das  Verlangen

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/fɛɐ̯ˈlaŋən/

📖 What does "das Verlangen" mean?

Das Verlangen (neuter noun) primarily describes two things in German:

1. A strong inner need, an intense Wunsch (wish), or a Sehnsucht (longing/yearning) for something or someone. It's often deeply emotional.
2. A demand, claim, or request, often in a more formal context. Here, it's less emotional and more of a requirement (Forderung).

It's the nominalization (Substantivierung) of the verb verlangen (to demand, desire, require).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Deep Dive: "das Verlangen"

"Das Verlangen" is a noun of neuter gender (sächliches Geschlecht).

Note: The plural form "die Verlangen" is used less frequently and usually refers to concrete demands or requests (Forderungen), not the feeling of longing.

Example Sentences

• Das Verlangen nach Schokolade war unerträglich. (The desire/craving for chocolate was unbearable.)
• Er äußerte sein Verlangen nach einer Gehaltserhöhung. (He expressed his demand/request for a salary increase.)
• Das ist ein unverschämtes Verlangen! (That is an outrageous demand!)
• Ihr Verlangen nach Gerechtigkeit war groß. (Her desire/longing for justice was great.)

🗣️ Everyday Use: Using "das Verlangen" correctly

"Das Verlangen" is a strong word. When should you use it?

• Emotional desire: When talking about deep longing (e.g., das Verlangen nach Liebe - the longing for love, nach Heimat - for home, nach Abenteuer - for adventure). It's stronger here than Wunsch (wish) or Bedürfnis (need).
• Formal demand: In contexts like negotiations, legal matters, or official requests (e.g., das Verlangen auf Schadensersatz - the demand for damages, das Verlangen nach Auskunft - the request for information). Here it's more formal and definitive than a Bitte (request) or a Wunsch (wish).

Distinctions:

• Wunsch (wish): More general and often less intense than Verlangen.
• Bedürfnis (need): Often more fundamental (like sleep, food), whereas Verlangen can be more specific and stronger.
• Forderung (demand): Similar to Verlangen in the sense of a claim, but often more direct and confrontational.
• Sehnsucht (longing/yearning): Very similar to emotional Verlangen, often emphasizing the pain of not having something.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Article Mnemonic: Imagine a scene where das child (neuter in German) has a strong Verlangen (desire) for das toy (also neuter) in the shop window. Connecting the neuter gender (das) of Kind and Spielzeug to das Verlangen can help.

Meaning Mnemonic: "Verlangen" sounds a bit like "very longing" for something, which triggers a strong Verlangen (desire/longing). Or, you have to argue for a long time to get your Verlangen (demand) met.

↔️ Antonyms and Synonyms for "Verlangen"

⚠️ Caution: Words like der Wunsch are often weaker, while die Gier has negative connotations. Die Forderung is usually more direct.

😂 A Little Joke

Der Lehrer fragt: "Fritzchen, was ist dein größtes Verlangen?"
Fritzchen: "Das Verlangen nach den Ferien, Herr Lehrer!"
Lehrer: "Aber Fritzchen, die sind doch erst in drei Monaten!"
Fritzchen: "Sehen Sie! Deshalb ist das Verlangen ja so groß!"

Translation:

The teacher asks: "Fritzchen, what is your greatest desire (Verlangen)?"
Fritzchen: "The desire (Verlangen) for the holidays, teacher!"
Teacher: "But Fritzchen, those are still three months away!"
Fritzchen: "See! That's why the desire (Verlangen) is so great!"

✍️ Poem about Longing (Verlangen)

Ein stilles Feuer, tief entfacht,
Das Herz erfasst bei Tag und Nacht.
Das Verlangen, süß und schwer,
Zieht uns hin, zum immer mehr.

Mal Sehnsucht zart, mal lauter Ruf,
Was man begehrt, was Sehnsucht schuf.
Ein Wunsch, der brennt, ein starker Drang,
Ein Leben lang, ein Leben lang.

Translation:

A silent fire, deeply sparked,
That grips the heart by day and dark.
The longing (das Verlangen), sweet and sore,
Draws us towards the evermore.

Sometimes tender yearning, sometimes loud call,
What one desires, what longing brought to all.
A wish that burns, a strong urge's song,
A whole life long, a whole life long.

❓ Riddle

Ich kann ein leises Flüstern sein,
manchmal ein lauter, fordernder Schein.
Ich wohne tief in dir drin,
treibe dich zu fernen Zielen hin.

Manchmal bin ich süße Qual,
manchmal eine klare Wahl.
Was bin ich, sag, mit Neutrum-Kraft,
das Sehnsucht und auch Forderung schafft?

Translation:

I can be a quiet whisper,
Sometimes a loud, demanding glimmer.
I live deep inside of you,
Driving you towards goals anew.

Sometimes I am sweet torment,
Sometimes a clear choice heaven-sent.
What am I, say, with neuter might,
Creating longing and demand's light?

Solution: Das Verlangen (desire/longing/demand)

🧩 Other Interesting Details

Word Formation: "Das Verlangen" is a nominalization (Substantivierung) of the verb "verlangen" (to demand, desire, require). The prefix "ver-" can indicate intensification or a targeted action here.

Related Concepts: Closely related to concepts like Motivation (motivation), Begehren (desire), Trieb (drive, instinct), Hoffnung (hope), and Wille (will). The precise meaning heavily depends on the context.