die
Angabe
💡 What exactly is 'die Angabe'?
The German word die Angabe (feminine) is a versatile term referring to a piece of information, a statement, a detail, a specification, or a declaration. It typically denotes specific information that someone provides or that is recorded somewhere.
- Statement/Information: A communication or piece of information. Example: Die Angabe seiner Telefonnummer war freiwillig. (Providing his phone number was voluntary.)
- Detail/Specification: A precise description or specific characteristic. Example: Die technischen Angaben zum Gerät finden Sie im Handbuch. (You can find the technical specifications for the device in the manual.)
- Declaration/Statement (official): An official notification or determination. Example: Angaben zum Einkommen sind im Steuerformular erforderlich. (Information about income is required on the tax form.)
- (Plural) Bragging/Showing off (colloquial): Sometimes the plural "Angaben" is used colloquially for exaggerated self-portrayal. Example: Seine Angaben über seinen Reichtum klangen übertrieben. (His claims about his wealth sounded exaggerated.) ⚠️ This meaning is rather rare and informal.
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 of 'die Angabe' in Detail
The noun "Angabe" is feminine. The corresponding article is "die".
Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Angabe |
| Genitive | der | Angabe |
| Dative | der | Angabe |
| Accusative | die | Angabe |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Angaben |
| Genitive | der | Angaben |
| Dative | den | Angaben |
| Accusative | die | Angaben |
Example Sentences
- Bitte machen Sie genaue Angaben zu Ihrer Person.
(Please provide precise details about yourself.) - Die Angabe des Herstellers war irreführend.
(The manufacturer's statement/specification was misleading.) - Wir benötigen weitere Angaben, um den Antrag zu bearbeiten.
(We need further information/details to process the application.) - Nach Angabe des Zeugen war der Täter blond.
(According to the witness's statement, the perpetrator was blond.)
🗣️ How to use 'Angabe'?
"Angabe" is frequently used in the context of forms, reports, technical data, or whenever specific information is needed.
- Forms & Administration: Often requires "persönliche Angaben" (personal details like name, address, etc.) or "Angaben zur Sache" (details about the matter).
- Technical Contexts: "Technische Angaben" describe the specifications or features of a device or product.
- Sources & References: In academic papers or reports, one refers to "Quellenangaben" (source citations).
- General Information: It can also simply be a piece of information or statement, like "nach Angabe von Experten" (according to experts).
Distinction: While "Information" is often more general, "Angabe" usually refers to a more specific, often requested or expected, unit of information.
🧠 How to remember 'die Angabe'
Article Mnemonic: Think of die (the) Queen demanding Angaben (information) about her subjects. Many German nouns ending in '-e' are feminine ('die'), like Angabe.
Meaning Mnemonic: An Angabe sounds a bit like 'on-give'. You 'give on' or pass on information when you make an Angabe.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Words
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Aussage: Statement, often verbal.
- Information: General term for knowledge or data.
- Mitteilung: A notification or announcement.
- Detail: A specific item or particular.
- Spezifikation: A precise technical description.
- Erklärung: An explanation or declaration.
- Hinweis: A hint or note.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Verschweigen (das): The act of concealing information.
- Auslassung (die): An omission, the lack of an Angabe.
- Fehlinformation/Falschangabe (die): Misinformation or a false statement.
- Geheimnis (das): A secret, deliberately hidden information.
⚠️ Similar Sounding Words:
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Beamte den Antragsteller: "Machen Sie bitte genaue Angaben zu Ihrem Familienstand."
Antwortet der Mann: "Angespannt."
Translation:
The official asks the applicant: "Please provide precise details (Angaben) about your marital status (Familienstand)."
The man replies: "Strained/Tense (Angespannt)." (A pun, as Familienstand means marital status, but the man describes his family state as 'tense').
📜 Poem about Angaben
Die Angabe, klar und rein,
soll auf dem Formular wohl sein.
Ob groß, ob klein, ob alt, ob neu,
jede Info ist getreu.
Ohne sie geht manches schief,
drum schreib sie hin, ganz positiv!
Translation:
The statement, clear and pure,
Should surely be upon the form secure.
Whether big or small, or old or new,
Every piece of info is true.
Without it, things can go awry,
So write it down, positively!
❓ Riddle
Ich bin ein Stück Information, mal kurz, mal lang,
man braucht mich oft, das ist kein Zwang.
Auf Formularen bin ich Pflicht,
ohne mich gibt's oft kein Licht.
Mal bin ich Name, mal 'ne Zahl,
mich zu verschweigen wär' fatal.
Was bin ich?
(Lösung: die Angabe)
Translation:
I am a piece of information, sometimes short, sometimes long,
I'm often needed, it's not wrong.
On forms, I am required, you see,
Without me, there's often no clarity.
Sometimes a name, sometimes a number bright,
To conceal me would not be right.
What am I?
(Answer: die Angabe / the statement, detail, information)
🧩 Additional Info
Word Formation: "Angabe" is a noun derived from the verb "angeben". "Angeben" originally means "to provide/state/specify", but can also mean "to boast" or "to show off" (which explains the colloquial meaning of the plural "Angaben").
Common Collocations:
- persönliche Angaben (personal details)
- technische Angaben (technical specifications)
- falsche Angaben (false information/statements)
- genaue Angaben (precise details)
- freiwillige Angaben (voluntary information)
- Quellenangabe (source citation)
- Preisangabe (price indication)
Summary: is it der, die or das Angabe?
The noun "Angabe" is feminine. The correct article is die Angabe. The plural form is die Angaben.
