der
Bescheid
📜 What Exactly is a 'Bescheid'?
Der Bescheid (masculine) is a German noun with several meanings, often revolving around information or a decision:
- Official Notification/Decision: This is the most common meaning, especially in official contexts. A Bescheid here is an official document from an authority or institution communicating a decision (e.g., Steuerbescheid - tax assessment notice, Genehmigungsbescheid - approval notice).
- Information/Knowledge: In more general usage, Bescheid also simply means information or knowledge. This often appears in fixed phrases (see Usage section).
🚨 Important: Although it relates to information (often considered neutral or feminine in concept), the word is masculine: der Bescheid.
🧐 Grammar of 'der Bescheid'
The noun der Bescheid is masculine. Here are the declension tables:
Singular
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Bescheid | ein Bescheid |
| Genitive | des Bescheid(e)s | eines Bescheid(e)s |
| Dative | dem Bescheid(e) | einem Bescheid(e) |
| Accusative | den Bescheid | einen Bescheid |
Plural
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Bescheide | Bescheide |
| Genitive | der Bescheide | Bescheide |
| Dative | den Bescheiden | Bescheiden |
| Accusative | die Bescheide | Bescheide |
📝 Example Sentences
- Der Steuerbescheid kam gestern per Post. (The tax assessment notice arrived by mail yesterday.)
- Ich warte auf den Bescheid vom Amt. (I am waiting for the notification from the office.)
- Laut Bescheid des Gerichts müssen wir die Gebühr zahlen. (According to the court's decision, we have to pay the fee. - Note: 'laut dem Bescheid' is also common)
- Ich habe mehrere positive Bescheide erhalten. (I received several positive notifications/decisions.)
💡 When to Use 'Bescheid'
Besides its meaning as an official document, Bescheid is part of many important idiomatic expressions:
- Bescheid wissen: to know about something, to be informed.
- Example: „Weißt du schon wegen morgen Bescheid?“ (Do you know about tomorrow yet?)
- jemandem Bescheid geben/sagen: to let someone know, to inform someone.
- Example: „Gib mir bitte Bescheid, wenn du ankommst.“ (Please let me know when you arrive.)
- Bescheid bekommen/erhalten: to be notified, to receive information (often officially).
- Example: „Wir haben noch keinen Bescheid bekommen.“ (We haven't received notification yet.)
- jemandem Bescheid stoßen (older, regional): to give someone a quick heads-up.
Context: The official meaning (der Steuerbescheid) is used in administrative and legal contexts. The phrases (Bescheid wissen/geben) are very common in everyday language.
Comparison: Die Information is more general. Die Mitteilung (notice, message) can be official or unofficial but isn't necessarily a decision. Die Auskunft (information, reply) usually refers to an answer to a question. Der Bescheid as a document specifically refers to an (often legally binding) notification from an authority.
🧠 How to Remember 'der Bescheid'
Article Mnemonic (der): Think of der Brief (the letter) or der Zettel (the note) from an authority (der Beamte - the official). A Bescheid is often an official piece of paper – like an important letter. Since Brief is masculine, remember der Bescheid.
Meaning Mnemonic (Know/Info): When you 'wissen Bescheid', you 'know the score'. The word contains 'scheid', related to 'scheiden' (to separate, divide). A Bescheid separates uncertainty from certainty; it gives you the deciding information.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Words
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- For 'official notification': die Mitteilung (notification), die Benachrichtigung (notification), die Verfügung (decree, order), der Erlass (decree), die Entscheidung (decision), die Antwort (answer, from an office)
- For 'information/knowledge': die Auskunft (information, reply), die Information (information), die Nachricht (message, news)
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- For 'information/knowledge': die Ungewissheit (uncertainty), die Unklarheit (lack of clarity), das Nichtwissen (ignorance), die Frage (question)
- For 'official notification' (implicitly): die Anfrage (inquiry), der Antrag (application) (what precedes the Bescheid)
⚠️ Similar Words (Potential Confusion):
😄 A Little Joke
DE: Fragt der Chef seinen neuen Mitarbeiter: „Wissen Sie schon Bescheid über Ihre Aufgaben?“ Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: „Nein, aber ich bin schon ganz aufgeregt, was Sie mir alles zutrauen!“
EN: The boss asks his new employee: “Do you know the score regarding your tasks yet?” The employee replies: “No, but I'm already very excited about everything you trust me with!”
📜 A Poem about the Bescheid
DE:
Ein Umschlag kommt, offiziell und schlicht,
darin der Bescheid, mit ernstem Gesicht.
Er teilt dir mit, was entschieden ist nun,
ob Freude, ob Last, es gibt viel zu tun.
Drum wisse Bescheid, sei stets informiert,
damit das Leben dich nicht unvorbereitet führt.
EN:
An envelope arrives, official and plain,
Inside, der Bescheid, with a serious strain.
It tells you now what has been decreed,
Whether joy or burden, much action you need.
So 'know the Bescheid', stay informed and aware,
Lest life catches you unprepared, out there.
❓ Little Riddle
DE:
Ich komme oft vom Amt, manchmal per Post,
geb dir Auskunft, koste was es kost'.
Manchmal weiß man mich, manchmal gibt man mich weiter,
ich bringe Klarheit oder mach' das Leben heiter (oder auch nicht).
Was bin ich?
EN:
I often come from an office, sometimes by mail,
I give you information, without fail.
Sometimes you know me, sometimes you pass me on,
I bring clarity or make life fun (or maybe not).
What am I?
(Solution: der Bescheid)
🧩 Other Tidbits
Etymology: The word Bescheid derives from the Middle High German verb bescheiden, which originally meant 'to separate', 'to distinguish', 'to allocate', or 'to decide'. From this, the meaning 'to inform' or 'to notify someone of a decision' developed. The official notification (Bescheid) is thus a form of 'allocation' of information or a decision.
Compounds: There are many compound words, e.g., Steuerbescheid (tax assessment notice), Ablehnungsbescheid (rejection notice), Genehmigungsbescheid (approval notice), Gebührenbescheid (fee notice), Prüfungsbescheid (examination result notice).
Summary: is it der, die or das Bescheid?
The word "Bescheid" is masculine, so the correct article is der. It's der Bescheid (plural: die Bescheide) and usually refers to an official notification or to information in general (e.g., Bescheid wissen - to know / be informed).