der  Anteil

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈanˌtaɪl/

📚 What does "der Anteil" mean?

The noun der Anteil has several meanings:

• Share, portion, part of a whole: It refers to a part belonging to someone or something out of a whole. This can be material (e.g., Geld - money, Besitz - property) or immaterial (e.g., Verantwortung - responsibility, Zeit - time). Example: Jeder Erbe erhielt seinen Anteil am Vermögen. (Each heir received their share of the assets.)
• Stake, share (in a company): It can also describe a stake or share in a company or organization. Example: Er kaufte einen Anteil an der Firma. (He bought a share in the company.)
• Interest, sympathy (Anteilnahme): Describes the interest or sympathy someone shows towards a matter or person. Often used in the expression "Anteil nehmen an etwas/jemandem" (to take an interest in / sympathise with something/someone). Example: Sie nahm großen Anteil an seinem Schicksal. (She showed great interest in / sympathy for his fate.)

⚠️ Be careful not to confuse der Anteil (share, portion, interest) with das Teil (a single piece, often technical) or die Teilnahme (participation).

📝 Grammar in Detail: Der Anteil

Der Anteil is a masculine noun.

Declension

Example Sentences

1. Mein Anteil an der Pizza ist das größte Stück. (My share of the pizza is the biggest piece.)
2. Der Wert seines Anteils ist gestiegen. (The value of his share has increased.)
3. Ich gebe meinem Anteil keine Priorität. (I don't prioritize my share. - Less common structure without context)
4. Er hat seinen Anteil verkauft. (He sold his share.)
5. Die Anteile wurden gerecht verteilt. (The shares were distributed fairly.)
6. Die Summe aller Anteile ergibt das Ganze. (The sum of all shares makes the whole.)
7. Mit diesen Anteilen können wir nicht zufrieden sein. (We cannot be satisfied with these shares.)
8. Sie verwaltet die Anteile ihrer Kinder. (She manages her children's shares.)

💡 How to use "der Anteil"?

Der Anteil is often used in specific contexts:

• Economics & Finance: Often refers to Geschäftsanteile (business shares), Gewinnanteile (profit shares), Marktanteile (market shares), etc. Example: Der Anteil von Apple am Smartphone-Markt ist beträchtlich. (Apple's share of the smartphone market is considerable.)
• Mathematics & Statistics: Describes a fraction or percentage. Example: Welchen Anteil machen die Frauen in der Gruppe aus? (What proportion of the group are women?)
• Distribution & Ownership: When something is divided (inheritance, costs, tasks). Example: Jeder trägt seinen Anteil zu den Kosten bei. (Everyone contributes their share to the costs.)
• Emotional Involvement: In the sense of sympathy or interest (Anteilnahme). Example: Ich nehme großen Anteil an deiner Freude. (I take great interest in / share in your joy.)

Comparison:

• Teil (das/der): More general than Anteil. Can be any piece, not necessarily an allocated or calculated part. Der Anteil often implies a relation to a whole or to other parts.
• Portion (die): Mostly refers to food or a defined quantity.
• Quote (die): Very similar to Anteil, often in statistical or regulatory contexts (e.g., Frauenquote - female quota).

🧠 Mnemonics for "der Anteil"

Article Mnemonic

Think of a man demanding his share: "DER Mann (the man) wants his Anteil!" The masculine pronoun helps remember the masculine article "der".

Meaning Mnemonic

Imagine someone wanting to be part of something: "I want to be in (sounds like 'an') on this part (Teil)!" -> An-Teil. Alternatively, picture an ant taking its teil (part/share) of the picnic food – its Anteil.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words

• Das Teil: A single piece, often technical (spare part). Article is 'das'.
• Die Teilnahme: Active participation in an event. Article is 'die'.

😄 A Little Joke

DE: Fragt der Lehrer: "Wenn dein Vater einen Kuchen in 8 Stücke schneidet und du bekommst einen Anteil von einem Viertel, wie viele Stücke sind das?" Schüler: "Kommt drauf an, wie groß der Anteil meines Bruders ist!"

EN: The teacher asks: "If your father cuts a cake into 8 pieces and you get a share (Anteil) of one quarter, how many pieces is that?" Student: "Depends on how big my brother's Anteil (share) is!"

✍️ Poem about the Anteil

DE: Ein Ganzes wird geteilt,
manchmal schnell, manchmal verweilt.
Der Anteil, groß, ob klein,
muss stets gerechtfertigt sein.
An Freude und an Leid,
nimmt man Anteil, gern, jederzeit.
So ist das Leben, bunt und breit,
ein jeder trägt seinen Anteil zur Zeit.

EN Translation: A whole is being divided,
sometimes quickly, sometimes it resided.
The share (Anteil), be it large or small,
must always be justified for all.
In joy and in sorrow's tide,
one takes interest (Anteil), gladly, far and wide.
Such is life, colourful and broad,
everyone carries their share (Anteil) on the road.

🤔 Little Riddle

DE: Ich bin ein Stück vom Kuchen, ein Platz in einer Reih'n.
Ich kann Besitz bedeuten oder Mitgefühl nur sein.
Man misst mich oft in Zahlen, an einem großen Ganzen.
Wer an etwas teilhat, der wird nach mir scharwanzen.

Was bin ich?

Lösung: der Anteil

EN Translation: I'm a piece of the cake, a place in a row.
I can mean possession or just sympathy's glow.
I'm often measured in numbers, against a large whole.
Whoever partakes in something, desires me, body and soul.

What am I?

Solution: der Anteil (the share/portion/interest)

➕ Additional Information

Word Formation

Der Anteil is a compound noun formed from:

• Preposition/Prefix an (on, at, to)
• Noun der Teil (part, piece)

Related Terms

• Anteilnahme (die): sympathy, interest in someone's fate.
• Anteilig (Adjective/Adverb): proportional, pro rata, according to the share.
• Anteilschein (der): share certificate.
• Gewinnanteil (der): share of the profit.
• Marktanteil (der): market share.