der
Befund
🧐 What exactly is a Befund?
Der Befund (noun, masculine) refers to the result or finding of an examination, observation, or test. It's a statement about a particular situation or condition, often based on objective data or criteria.
The term is used particularly often in the following contexts:
- Medicine: The result of a medical examination (e.g., X-ray, blood test, physical exam). This is called the medizinischer Befund or simply der Befund. *Example: "Der ärztliche Befund war eindeutig." (The medical finding was clear.)*
- Science & Research: The result of a scientific investigation or experiment. *Example: "Der archäologische Befund deutet auf eine frühe Besiedlung hin." (The archaeological finding suggests early settlement.)*
- Assessments & Reports: A finding within the scope of an expert assessment or report, e.g., by an expert witness. *Example: "Der Befund des Gutachters bestätigte den Schaden." (The expert's finding confirmed the damage.)
⚠️ A Befund is typically an objective finding, whereas a Diagnose (die Diagnose - the diagnosis) is an interpretation of the Befund* in a medical context.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-und → almost always masculine.
📝 Grammar in Detail: Der Befund
The word Befund is a masculine noun. The article is der.
Singular Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Befund |
| Genitive | des | Befundes / Befunds |
| Dative | dem | Befund / Befunde |
| Accusative | den | Befund |
Note: In the Genitive case, both forms (-es and -s) are possible, but "des Befundes" is more common. In the Dative, "dem Befund" is standard; "dem Befunde" is archaic.
Plural Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Befunde |
| Genitive | der | Befunde |
| Dative | den | Befunden |
| Accusative | die | Befunde |
Example Sentences
- Der Arzt überbrachte den Befund telefonisch. (The doctor delivered the finding by phone.)
- Aufgrund des eindeutigen Befundes konnte die Behandlung beginnen. (Due to the clear finding, treatment could begin.)
- Die verschiedenen Befunde wurden im Team besprochen. (The various findings were discussed in the team.)
- Wir warten noch auf die Ergebnisse der letzten Befunde. (We are still waiting for the results of the latest findings.)
💡 How to Use "Befund"?
Der Befund is mostly used in formal or technical language, especially when referring to objective findings.
- Typical Collocations: einen Befund erheben (to make/record a finding), einen Befund erstellen (to create a finding/report), *ein eindeutiger/unklarer Befund (a clear/unclear finding), ein positiver/negativer Befund* (a positive/negative finding, e.g., in tests), *der ärztliche/medizinische/histologische/archäologische Befund* (the medical/histological/archaeological finding).
- Context: Particularly common in *medicine, science, archaeology, forensics, and expert assessments*.
- Difference from Ergebnis (result): While das Ergebnis is a more general term for the outcome of something (e.g., result of a game, a calculation), der Befund is more specific, usually referring to the result of a targeted investigation or observation to determine a state or fact. A Befund is a type of Ergebnis, but not every Ergebnis is a Befund.
- Difference from Diagnose (diagnosis): In medicine, the Befund is the finding (e.g., shadow on the X-ray), while the Diagnose is the disease identified based on the finding (e.g., pneumonia).
Example: "Der Befund der Blutuntersuchung (viele weiße Blutkörperchen) führte zur Diagnose einer Infektion. Das Ergebnis war, dass der Patient Antibiotika nehmen musste." (The finding of the blood test (high white blood cell count) led to the diagnosis of an infection. The result/outcome was that the patient had to take antibiotics.)*
🧠 Mnemonics for "der Befund"
Article Mnemonic (der):
Imagine der Doctor 👨⚕️ presenting der Befund. 'Doctor' is masculine in German (der Arzt), so his Befund is also masculine (der). Or think: you have to fund (Befund) der research to get the finding.
*Meaning Mnemonic (finding/result):
A Befund is what has been fund* (found) during an investigation. It's the official 'find'.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Befund
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Die Feststellung: A neutral term for something that has been determined or established.
- Das Ergebnis: A more general term for a result or outcome.
- Die Diagnose: Specifically the identification of a disease in medicine (often based on a Befund).
- Der Untersuchungsbericht: The report documenting the investigation and its findings (Befunde).
- Das Resultat: Similar to Ergebnis, often used in scientific contexts.
- Die Erkenntnis: More about the insight or knowledge gained from a Befund.
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Die Vermutung: A guess or assumption without solid evidence.
- Die Hypothese: A scientific assumption that needs to be proven.
- Die Spekulation: An assumption based on uncertainty.
- Die Frage: The question that often precedes an investigation.
⚠️ Similar Words:
😄 A Little Joke
Patient: "Herr Doktor, wie ist mein Befund?"
Arzt: "Sagen wir mal so: Wenn Ihr Körper ein Auto wäre, würde ich Ihnen dringend raten, es zu verkaufen, solange es noch fährt!"
Patient: "Oh nein! Ist der Befund so schlecht?"
Arzt: "Nein, aber die Reparaturkosten wären enorm!"
Translation:
Patient: "Doctor, what's my finding/report?"
Doctor: "Let's put it this way: If your body were a car, I'd strongly advise you to sell it while it still runs!"
Patient: "Oh no! Is the finding that bad?"
Doctor: "No, but the repair costs would be huge!"
✍️ Poem about the Befund
Der Doktor schaut, mit ernster Miene,
auf Bilder, Zahlen, auf die Szene.
Was wird er finden, was ist wahr?
Dann kommt er raus, der Befund ist klar.
Ein Zettel nur, ein Blatt Papier,
doch trägt er Hoffnung oder schwere Zier.
Er ist das Urteil, schwarz auf weiß,
das Ergebnis einer langen Reis'.
Translation:
The doctor looks, with a serious face,
At pictures, numbers, at the space.
What will he find, what is true?
Then he comes out, the finding's new (clear).
Just a note, a sheet so white,
But carries hope or heavy plight.
It is the verdict, black and white,
The result of a long journey's light (travel).
🕵️♀️ Little Riddle
Ich bin das Ergebnis, schwarz auf weiß,
nach Untersuchung, Schweiß und Fleiß.
Ein Arzt braucht mich, ein Forscher hegt
mich als Beweis, der Wissen trägt.
Mal bin ich gut, mal leider schlecht,
doch immer bin ich festgestellt, ganz echt.
Was bin ich?
Lösung: Der Befund
Translation:
I am the result, in black and white,
After examination, sweat, and might.
A doctor needs me, a researcher holds
Me as proof, that knowledge unfolds.
Sometimes I'm good, sometimes sadly bad,
But always I'm determined, truly had (real/established).
What am I?
Solution: Der Befund (The finding/result)
ℹ️ More Information
Word Origin (Etymology):
The word Befund derives from the verb befinden, meaning "to find", "to ascertain", or *"to pass judgement on something found"*. It is closely related to the word finden (to find).
Compound Words:
There are numerous compound words with Befund, e.g.:
- Befunderhebung (recording of findings)
- Befundbericht (report of findings)
- Blutbefund (blood test finding/result)
- Röntgenbefund (X-ray finding/report)
- Operationsbefund (surgical finding/report)
- Erstbefund / Zweitbefund (initial finding / second finding)
- Negativbefund / Positivbefund (negative finding / positive finding)
- Normalbefund / pathologischer Befund (normal finding / pathological finding)
Summary: is it der, die or das Befund?
The German word Befund is masculine. The correct article is der. So you say: der Befund. The plural is die Befunde.