die  Annahme

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈanˌnaːmə/

🤔 What does "die Annahme" mean?

The German word die Annahme has several meanings:

• Assumption / Hypothesis: A statement or thought that is not based on certain knowledge but is considered provisional or probable. Example: Seine Annahme war, dass der Zug pünktlich sein würde. (His assumption was that the train would be on time.)
• Acceptance / Reception: The act of accepting or receiving something. This can refer to goods, an offer, an application, a phone call, etc. Example: Die Annahme des Pakets wurde vom Nachbarn quittiert. (The acceptance of the parcel was signed for by the neighbor.)
• Approval / Endorsement: Agreeing to a proposal or plan. Example: Die Annahme des Gesetzesentwurfs erfolgte nach langer Debatte. (The approval of the draft law occurred after a long debate.)

🚨 Attention: The specific meaning often depends on the context.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Annahme

Die Annahme is a feminine noun. Its declension is as follows:

📝 Example Sentences

• Nominative: Die Annahme erwies sich als falsch. (The assumption proved to be false.)
• Genitive: Trotz der Annahme des Angebots war er unsicher. (Despite the acceptance of the offer, he was unsure.)
• Dative: Nach sorgfältiger Prüfung stimmten wir der Annahme zu. (After careful consideration, we agreed to the approval.)
• Accusative: Ich bestätige die Annahme Ihrer Unterlagen. (I confirm the reception of your documents.)
• Plural: Wir müssen unsere Annahmen überprüfen. (We need to check our assumptions.)

💡 How to use "die Annahme"?

The use of die Annahme strongly depends on the context:

• Science & Logic: Here, die Annahme often refers to a hypothesis or premise used as a starting point for further reasoning (e.g., unter der Annahme, dass... - assuming that...).
• Everyday Language: Often used as a synonym for Vermutung (supposition) or Unterstellung (insinuation). (e.g., Das ist nur eine Annahme von dir! - That's just an assumption on your part!)
• Business & Administration: Refers to the reception or acceptance of things like deliveries (Warenannahme - goods receipt), applications (Annahme des Antrags - acceptance of the application), calls (Annahme des Gesprächs - answering the call), or payments.
• Law: The acceptance (Annahme) of an offer is a crucial step in concluding a contract.

Comparison with similar words:

• Vermutung: Similar to Annahme (hypothesis), but often less formal and based more on intuition.
• Hypothese: A specific, testable assumption, mostly in a scientific context.
• Akzeptanz: Emphasizes agreement or tolerance more strongly.
• Entgegennahme: Focuses on the physical or formal act of receiving.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic: Many German nouns ending in -e that are derived from verbs (annehmen -> Annahme) are feminine (die). Think: Die nette Dame macht eine Annahme. (The nice lady makes an assumption.) Both Dame and Annahme end in -e and use 'die'.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you take (nehmen) a thought on (an) - that's an assumption (Annahme). Or you take (nehmen) a package on (an) - that's acceptance/reception (Annahme). The verb annehmen (to assume, to accept) is inside Annahme and helps connect both main meanings.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms for die Annahme

⚠️ Similar Words (Risk of Confusion):

• die Ausnahme: An exception (sounds similar, but completely different meaning).
• die Abnahme: Can mean decrease, but also inspection or purchase.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Mathematiker selten etwas persönlich?
Weil sie meistens von Annahmen ausgehen! 😉

(Why do mathematicians rarely take things personally?
Because they usually start from assumptions!)

✍️ Poem about Annahme

Manchmal ist's nur ein Gedanke,
eine leise, vage Schranke,
die Annahme, schnell gemacht,
selten gründlich durchdacht.

Doch auch das Paket, das schwere,
findet seine Heimkehre.
Die Annahme wird quittiert,
Realität, nicht nur fingiert.

Sometimes it's just a thought,
a quiet, vague constraint,
the assumption, quickly wrought,
rarely thoroughly thought out.

But also the package, heavy,
finds its way home steady.
The acceptance is receipted,
reality, not just conceited.

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich kann ein Gedanke sein, noch nicht gewiss und klein.
Ich kann auch das Empfangen sein, von Post und Päckchen fein.
Mal bin ich eine Hypothese kühn,
mal die Bestätigung, lässt Arbeit ruh'n.

Was bin ich?

(I can be a thought, not yet certain and small.
I can also be the receiving, of mail and parcels fine after all.
Sometimes I am a hypothesis bold,
Sometimes the confirmation, letting work unfold.

What am I?) Solution: die Annahme (the assumption / acceptance)

✨ Other Interesting Facts

Word Formation:

Die Annahme is a noun derived from the verb annehmen (to assume, to accept, to receive). The verb is composed of the prefix an- (indicating direction or initiation) and the verb nehmen (to take).

Related Terms:

• Annahmeschluss: Deadline for acceptance (e.g., for letters, applications).
• Annahmeverzug: A legal term (default of acceptance) when someone does not accept a service offered to them in time.
• Vorausannahme: A presupposition, an assumption made in advance.