die
Anhebung
📈 What does "die Anhebung" mean?
The German word die Anhebung, which is feminine (hence 'die'), primarily has two meanings:
- Increase or Raise: This is the most common meaning. It refers to the increase of values, prices, salaries, taxes, levels, etc. For example: Eine Anhebung der Mehrwertsteuer (An increase in VAT).
- The physical act of lifting: Used less frequently, it can also mean the act of lifting or raising an object. For example: Die vorsichtige Anhebung des verletzten Armes (The careful lifting of the injured arm).
🚨 Caution: In everyday language, the verb "anheben" (to lift) or the noun "das Heben" (the lifting) is often preferred for physical lifting. "Die Anhebung" is mostly used in the context of numbers, values, and abstract concepts.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ung → always feminine.
There are many -ung words, we won't list them all. There are only a few exceptions.
🧐 Grammar of "Anhebung": Declension in Detail
"Anhebung" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
Singular Declension
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die Anhebung | eine Anhebung (an increase) |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der Anhebung | einer Anhebung (of an increase) |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der Anhebung | einer Anhebung (to/for an increase) |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die Anhebung | eine Anhebung (an increase) |
Plural Declension
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Anhebungen (the increases) | Anhebungen / - (increases) |
| Genitive | der Anhebungen (of the increases) | Anhebungen / - (of increases) |
| Dative | den Anhebungen (to/for the increases) | Anhebungen / - (to/for increases) |
| Accusative | die Anhebungen (the increases) | Anhebungen / - (increases) |
📝 Example Sentences
- Die Regierung beschloss eine Anhebung der Steuern. (The government decided on a tax increase.)
- Die Gewerkschaft fordert eine deutliche Anhebung der Löhne. (The union demands a significant wage increase.)
- Nach mehreren Anhebungen erreichte der Zinssatz ein neues Hoch. (After several increases, the interest rate reached a new high.)
- Die Anhebung des Mindestlohns wird diskutiert. (The increase of the minimum wage is being discussed.)
💡 How to use "die Anhebung"?
"Die Anhebung" is primarily used in formal language, especially in the fields of:
- Economy and Finance: Preisanhebung (price increase), Zinsanhebung (interest rate hike), Gehaltsanhebung (salary raise)
- Politics and Administration: Steueranhebung (tax increase), Beitragsanhebung (contribution increase), Rentenanhebung (pension increase)
- Technology (less common): Anhebung einer Last (lifting of a load - but here "Heben" or "Hochheben" are more common)
It describes a process or the result of an increase. Compared to synonyms like "Erhöhung" or "Steigerung", "Anhebung" often sounds a bit more official or bureaucratic.
Example context: In news reports about economic decisions or political measures, "die Anhebung" is a frequently encountered word.
🧠 Mnemonics for Anhebung
For the article "die": Think of other feminine German nouns ending in "-ung" like die Erhöhung (the increase) or die Verwaltung (the administration). Many nouns ending in "-ung" are feminine, including "Anhebung". Die Verwaltung often decides on die Anhebung.
For the meaning "increase": Imagine numbers on paper or prices on a sign being physically lifted ("angehoben") upwards with a pen. Things are going up! 📈
🔄 Similar and Opposite Words
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Erhöhung: Very common synonym, often interchangeable.
- Steigerung: Often emphasizes the process of increasing.
- Aufschlag: Mostly for prices or fees (surcharge).
- Zunahme: General term for becoming more.
- Hebung: Can mean both increase and physical lifting.
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Senkung: The direct opposite, making something lower (reduction, decrease).
- Reduzierung / Reduktion: Reduction in quantity or value.
- Absenkung: Similar to Senkung, often for levels or prices (lowering).
- Kürzung: Targeted reduction, often for budgets or benefits (cut).
- Abnahme: General term for becoming less (decrease).
⚠️ Similar sounding / Risk of confusion:
😄 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Bäcker die Preise angehoben?
(Why did the baker raise the prices?)
Weil er mehr Knete brauchte!
(Because he needed more dough! - "Knete" means dough, but also slang for money) 💰🍞
📜 Poem about Anhebung
Die Preise steigen, welch ein Graus,
die Anhebung geht durchs ganze Haus.
Das Gehalt, so hofft man sehr,
erfährt bald eine Anhebung mehr.
Doch meistens, bleibt's beim alten Stand,
die Anhebung zerrinnt im Sand.
(The prices rise, oh what a dread,
the increase spreads overhead.
The salary, one hopes so much,
will soon receive an increase touch.
But mostly, things stay as before,
the increase vanishes evermore.)
❓ Riddle Time
Ich mache Löhne manchmal größer,
auch Preise leider, welch Getöse!
Im Amt werd' ich oft gern beschlossen,
von Bürgern manchmal sehr verdrossen.
Was bin ich?
(I sometimes make wages bigger,
also prices, sadly, what a trigger!
In office, I'm often gladly decided,
by citizens sometimes much derided.
What am I?)
(Solution: die Anhebung / the increase)
🧩 Further Details
Word Composition:
"Anhebung" is a noun derived from the verb "anheben" (to lift, to raise). It consists of:
- Prefix "an-"
- Stem of the verb "heben" (to lift)
- Suffix "-ung", which forms many feminine nouns and often denotes a process or result.
So: an + heb + ung.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Anhebung?
The word "Anhebung" is always feminine. The correct article is die Anhebung. It mostly means an increase or raise (e.g., of prices, salaries) and less commonly the physical act of lifting.