der  Krisengipfel

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈkʁiːzŋˌɡɪpfl̩/

🧐 What exactly is a Krisengipfel?

A Krisengipfel (der, masculine) refers to a high-level meeting of decision-makers (like heads of government, ministers, or business leaders) specifically convened to deal with an acute crisis. The goal is to jointly find solutions and decide on measures.

It's a compound word:

• Krise (die): A difficult situation, time, or turning point (crisis).
• Gipfel (der): Here used figuratively as a meeting at the highest level (summit).

Since the base word der Gipfel is masculine, der Krisengipfel is also masculine. There are no other articles or meanings for this word. ⚠️ Don't confuse it with a normal Gipfeltreffen (summit meeting), which doesn't necessarily happen because of a crisis.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📐 Grammar in Detail: Der Krisengipfel

The word "Krisengipfel" is a masculine noun. Here is its declension:

Example Sentences 📝

• Der Krisengipfel zur Finanzkrise dauerte bis spät in die Nacht.
  (The crisis summit on the financial crisis lasted late into the night.)
• Die Ergebnisse des Krisengipfels wurden der Presse mitgeteilt.
  (The results of the crisis summit were announced to the press.)
• Man erhofft sich von dem Krisengipfel konkrete Lösungsansätze.
  (Concrete solutions are hoped for from the crisis summit.)
• Die Staatschefs beriefen einen Krisengipfel ein.
  (The heads of state convened a crisis summit.)
• Aufgrund der anhaltenden Probleme fanden mehrere Krisengipfel statt.
  (Due to the ongoing problems, several crisis summits took place.)

🗣️ How to use "Krisengipfel"?

The term Krisengipfel is mainly used in the context of politics, economics, and international relations. It implies a serious situation requiring urgent action at the highest level.

• Typical Use Cases: Reporting on political or economic crises (e.g., Euro crisis, energy crisis, international conflicts).
• Context: Often used in news reports, political discussions, and analyses.
• Distinction: A Gipfeltreffen (or just Gipfel, meaning summit meeting) can also take place regularly or address other topics (e.g., G7 summit, climate summit), whereas a Krisengipfel always has an acute cause (a crisis). A Krisentreffen (crisis meeting) is more general and doesn't necessarily have to be at the highest level.

Using the word signals the urgency and importance of the matter being discussed.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Article Mnemonic: Think of der Gipfel (the peak/summit). A *Krisengipfel* is like a high mountain of problems that the (mostly male) leaders have to climb. Der Gipfel determines the article: der Krisengipfel.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine the world is in Krise (crisis), and the most important people meet at the very top, on a Gipfel (summit), to sort things out. That's the Krisengipfel (crisis summit).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar, but not identical words:

• Gipfeltreffen: Summit meeting; a meeting at the highest level, but not necessarily crisis-related.
• Konferenz: Conference; a more general meeting, not necessarily high-level or crisis-related.

😄 A Little Joke

Frage: Was ist der Unterschied zwischen einem Krisengipfel und einer Kaffeepause?
(Question: What's the difference between a crisis summit and a coffee break?)

Antwort: Beim Krisengipfel sind die Probleme größer und der Kaffee stärker! ☕️
(Answer: At the crisis summit, the problems are bigger and the coffee is stronger!)

📜 Poem about the Krisengipfel

Wenn die Welt im Chaos versinkt,
(When the world sinks into chaos,)
Und jede Hoffnung schnell zerrinnt,
(And all hope quickly fades away,)
Dann ruft man sie zusammen schnell,
(Then they are called together quickly,)
Zur Lösung, dringend und sehr hell.
(For a solution, urgent and very bright.)
Der Krisengipfel soll es richten,
(The crisis summit is meant to fix it,)
Mit ernsten Mienen und Geschichten,
(With serious faces and stories,)
Von Kompromiss und hartem Ringen,
(Of compromise and hard struggle,)
Um bessere Zeiten zu erzwingen.
(To force better times.)

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich bin kein Berg, doch heiße Gipfel.
(I am not a mountain, yet I'm called a summit.)
Ich werde dringend, wenn's eng wird und kniffelig.
(I become urgent when things get tight and tricky.)
Wichtige Leute kommen zu mir herbei,
(Important people come to me,)
Um zu lösen eine große Problematik, eins, zwei, drei.
(To solve a major problem, one, two, three.)

What am I? (...ein Krisengipfel / a crisis summit)

💡 Other Information

Word Composition:

The word "Krisengipfel" is a compound noun (Kompositum), composed of:

• die Krise (noun): Crisis, emergency
• der Gipfel (noun): Peak, summit; here: meeting at the highest level

The linking element "-n-" (Fugen-n) connects the two parts.

Trivia: The term is used very frequently in the media, especially during times of political or economic instability. Its frequency in headlines can be seen as an indicator of the current perception of crisis in society.