parts,
often arise only after a while starts.
In sports, business, at every election,
I show the final number/collection.)

What am I?

Solution: Das Gesamtergebnis (The overall result)

🧩 Word Components & More

The word "Gesamtergebnis" is a compound noun (Kompositum), made up of:

• gesamt: Adjective, meaning 'whole', 'entire', 'total'.
• Ergebnis: Noun (neuter), meaning 'result', 'outcome', 'consequence'.

Together, they mean "the total result" or "the result of the whole".

Trivia: In financial statements according to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), one often speaks of "period comprehensive income" or "other comprehensive income" (often translated as 'sonstiges Gesamtergebnis'), which includes parts of the total result not directly shown in the profit and loss statement.