der  Stellenwert

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʃtɛlənˌvɛʁt/

🔍 What does "der Stellenwert" mean?

Der Stellenwert (masculine) refers to the relative importance, significance, status, or rank that a person, thing, idea, or concept holds within a specific system, hierarchy, or context. It's about how 'important' something is compared to other things.

Examples:

• Der Stellenwert der Familie in der Gesellschaft. (The significance of family in society.)
• Der Stellenwert einer Ziffer in einer Zahl. (The place value of a digit in a number, e.g., the '5' in '500' has a higher Stellenwert than the '5' in '50'.)
• Der Stellenwert der Bildung für die berufliche Zukunft. (The importance of education for one's professional future.)

It's an abstract noun often used to describe the priority or influence of something.

📚 Grammar Compass: Navigating 'der Stellenwert'

The noun "Stellenwert" is masculine. It is generally used only in the singular form as it describes an abstract concept. The plural ("die Stellenwerte") is rare and mostly refers to the mathematical meaning (place values of digits).

Declension Singular

Declension Plural (rare)

💡 Example Sentences

1. Der Stellenwert dieser Entdeckung kann nicht hoch genug eingeschätzt werden.
   (The significance of this discovery cannot be overestimated.)
2. Die Bedeutung des Stellenwertes von Umweltschutz nimmt zu.
   (The importance of the status of environmental protection is increasing.)
3. Wir müssen diesem Aspekt einen höheren Stellenwert beimessen.
   (We must attribute greater importance to this aspect. - Often used with verbs like 'beimessen' or 'geben'.)
4. Er erkannte den wahren Stellenwert ihrer Freundschaft erst spät.
   (He only recognized the true value of their friendship late.)

🎯 How to Use 'Stellenwert' Correctly

"Stellenwert" is used to describe the importance or rank of something, abstract or concrete, within a specific context.

• Typical Collocations: einen hohen/großen/geringen/besonderen Stellenwert haben (to have high/great/low/special significance), genießen (to enjoy), einnehmen (to occupy), besitzen (to possess); etwas einen Stellenwert beimessen (to attach importance to something), geben (to give), zuweisen (to assign).
• Context: Often found in discussions about priorities, values, social structures, economic importance, or mathematical concepts.
• Comparison with Synonyms:
  • Bedeutung (meaning, significance): Similar, but "Stellenwert" often emphasizes the position within a ranking or system.
  • Wichtigkeit (importance): Very similar, but "Stellenwert" can sound more formal.
  • Wert (value, worth): Can also refer to material value, whereas "Stellenwert" mostly implies ideal or relative value (except in the mathematical context).
  • Rang (rank): Refers more strongly to a fixed hierarchical position.

For example, one might talk about the "Stellenwert der Digitalisierung" (importance/role of digitalization) in the modern workplace or the "gesellschaftlichen Stellenwert" (social standing/importance) of certain professions.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'der Stellenwert'

For the Article (der): Think of a male representative (der Stellvertreter) holding a significant Wert (value) in a certain Stelle (position). Der representative at the Stelle has Wert -> Der Stellenwert.

For the Meaning (significance/rank): Imagine a scale (like weighing scales). On one side is an item, and on the other side are weights indicating its Wert (value) at a certain Stelle (position) on the indicator. The reading shows its Stellenwert (importance/value).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Caution: Words like "Position" or "Platz" (place) usually refer to a physical or concrete location/rank and are rarely direct synonyms for the abstract concept of "Stellenwert".

😄 A Little Joke

Der Lehrer fragt: "Fritzchen, welchen Stellenwert hat die Schule in deinem Leben?"
Fritzchen überlegt kurz und sagt: "Den gleichen wie das 'H' in 'Wahl' – sie ist da, aber irgendwie überflüssig!" 😉

Translation:
The teacher asks: "Fritzchen, what significance (Stellenwert) does school have in your life?"
Fritzchen thinks for a moment and says: "The same as the 'H' in 'Wahl' [election/choice] – it's there, but somehow redundant!" 😉 (Note: 'Wahl' is spelled correctly without an 'h', making the 'h' superfluous).

📜 Poem about Stellenwert

Im Leben, groß und klein,
hat alles seinen Schein,
doch fragt man nach dem Sinn,
liegt oft der Wert tief drin.

Der Stellenwert, mal hoch, mal tief,
je nachdem, wer zu ihm rief.
Für den einen Gold und Glanz,
für den andern nur ein Tanz.

Er misst die Wichtigkeit im Lauf,
nimmt Einfluss, nimmt's in Kauf.
Ein Wort, das ordnet und benennt,
was man als wichtig anerkennt.

Translation:
In life, both large and small,
everything has its appearance tall,
but if you ask about the sense,
the value often lies deep hence.

The significance, sometimes high, sometimes low,
depending on who called it so.
For one, it's gold and gleam,
for another, just a fleeting dream.

It measures importance on the way,
exerts influence, comes what may.
A word that orders and defines,
what one recognizes as important signs.

🧩 Riddle Time

Ich habe keinen festen Platz, doch zeige deinen Rang an.
Ich bin kein Geld, doch messe deinen Wert im Plan.
Man kann mich geben, haben oder auch verlieren,
in Gesellschaft, Zahl und Worten mich aufspüren.

Was bin ich?

Lösung: Der Stellenwert

Translation:
I have no fixed place, yet I indicate your rank.
I am not money, yet measure your worth in the plan sank.
You can give me, have me, or even let me go,
In society, numbers, and words, you can find me, you know.

What am I?

Solution: Stellenwert (significance, value, status)

💡 Other Interesting Facts

Word Composition:

The word "Stellenwert" is a compound noun, composed of:

• Stelle: Here refers to a position, place, or rank within a system or order.
• Wert: Refers to meaning, importance, or value.

Together, the meaning is: The value something has due to its place or position within a specific context.

Mathematical Context: In mathematics, "Stellenwert" has a very precise meaning related to number systems (e.g., the decimal system). The Stellenwert (place value) of a digit depends on its position within the number (units place, tens place, hundreds place, etc.).