die
Akte
📖 What does 'die Akte' mean?
Die Akte (plural: die Akten) refers to a collection of documents, papers, or records relating to a specific process, person, or topic. It serves the purpose of orderly storage and management of information, similar to a file, record, or dossier in English.
Typical contexts include:
- Office/Administration: A collection of documents about a project, client, or employee (e.g., Personalakte - personnel file).
- Law/Justice: All relevant documents pertaining to a case (e.g., Gerichtsakte - court file, Ermittlungsakte - investigation file).
- Medicine: Records of a patient's medical history (e.g., Krankenakte - medical record).
🚨 Caution: Don't confuse it with der Akt (masculine), which means 'act' (in a play) or 'nude' (in art).
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
📊 Grammar Deep Dive: Die Akte
The noun „Akte“ is feminine. Therefore, the correct article is „die“.
Singular Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Akte |
| Genitive | der | Akte |
| Dative | der | Akte |
| Accusative | die | Akte |
Plural Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Akten |
| Genitive | der | Akten |
| Dative | den | Akten |
| Accusative | die | Akten |
Example Sentences
- Die Sekretärin legte die Akte auf den Schreibtisch.
(The secretary placed the file on the desk.) - Der Anwalt beantragte Einsicht in die Akten.
(The lawyer requested access to the files/records.) - Bitte holen Sie die Personalakte von Frau Müller.
(Please get Ms. Müller's personnel file.) - Nach Abschluss des Falls wurde die Akte archiviert.
(After the case was closed, the file was archived.)
🗣️ When to use 'die Akte'?
The term „Akte“ is primarily used in formal and official language, especially in:
- Public authorities and administration: For documenting procedures and decisions.
- Judicial system: As the collection of all relevant documents in a legal case.
- Companies: For personnel, project, or client records.
- Medical facilities: For maintaining patient information.
Typical Phrases
- eine Akte anlegen: To create/start a file (begin collecting documents for a case).
- Akteneinsicht beantragen/gewähren: To request/grant access to the file(s).
- etwas zu den Akten legen: To file something officially; also figuratively: to consider a matter closed.
- in den Akten stöbern: (More colloquial) To browse/rummage through the files looking for information.
In the digital age, people often talk about the „digitale Akte“ or „e-Akte“, which replaces or supplements the physical paper file.
🧠 Memory Aids for 'die Akte'
-
Article Mnemonic (die):
Many German nouns ending in "-e" are feminine, including die Akte. Picture a woman (sie) organizing die Akte (the file).
-
Meaning Mnemonic (File/Record):
Think of the English word "act". Every important "act" or deed needs to be documented and goes into die Akte (the file). Many small documents (Akten = plural) make up die Akte.
🔄 Synonyms, Antonyms & Related Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Die Unterlage / die Unterlagen: Often synonymous, but „Unterlagen“ (plural) emphasizes individual documents more. (Document(s), paper(s))
- Das Dokument / die Dokumente: Refers to individual written pieces, not the whole collection. (Document(s))
- Das Dossier: Similar, often used for a targeted collection of information about a person or topic. (Dossier)
- Der Vorgang: Refers more to the process or case itself, which is documented in the Akte. (Case, process, transaction)
- Die Mappe: A folder for loose papers, can contain files (Akten). (Folder, portfolio)
- Die Datei (digital): The digital equivalent of a file or a document within it. (File (digital))
Antonyms (Opposites):
Direct antonyms are difficult. Possible conceptual opposites:
- Mündliche Absprache/Aussage: Verbal agreement/statement (as opposed to written record in an Akte).
- Ungeordnetes Material/Chaos: Disordered material/chaos (as opposed to the structured collection in an Akte).
- Vergessen/Nicht dokumentiert: Forgotten/undocumented (what's not in the Akte often doesn't officially exist).
⚠️ Potential for Confusion:
😄 A Little File Joke
Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: „Haben Sie schon die Akte von Herrn Müller bearbeitet?“
Antwortet der Neue: „Ja, Chef! Ich habe sie gelesen, gelacht und gelocht!“
Translation:
The boss asks the new employee: "Have you processed Mr. Müller's file yet?"
The newbie replies: "Yes, boss! I read it, laughed at it, and punched holes in it!" (A pun on "gelocht" (hole-punched) sounding similar to "gelacht" (laughed)).
📜 File Poem
Die Akte, schwer und grau,
liegt auf dem Tisch zur Schau.
Voller Zahlen, Brief und Norm,
hält sie das Leben in der Form.
Ein Blatt ums andre, dicht an dicht,
erzählt von Pflicht und von Gericht.
Man legt sie an, man schließt sie dann,
die Akte fängt den Vorgang an.
Translation:
The file, heavy and gray,
lies on the table on display.
Full of numbers, letter, and norm,
it holds life within its form.
One sheet after another, close and tight,
tells of duty and of court's might.
You start it, then you close it when done,
the file captures the process begun.
🕵️♀️ File Riddle
Ich habe viele Blätter, doch bin kein Baum.
Ich berichte von Taten, erfülle manchen Raum.
Mal bin ich digital, mal aus Papier,
Ordnung zu halten, das ist mein Pläsier.
Im Amt, Gericht, bei Krankheit, im Beruf – überall bin ich da.
Wer bin ich?
Lösung: die Akte
Translation:
I have many leaves, but am not a tree.
I report on deeds, fill many a space, you see.
Sometimes I'm digital, sometimes made of paper sheet,
Keeping order is my treat.
In offices, courts, in sickness, in careers – I am everywhere near.
Who am I?
Solution: the file (die Akte)
🧩 Additional Information
Word Origin (Etymology)
The word „Akte“ comes from the Latin word acta (plural of actum), meaning “deeds”, “proceedings”, “protocols”, or “public registers”. It is related to the Latin verb agere (“to act”, “to do”, “to negotiate”).
Compound Words
„Akte“ is part of many compound nouns (Komposita):
- Aktenordner: File binder/folder
- Aktenzeichen: Reference number/file number (used by authorities/courts)
- Akteneinsicht: Access to files/records inspection
- Aktenkoffer: Briefcase (specifically for documents)
- Aktennotiz: Memo for the file, file note
- Personalakte: Personnel file
- Krankenakte: Medical record
- Gerichtsakte: Court file
- Ermittlungsakte: Investigation file (prosecutor's or police file)
- Bauakte: Building file/construction record
Summary: is it der, die or das Akte?
The German word Akte is a feminine noun. Therefore, the correct article is always die Akte. It is used to describe a collection of documents related to a specific topic or case, often in bureaucratic, legal, or medical contexts, translating to file, record, or dossier.