die  Abweichung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʔapvaɪçʊŋ/

🎯 What exactly is an Abweichung?

Die Abweichung (feminine noun) describes a difference or discrepancy from an expected value, a norm, a standard, or a previous state. It signifies the deviation from an established rule, plan, or average.

• In statistics: the difference between an individual value and the mean (average).
• In everyday life: an irregularity, an exception to the rule, or a change in plans.
• In technology/science: the difference between a measured value and a target value (Sollwert).

It's always die Abweichung; there are no other articles for this word. ⚠️ Don't confuse it with similar words like der Unterschied (the difference) or die Differenz (the difference, often mathematical), which might be more specific depending on the context.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Spotlight: die Abweichung

The word "Abweichung" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die Messung zeigte eine leichte Abweichung vom Sollwert.
   (The measurement showed a slight deviation from the target value.)
2. Statistische Abweichungen sind in dieser Studie signifikant.
   (Statistical deviations are significant in this study.)
3. Jede Abweichung vom Plan muss genehmigt werden.
   (Every deviation from the plan must be approved.)
4. Seine Reaktion war eine deutliche Abweichung von seinem üblichen Verhalten.
   (His reaction was a clear deviation from his usual behavior.)

💡 How to use "Abweichung"?

"Abweichung" is often used in formal or technical contexts, but it's also common in everyday language.

• Science & Technology: Describing measurement inaccuracies, tolerances, or differences from a standard (e.g., Standardabweichung - standard deviation).
• Planning & Management: Denoting changes or non-fulfillment of plans, budgets, or goals.
• Social Sciences & Psychology: Describing behavior that deviates from social norms (abweichendes Verhalten - deviant behavior).
• General Use: Emphasizing a difference from something usual or expected.

Context is key: While Unterschied (difference) can be more neutral, Abweichung often implies an evaluation – either as an error, a problem, or simply a noteworthy difference from a norm or reference point.

🧠 Mnemonics for Abweichung

Article Mnemonic: Think of things that set rules or norms, which are often feminine in German: die Regel (the rule), die Norm (the norm). An Abweichung is something that deviates from these feminine concepts. Hence: die Abweichung.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine someone 'veering away' (ab-) from the correct path, 'yielding' (weichen) to a different direction. This 'veering away' is a deviation - an Abweichung.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Caution: While similar, the nuances matter. An Abweichung usually relates to a defined point (norm, target value, average) from which something deviates.

😂 A little Joke

Fragt der Mathematiklehrer: "Was ist die häufigste Abweichung in meiner Klasse?"
Schüler: "Die Abweichung vom Thema, Herr Lehrer!"

(Math teacher asks: "What is the most common deviation in my class?"
Student: "The deviation from the topic, Sir!")

📜 Poem about Abweichung

Die Norm, sie zieht die grade Bahn,
doch manchmal kommt es anders an.
Ein kleiner Schritt zur Seit', ganz sacht,
hat eine Abweichung vollbracht.

Im Plan, im Maß, im Lebenslauf,
nimmt sie manchmal ihren Lauf.
Mal Fehler nur, mal Chance rein,
so kann die Abweichung sein.

(The norm, it draws the straight path along,
but sometimes things just turn out wrong.
A little step aside, quite slight,
has brought a deviation to light.

In plan, in measure, in life's course,
it sometimes takes its own resource.
Sometimes just error, sometimes chance within,
that's how a deviation can begin.)

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin ein Maß für den Unterschied,
von dem, was sein soll, zu dem, was geschieht.
In Zahlen oft, doch auch im Sinn,
zeig' ich, wo Plan und Tat nicht eins mehr sind.

Was bin ich?

(I am a measure of the difference,
between what should be, and what happens hence.
Often in numbers, but also in mind,
I show where plan and deed are not aligned.

What am I?)

Solution: die Abweichung (the deviation)

🧩 Word Building & More

The word "Abweichung" is composed of:

• ab-: Prefix meaning 'away from', 'down from'.
• weichen: Verb meaning 'to move', 'to yield', 'to step back'.
• -ung: Suffix that forms feminine nouns from verbs, often indicating a process or its result.

Together, the meaning is: the result of 'moving away' or 'stepping back from something', i.e., the difference from a starting point or norm.

Trivia: The term Standardabweichung (standard deviation) is a key concept in statistics, describing the average dispersion of values around the mean.