die
Aufklärungsquote
📊 What does 'die Aufklärungsquote' mean?
The German word die Aufklärungsquote is a term from crime statistics. It refers to the percentage of solved criminal offences in relation to the total number of offences registered by the police within a specific period and jurisdiction. This is often translated as the clearance rate or detection rate.
A crime is generally considered 'aufgeklärt' (cleared/solved) when at least one named suspect has been identified. A high 'Aufklärungsquote' is often seen as an indicator of successful police work, but it strongly depends on the type of offence (e.g., shoplifting often has higher rates than burglaries).
It's a compound noun: Aufklärung (clarification, solving) + connecting -s- + Quote (rate, quota).
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 in Detail: Die Aufklärungsquote
The word 'Aufklärungsquote' is a feminine noun. The article is 'die'. It is mostly used in the singular as it represents a statistical figure.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Aufklärungsquote |
| Genitive | der | Aufklärungsquote |
| Dative | der | Aufklärungsquote |
| Accusative | die | Aufklärungsquote |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Aufklärungsquoten |
| Genitive | der | Aufklärungsquoten |
| Dative | den | Aufklärungsquoten |
| Accusative | die | Aufklärungsquoten |
Example Sentences
- Die Aufklärungsquote bei Einbrüchen ist leider sehr niedrig.
(Unfortunately, the clearance rate for burglaries is very low.) - Die Polizei veröffentlicht jährlich die aktuelle Aufklärungsquote.
(The police publish the current clearance rate annually.) - Politiker diskutieren Maßnahmen zur Verbesserung der Aufklärungsquote.
(Politicians discuss measures to improve the clearance rate.) - Man vergleicht oft die Aufklärungsquoten verschiedener Bundesländer.
(People often compare the clearance rates of different federal states.)
💬 Usage and Context
The term Aufklärungsquote is primarily used in the following contexts:
- Crime Statistics: It's a central value in police crime statistics ('polizeiliche Kriminalstatistik', PKS).
- Media Reporting: Newspapers and news broadcasts regularly report on the development of the 'Aufklärungsquote'.
- Political Discussions: Politicians responsible for internal affairs often use the rate to debate security policy, police work, and legislative changes.
- Academic Research: Criminologists and social scientists analyze the 'Aufklärungsquote' and its influencing factors.
⚠️ Important: A high or low rate alone does not allow for a comprehensive assessment of police performance or the crime situation. It must always be considered in context (type of offences, public reporting behavior, etc.).
💡 Mnemonics for Aufklärungsquote
Article Mnemonic: Remember that 'Quote' (rate, quota) in German is feminine: 'die Quote'. Since 'Aufklärungsquote' ends in '-quote', it's also feminine: die Aufklärungsquote.
Meaning Mnemonic: Think of 'Aufklärung' as 'clearing up' a mystery or crime 🕵️♀️. The 'Quote' is the 'rate' or 'quota' of success. So, 'Aufklärungsquote' is the 'clearing-up rate' for crimes.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- Klärungsrate: (Clarification rate) Very similar, often used interchangeably.
- Erfolgsquote der Ermittlungen: (Success rate of investigations) Describes the meaning but is longer.
- Lösungsquote: (Solution rate) Less common, but understandable.
Contrasting Concept
- Dunkelziffer / Verdunkelungsziffer: (Dark figure / unreported crime rate) Refers to the proportion of crimes that are not reported to or recorded by the police. This is not a direct antonym of 'Aufklärungsquote' (which only relates to known crimes), but an important related concept that complements the overall picture of crime.
😂 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Polizeichef seinen neuen Statistiker: "Wie entwickeln sich unsere Aufklärungsquoten?" Antwortet der Statistiker: "Exzellent, Chef! Die Quote der aufgeklärten Statistikmanipulationen liegt bei fast 100%!"
English Translation: The police chief asks his new statistician: "How are our clearance rates developing?" The statistician replies: "Excellent, Chief! The clearance rate for solved statistics manipulations is almost 100%!"
📜 Poem about the Rate
German:
Die Akten stapeln sich, Tag für Tag,
manch Täter flieht, stellt keine Frag'.
Doch mancher Fall wird klar und licht,
ein Name steht dann im Bericht.
Die Zahl, die diesen Erfolg uns misst,
Aufklärungsquote man sie isst... äh, nennt,
ein Wert, der zeigt mit Prozent,
wie oft das Recht den Täter kennt.
English Translation:
The files pile up, day after day,
Some culprits flee, don't ask the way.
But some cases become clear and bright,
A name then stands in the report's light.
The number measuring this success we cite,
Clearance Rate it's called, day and night,
A value showing, in percent,
How often justice knows the villain's scent.
❓ Riddle
German:
Ich bin eine Zahl in Prozent,
die man aus Polizeiakten kennt.
Ich zeige, wie oft nach 'ner Tat,
man einen Verdächtigen hat.
Bin ich hoch, freut sich der Staat.
Was bin ich?
English Translation:
I am a number in percent,
Known from police files, heaven-sent.
I show how often after a crime,
A suspect is found, saving time.
If I am high, the state feels prime.
What am I?
Solution: die Aufklärungsquote (the clearance rate)
🧩 Word Components & Trivia
Word Composition:
- Aufklärung: Refers to clarification, solving, enlightenment – here specifically solving a crime.
- -s-: This is a connecting 's' ('Fugen-s'), common in German compound words.
- Quote: Means rate, quota, or percentage share.
Trivia: The interpretation of the 'Aufklärungsquote' is often a subject of public debate in Germany. Changes can reflect actual police successes or failures, but also shifts in public reporting behavior or statistical artifacts.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Aufklärungsquote?
The noun 'Aufklärungsquote' is feminine, so the correct article is die. It translates to the 'clearance rate' or 'detection rate' used in crime statistics.