die  Administration

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/administʁaˈt͡si̯oːn/

📜 What exactly does "die Administration" mean?

Die Administration is a feminine noun (Substantiv) and has several meanings, often related to organization, management, and leadership:

• Administration / Management: This is the most common meaning. It refers to the organization, leadership, and execution of tasks within a company, authority, or other institution. Example: Die Administration der Universität kümmert sich um die Einschreibung der Studenten. (The university's administration handles student enrollment.)
• Authority / Government: It can also refer to a specific government agency or the government of a country (especially in the Anglo-American context). Example: Die Biden-Administration hat neue Richtlinien erlassen. (The Biden administration has issued new guidelines.)
• Administering (rare in everyday use): In medical or technical contexts, it can mean the act of administering or applying something (e.g., medication, systems). Example: Die korrekte Administration des Impfstoffs ist wichtig. (The correct administration of the vaccine is important.)

⚠️ Attention: Although it's very similar to the English word "administration", the German word "Verwaltung" is often used more frequently, especially in everyday language for companies and public authorities.

🧐 Grammar of "die Administration" in Detail

"Administration" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.

Example Sentences

1. Die Administration des Unternehmens braucht dringend eine Reform. (The company's administration urgently needs reform.)
2. Die Aufgaben der Administration sind vielfältig. (The tasks of the administration are diverse.)
3. Ich arbeite in der Administration. (I work in administration.)
4. Er leitet die Administration. (He manages the administration.)
5. Verschiedene Administrationen haben unterschiedliche Schwerpunkte gesetzt. (Different administrations have set different priorities.)

💡 How to use "die Administration"?

• Context: The word is mainly used in more formal contexts, such as business, politics, IT (Systemadministration), or medicine (Verabreichung - administering).
• Comparison with "Verwaltung": In German, "Verwaltung" is often the more common and general word for organizing and managing tasks. "Administration" sounds a bit more formal or specific, sometimes slightly bureaucratic or related to IT/systems.
• International Contexts: It's used more frequently when talking about international organizations or the governments of other countries (especially the USA).
• IT Sector: In IT, "Administration" (e.g., Server-Administration, Netzwerk-Administration) is very common and often more specific than "Verwaltung".

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

• Remembering the Article: Many nouns ending in "-ion" in German are feminine. Think of: die Nation, die Station, die Aktion... and also die Administration. This is a very reliable rule! Associate the "-ion" ending with the feminine article "die".
• Remembering the Meaning: Imagine an administrator, maybe visualized as a woman (-> die!), handling lots of paperwork (Verwaltung - administration) in an office (Behörde - authority) or advising a minister (Regierung - government). She administrates everything meticulously.

↔️ Synonyms and Antonyms for Administration

Similar but potentially misleading words:

• Administrator (der): The male person who administrates (especially in IT).
• Administrativ (adjective): Relating to administration, e.g., administrative Aufgaben (administrative tasks).

😂 A Little Joke

Warum sind Beamte in der Administration so gut im Versteckspiel?
Why are civil servants in administration so good at hide-and-seek?

Weil man sie selbst dann nicht findet, wenn man weiß, wo sie sein müssten!
Because you can't find them even when you know where they're supposed to be! 😄 (A little joke about bureaucracy)

✍️ A Little Poem

Die Administration, oft grau,
(The administration, often grey,)
mit Regeln, streng und ganz genau.
(With rules, strict and very precise.)
Formulare, Akten, Stempel drauf,
(Forms, files, stamps on top,)
nimmt ihren bürokrat'schen Lauf.
(Takes its bureaucratic course.)
Doch ohne sie, man glaubt es kaum,
(But without it, you'd hardly believe,)
zerfiele jeder organisierte Raum.
(Every organized space would fall apart.)

❓ A Little Riddle

Ich habe Formulare und Aktenordner viel,
(I have many forms and folders,)
ob in Firma, Staat oder Medizin - das ist mein Spiel.
(Whether in company, state, or medicine - that's my game.)
Ich sorge für Ordnung, Struktur und Plan,
(I ensure order, structure, and plan,)
manchmal leite ich, manchmal bin ich Untertan.
(Sometimes I lead, sometimes I am subordinate.)
Ich ende auf "-ion" und bin feminin,
(I end in "-ion" and am feminine,)
wer bin ich, sag's geschwind?
(Who am I, tell me quickly?)

Solution: die Administration

🌐 Other Information about Administration

• Word Origin: The word comes from the Latin administratio, meaning "management," "administration," "service," or "assistance" (from administrare = to manage, direct, serve).
• Compound Words: There are several common compound words, especially in the technical field: Systemadministration (system administration), Netzwerkadministration (network administration), Datenbankadministration (database administration).