die
Addition
🔢 What does "die Addition" mean?
Die Addition (noun, feminine) primarily refers to:
- Basic mathematical operation: The process of summing up numbers to find their total. Example: "Die Addition von 2 und 3 ergibt 5." (The addition of 2 and 3 results in 5.)
- The act of adding something (less common for the noun): The process of adding something to something else that already exists. Example: "Die Addition von Gewürzen verfeinert das Gericht." (The addition of spices refines the dish.) (However, the verb "addieren" (to add) or the noun "die Hinzufügung" (the addition/adding) are more commonly used here).
⚠️ Note: In a mathematical context, only die Addition is correct.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Numbers, calculations → almost always feminine.
Caution: When verbs are turned into nouns, the result is 'das Addieren', 'das Subtrahieren', 'das Multiplizieren', 'das Dividieren'.
📊 Grammar in Detail: Die Addition
The word "Addition" is a feminine noun. It ends in "-ion", which is typical for feminine nouns in German.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die | Addition | the addition |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der | Addition | of the addition |
| Dative (To whom/What?) | der | Addition | to/for the addition |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die | Addition | the addition |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Additionen | the additions |
| Genitive | der | Additionen | of the additions |
| Dative | den | Additionen | to/for the additions |
| Accusative | die | Additionen | the additions |
Example Sentences
- Die Addition ist eine der vier Grundrechenarten.
(Addition is one of the four basic arithmetic operations.) - Das Ergebnis der Addition von 5 und 7 ist 12.
(The result of the addition of 5 and 7 is 12.) - Wir widmen uns heute der Addition.
(Today, we are dedicating ourselves to addition.) - Er erklärte mir die Addition Schritt für Schritt.
(He explained addition to me step by step.) - Mehrere Additionen waren nötig, um die Gesamtsumme zu berechnen.
(Several additions were necessary to calculate the total sum.)
💡 How to use "die Addition"?
- Mathematics & School: This is the most common context, referring to calculations. "Im Mathematikunterricht lernen wir heute die Addition." (In math class today, we are learning addition.)
- Technology & Programming: The term is also used here for combining values. "Die Addition der Vektoren erfolgt komponentenweise." (The addition of the vectors is done component-wise.)
- General Language (less common): Sometimes used figuratively for adding elements, but words like "Hinzufügung" (addition), "Zusatz" (supplement), or the verb "addieren" (to add) are more frequent. "Die Addition eines weiteren Kapitels verbesserte das Buch." (The addition of another chapter improved the book.)
There is little risk of confusion, as the term is strongly associated with mathematics.
🧠 Mnemonics for Addition
Article Mnemonic
Nouns ending in -ion in German are almost always feminine (die). Think of English words borrowed into German like die Nation, die Information, die Situation... and also die Addition. Remember: ion makes it SHE-on (die).
Meaning Mnemonic
Addition sounds very much like the English word "addition" and relates to the verb addieren (to add). It's the act (+) of putting things together.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Summierung (die): The act of summing up (very similar).
- Zusammenzählung (die): Counting together, tallying up.
- Plusrechnung (die): Colloquial term for addition ('plus calculation').
- Hinzufügung (die): The act of adding something (more general, less mathematical).
Similar but Different Words
- Edition (die): edition (e.g., of a book). Sounds similar but has a completely different meaning.
- Additiv (das): An additive (substance added to something).
😂 A Little Joke
DE: Warum war das kleine Einmaleins traurig?
Weil es immer nur Probleme hatte, aber nie Lösungen durch Addition fand!
EN: Why was the little multiplication table sad?
Because it always had problems, but never found solutions through addition!
✍️ A Little Poem
DE:
Zahl um Zahl, ganz fein,
stellt sich zur Addition ein.
Eins plus eins, das macht zwei,
Plus drei hinzu, schnell herbei!
Das Ergebnis, klar und schlicht,
ist die Summe, welch Gedicht!
Die Addition, klug und rein,
lässt Zahlen größer sein.
EN Translation:
Number by number, so fine,
joins in for addition's line.
One plus one, that makes two,
Add three more, quickly, woohoo!
The result, clear and plain,
is the sum, a poetic gain!
Addition, clever and pure,
makes numbers grow, that's for sure.
🧩 Little Riddle
DE:
Ich füge Dinge gern hinzu,
ob Zahlen, eins, zwei, drei im Nu.
Mein Zeichen ist ein Kreuz so klar,
mein Gegenteil ist sonderbar,
es nimmt stets weg, was ich gebracht.
Wie heiß ich wohl, gib gut acht?
Lösung: Die Addition
EN Translation:
I like to add things, it's true,
Whether numbers, one, two, three, phew!
My sign is a cross, clear to see,
My opposite is strange, you agree,
It always takes away what I brought near.
What am I called, lend an ear?
Solution: Addition (die Addition)
Varia about Addition
- Etymology: The word comes from the Latin additio, meaning "the adding". It is related to the verb addere ("to add", composed of ad "to, towards" and dare "to give").
- Compound words: Sometimes a linking element (Fugen-s) is used in compound words, e.g., Additionssymbol (addition symbol), Additionssatz (addition theorem/sentence).
Summary: is it der, die or das Addition?
The German word "Addition" is feminine. The correct article is die: die Addition. It is mainly used in the mathematical context for the operation of summing numbers.