das
Kriterium
🧐 What exactly does "das Kriterium" mean?
Das Kriterium (noun, neuter) refers to a criterion, a standard, a benchmark, or a characteristic used to judge, evaluate, distinguish, or decide something. It's a decisive point or condition for an assessment or selection.
It's a word of Greek origin and is used in German as a neuter noun with the article das.
🚨 Attention: The plural form is "die Kriterien", not "Kriteriums" or similar incorrect forms.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-um → mostly neutral.
Caution: Nouns with '-aum' are always masculine.
📊 Grammar in Detail: Declension of Kriterium
"Das Kriterium" is a neuter noun. It follows the strong declension pattern.
| Case | Article + Noun |
|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | das Kriterium |
| Genitive (Whose?) | des Kriteriums |
| Dative (To whom?) | dem Kriterium |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | das Kriterium |
| Case | Article + Noun |
|---|---|
| Nominative | die Kriterien |
| Genitive | der Kriterien |
| Dative | den Kriterien |
| Accusative | die Kriterien |
📝 Example Sentences
- Ein wichtiges Kriterium für die Einstellung ist die Teamfähigkeit.
(An important criterion for hiring is teamwork ability.) - Die Auswahl erfolgte nach strengen Kriterien.
(The selection was made according to strict criteria.) - Welche Kriterien legen Sie Ihrer Entscheidung zugrunde?
(What criteria are you basing your decision on?) - Die Erfüllung aller Kriterien ist Voraussetzung für die Zertifizierung.
(Fulfilling all criteria is a prerequisite for certification.)
💡 How is "das Kriterium" used?
"Das Kriterium" is often used in contexts involving evaluation, selection, decision-making, or analysis.
- Wissenschaft & Forschung (Science & Research): To define standards for experiments or studies (e.g., Einschlusskriterien - inclusion criteria, Ausschlusskriterien - exclusion criteria).
- Beruf & Wirtschaft (Work & Business): In selection processes (job applications), project evaluations, or quality management (e.g., Leistungskriterien - performance criteria, Qualitätskriterien - quality criteria).
- Bildung (Education): For assessing performance (e.g., Bewertungskriterien - assessment criteria for an exam).
- Alltag (Everyday life): When making purchasing decisions or planning (e.g., "Ein wichtiges Kriterium für den Autokauf ist der Verbrauch." - An important criterion for buying a car is fuel consumption.).
It's a somewhat formal word but is also used in more sophisticated everyday language. Simpler synonyms, depending on the context, could be Merkmal (feature), Bedingung (condition), or Punkt (point), but Kriterium emphasizes the aspect of a standard for judgment.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
For the article (das): Think of judgment as needing to be neutral. A Kriterium should be objective and neutral, like the neuter article das.
For the meaning (criterion): Imagine a checklist with points that need to be ticked off. Each line item on this list is a Kriterium. Or think of the English word "criterion" – it sounds very similar and has the same meaning.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Kriterium
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Maßstab: Emphasizes the standard or norm.
- Kennzeichen: Highlights a distinguishing feature.
- Merkmal: Similar to Kennzeichen, often more neutral (feature).
- Bedingung: Emphasizes a prerequisite (condition).
- Anhaltspunkt: A clue or point of reference.
- Gesichtspunkt: An aspect or point of view.
- Standard: A defined norm or requirement.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
Direct antonyms are rare. Instead, one describes the absence or irrelevance of criteria:
- Irrelevanz: The characteristic is unimportant for the judgment (irrelevance).
- Belanglosigkeit: Similar to irrelevance (triviality).
- Willkür: Decision made without fixed criteria (arbitrariness).
⚠️ Similar Words: Be careful not to confuse Kriterium with "Prinzip" (principle) or "Faktor" (factor), which can be related but don't mean exactly the same thing.
😄 A Little Joke
Warum tun sich Philosophen schwer beim Online-Shopping? 🤔
Weil sie für jeden Klick erst die fundamentalen Kriterien der Existenz des Warenkorbs hinterfragen müssen!
(Why do philosophers have a hard time online shopping? 🤔
Because for every click, they first have to question the fundamental criteria for the existence of the shopping cart!)
📜 Poem about Criteria
Ein Kriterium, klar und scharf,
zeigt, was man braucht, was man bedarf.
Es misst und wägt, es prüft und fragt,
was wirklich zählt, was Gültigkeit wagt.
Ob groß, ob klein, ob alt, ob neu,
das Kriterium bleibt sich treu.
Im Denken, Handeln, nah und fern,
hilft es entscheiden – ach so gern!
(A criterion, clear and sharp,
shows what one needs, what's required.
It measures and weighs, it tests and asks,
what truly counts, what validity dares.
Whether big or small, whether old or new,
the criterion stays true.
In thought, in action, near and far,
it helps decide – oh so gladly!)
🧩 Riddle Time
Ich bin ein Maßstab, doch kein Lineal.
Ich helfe wählen, treff die Qual der Wahl.
Man braucht mich oft für Test und Norm,
ich bringe Urteile in Form.
Ich habe einen griechischen Namen,
und steh im Plural oft im Rahmen
von Listen, Checks und Evaluationen.
Wer bin ich wohl in solchen Situationen?
(I am a standard, but not a ruler.
I help choose, face the agony of choice.
I'm often needed for tests and norms,
I shape judgments.
I have a Greek name,
and in plural, I'm often part
of lists, checks, and evaluations.
Who might I be in such situations?)
Answer: Das Kriterium (The criterion)
💡 Other Information
Etymology: The word "Kriterium" comes from the Greek word κριτήριον (kritērion), meaning 'means for judging' or 'mark of judgment'. It is related to the Greek verb κρίνειν (krinein), meaning 'to separate', 'to judge', 'to decide'. The word "criticism" (Kritik in German) also originates here.
Compounds: Kriterium often forms part of compound words, e.g.: Auswahlkriterium (selection criterion), Qualitätskriterium (quality criterion), Erfolgskriterium (success criterion), Bewertungskriterium (evaluation criterion), Ausschlusskriterium (exclusion criterion), Einschlusskriterium (inclusion criterion).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Kriterium?
The German word "Kriterium" is a neuter noun, so it always uses the article das. The plural is "die Kriterien". It means a standard or characteristic used for judgment (criterion).