die
Agentur
🏢 Meaning of "die Agentur"
Die Agentur (feminine) generally refers to a company or organization that provides services for others or acts as an intermediary. It can also mean a branch office or representation of a larger company.
- Main meaning: A service company acting on behalf of others (e.g., *eine Werbeagentur* - an advertising agency, *eine Reiseagentur* - a travel agency, *eine Modelagentur* - a model agency).
- Other meaning: An office or branch, often of a public authority (e.g., *die Agentur für Arbeit* - the Job Centre/Employment Agency) or a company.
⚠️ The word *Agentur* only takes the feminine article die. Confusion is unlikely.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ur/-ür → mostly feminine.
Caution: -eur nouns are usually masculine (e.g. der Ingenieur).
📝 Grammar Deep Dive: Die Agentur
The noun "Agentur" is feminine. The article is "die".
Declension "die Agentur" (The Agency)
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Agentur |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Agentur |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Agentur |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Agentur |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Agenturen |
| Genitive | der | Agenturen |
| Dative | den | Agenturen |
| Accusative | die | Agenturen |
Example Sentences
- Die Werbeagentur hat eine neue Kampagne entwickelt.
(The advertising agency developed a new campaign.) - Er arbeitet für eine internationale Modelagentur.
(He works for an international model agency.) - Ich muss morgen zur Agentur für Arbeit gehen.
(I have to go to the Job Centre tomorrow.) - Der Vertrag wurde von der Agentur vorbereitet.
(The contract was prepared by the agency.) - Wir suchen nach neuen Projekten für die Agenturen.
(We are looking for new projects for the agencies.)
💡 Using "Agentur" Correctly
"Agentur" is frequently used in business and administrative contexts. It describes places or organizations offering specialized services or acting as intermediaries.
- Typical Contexts:
- Advertising & Marketing: *Werbeagentur* (advertising agency), *Marketingagentur* (marketing agency), *PR-Agentur* (PR agency)
- Travel: *Reiseagentur* (travel agency), *Tourismusagentur* (tourism agency)
- Employment: *Agentur für Arbeit* (Job Centre/Employment Agency), *Personalagentur* (recruitment agency), *Zeitarbeitsagentur* (temporary employment agency)
- Media & Arts: *Nachrichtenagentur* (news agency), *Modelagentur* (model agency), *Künstleragentur* (artist agency)
- Real Estate: *Immobilienagentur* (real estate agency)
- Insurance: *Versicherungsagentur* (insurance agency)
- Comparison: An *Agentur* is often more specialized than a general *Büro* (office) or *Firma* (company). Compared to *die Zentrale* (headquarters) or *der Hauptsitz* (head office), an *Agentur* is often a branch or an external service provider.
🧠 Memory Aids for "Agentur"
For the article "die": Think of *die* Organization or *die* Institution – many German nouns ending in "-tion" are feminine (*die*), and an agency is a type of organization. Alternatively, imagine a secret agent who is female (*die* Agentin) working for *die* Agentur.
For the meaning: Picture a secret agent working for an organization (the *Agentur*) carrying out missions (providing services).
↔️ Words Around "Agentur"
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Die Vertretung: (Representation) Emphasizes the role as a representative.
- Das Büro: (Office) A more general term for a place of business, but can be an agency.
- Die Geschäftsstelle: (Branch office/Business premises) Similar to Agentur, often used for branches.
- Die Filiale: (Branch) A branch of a larger company.
- Der Vermittler / Die Vermittlung: (Mediator / Mediation, Agency) Emphasizes the intermediary function.
Similar but different words:
- Der Agent / Die Agentin: (The agent - male/female) The person working for an agency or representing someone.
😄 Chuckle Time
Warum hat die Werbeagentur den Auftrag für die Bäckerei verloren?
Weil ihre Ideen einfach nicht knusprig genug waren! 🥐
(Why did the advertising agency lose the contract for the bakery?
Because their ideas just weren't crispy enough!)
📜 A Little Poem
Die Agentur, ein emsiges Haus,
Bringt Ideen und Pläne heraus.
Vermittelt Kontakte, schließt manchen Pakt,
Hält die Geschäfte stets im Takt.
Ob Werbung, Reise oder Job,
Sie hilft dir weiter, tipptopp!
(The agency, a busy house,
Brings ideas and plans out.
Mediates contacts, seals many a pact,
Always keeps business on track.
Whether ads, travel, or job,
It helps you along, tip-top!)
🧩 Riddle Fun
Ich habe viele Schreibtische, aber kein eigenes Bett.
Ich vermittle Jobs, Reisen oder ein schickes Plakat im Netz.
Manchmal bin ich eine Zweigstelle, manchmal ganz mein eigener Herr.
Ich biete Dienste an, komm gerne her!
Was bin ich?
(I have many desks, but no bed of my own.
I arrange jobs, trips, or a fancy poster online, it's known.
Sometimes I'm a branch, sometimes my own entity.
I offer services, come visit me!
What am I?) Solution: Die Agentur (The agency)
🧐 More Info
- Etymology: The word "Agentur" comes from the Latin verb agere, meaning "to act", "to do", or "to conduct". An "Agent" is therefore someone who acts or is active, and the "Agentur" is the place or organization where action takes place.
- Compounds: "Agentur" is a common component of compound nouns (*Komposita*) to specify the type of service (e.g., *Werbeagentur* - advertising agency, *Reiseagentur* - travel agency, *Nachrichtenagentur* - news agency, *Modelagentur* - model agency, *Eventagentur* - event agency, *Digitalagentur* - digital agency, etc.).
Summary: is it der, die or das Agentur?
The word "Agentur" is always feminine. The correct article is die Agentur (plural: die Agenturen).