das  Guthaben

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈɡuːthaːbn̩/

💰 What Exactly is Guthaben?

Das Guthaben (neuter gender) refers to an amount that is available to someone or credited to them. It's the opposite of debts (Schulden) or a debit balance (Sollsaldo). You typically find it on bank accounts (Bankkonten), prepaid cards (Prepaid-Karten), or statements (Abrechnungen).

• Main meaning: The positive balance on an account or card; available funds.

It represents a value that one 'has well' (gut hat), meaning possesses or can dispose of. 🏦

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 The Grammar Behind Guthaben

Das Guthaben is a noun of neuter gender (Neutrum). It is mostly used in the singular. The plural form (die Guthaben) is rare and usually refers to multiple separate credit amounts on different accounts or with various providers.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

The plural 'die Guthaben' is used less frequently but follows standard declension:

Examples

1. Prüfen Sie bitte Ihr aktuelles Guthaben auf dem Kontoauszug.
   (Please check your current balance on the bank statement.)
2. Nach der Einzahlung erhöhte sich mein Guthaben sofort.
   (After the deposit, my balance increased immediately.)
3. Das Guthaben auf meiner Prepaid-Karte reicht noch für einen Anruf.
   (The credit on my prepaid card is still enough for one call.)
4. Der Händler erstattete den Betrag als Guthaben für den nächsten Einkauf.
   (The merchant refunded the amount as credit for the next purchase.)

📱 Guthaben in Everyday Life: When and Where?

Das Guthaben is a central term in finance (Finanzwesen) and daily payment transactions (Zahlungsverkehr). Here are typical contexts:

• Bank accounts: The positive amount in a checking (Girokonto) or savings account (Sparkonto).
• Prepaid systems: The money paid in advance for mobile phones (Mobiltelefone), tickets (Fahrkarten), or online services.
• Vouchers & Customer cards: The value stored on a gift card (Geschenkkarte) or a customer account (Kundenkonto).
• Statements/Bill settlements: An amount due to you after a calculation (e.g., utility bill settlement - Nebenkostenabrechnung).

It always represents a value that you 'have' (haben) and can use, as opposed to 'Soll' (debit), which denotes an amount owed.

⚠️ Don't confuse it with Kredit in the sense of a loan (Darlehen), although a credit balance (Guthaben) also appears as 'Kredit' on the 'Haben' (credit) side in accounting.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'das Guthaben'

Article Mnemonic (das)

Imagine finding money. You think: "Das money is good to haben (have)!" -> Das Guthaben. Neutral things like money or an account often take the article 'das'.

Meaning Mnemonic

Break down the word: Gut (good) + haben (to have). It's something that you find good to have – namely money or a positive value! It's simply good to have Guthaben! ✅

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Bankberater: "Haben Sie konkrete Zukunftspläne?"
Kunde: "Ja! Ich möchte mein Guthaben so lange anschauen, bis es sich vermehrt hat. Man nennt das wohl 'passives Einkommen durch Anstarren'." 👀

--- Translation ---

The bank advisor asks: "Do you have concrete plans for the future?"
Customer: "Yes! I want to stare at my credit balance until it multiplies. I suppose you could call that 'passive income by staring'." 👀

📜 A Poem About Credit Balance

Das Konto lächelt, grün und klar,
Kein Minus weit und breit, fürwahr.
Das Guthaben, so schön und rein,
lässt Sorgen kurz vergessen sein.
Ein Polster, weich und gut,
verleiht uns Zuversicht und Mut.

--- Translation ---

The account smiles, green and clear,
No minus far and wide, it's true.
The credit balance, so fine and pure,
lets worries briefly be forgot.
A cushion, soft and good,
gives us confidence and mood (courage).

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich bin das Plus auf deinem Konto,
Nicht Schuld, nicht Soll, nicht Risikonto.
Man zahlt mich ein, um mich zu haben,
wie nennt man diese guten Gaben?

--- Translation ---

I am the plus upon your account,
Not debt, not debit, not risk amount.
You pay me in, so you can have,
what do you call these good gifts (lit. 'good bestowals')?

Solution: Das Guthaben (Credit balance)

💡 More Interesting Facts

Word Composition

Das Guthaben is a compound noun formed from:

• gut (adjective): good, positive, advantageous
• haben (verb, nominalized as 'das Haben'): possession, assets

So, it literally describes a 'good possession' or 'positive asset status'.

Trivia

In banking (Bankwesen), a distinction is often made between the Saldo (the difference between debit/Soll and credit/Haben) and the verfügbares Guthaben (available balance). The latter might take into account transactions that haven't been booked yet or granted credit lines.