die  Autorität

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˌaʊ̯toʁiˈtɛːt/

🧐 What does "die Autorität" mean?

The German word die Autorität has several meanings:

• Authority, power, influence, standing: The ability to command obedience or respect, or to make decisions, due to a superior position, special knowledge, or prestige. Example: Die Eltern haben Autorität über ihre Kinder. (Parents have authority over their children.)
• Expertise, competence: Recognized specialist knowledge in a particular field. Example: Sie ist eine Autorität auf dem Gebiet der Quantenphysik. (She is an authority/expert in the field of quantum physics.)
• An authority figure or institution: A person or group (e.g., a public agency) that possesses authority in the first sense. Example: Die zuständigen Autoritäten wurden informiert. (The relevant authorities were informed.)

It is a feminine noun and always uses the article "die".

Article rules for der, die, and das

The Grammar Workshop: Autorität in Detail ⚙️

"Autorität" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.

Declension of "die Autorität"

Feminine Noun

Example Sentences

1. Die Lehrerin besitzt eine natürliche Autorität.
   (The teacher possesses a natural authority.)
2. Er gilt als führende Autorität in der Herzchirurgie.
   (He is considered a leading authority/expert in heart surgery.)
3. Die örtlichen Autoritäten haben neue Regeln erlassen.
   (The local authorities have issued new rules.)
4. Man sollte die Autorität von Experten nicht leichtfertig in Frage stellen.
   (One should not question the authority of experts lightly.)

🗣️ Using "Autorität" in Daily Life

"Autorität" is used in various contexts to express power, influence, or expertise.

• In social/political contexts: Often refers to power structures, leaders, or institutions (e.g., staatliche Autorität - state authority, elterliche Autorität - parental authority).
• In knowledge contexts: Describes a person with recognized expertise (e.g., eine wissenschaftliche Autorität - a scientific authority/expert).

Typical Collocations:

• Autorität ausüben/haben: to exercise/have authority.
• Autorität anerkennen/respektieren: to recognize/respect authority.
• Autorität untergraben: to undermine authority.
• natürliche Autorität: natural authority (based on personality, not formal position).
• fachliche Autorität: professional/expert authority.

⚠️ Caution: Don't confuse die Autorität (noun) with the adjective autoritär, which means 'authoritarian' and describes a strict, undemocratic leadership style.

💡 Mnemonics for "Autorität"

Mnemonic for the Article (die):

Think of words ending in '-ty' in English, like 'authority' itself, or 'university', 'quality'. Many German nouns ending in the similar -tät sound are feminine (die). So it's die Autorität. Or imagine DIESE (this - feminine form) powerful woman has Autorität.

Mnemonic for the Meaning:

It sounds very similar to the English 'authority'. An author has authority over their story. Someone with Autorität calls the shots or is an expert.

🔄 Related and Opposing Words

🚨 Potential for Confusion:

The adjective autoritär means 'authoritarian' and often has negative connotations, describing a strict, commanding style. The noun die Autorität itself can be neutral (e.g., *fachliche Autorität* - expert authority).

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der kleine Sohn den Vater: "Papa, was ist Autorität?"
Vater: "Autorität, mein Sohn, ist wie bei Mama: Sie hat vielleicht nicht immer Recht, aber sie hat immer das letzte Wort!"

Translation:
The little son asks his father: "Dad, what is authority?"
Father: "Authority, my son, is like with Mom: She may not always be right, but she always has the last word!"

📜 Poem about Authority

Die Autorität, mal sanft, mal hart,
Baut auf Wissen, Rang und Art.
Mal Respekt, mal leise Furcht,
Sie lenkt den Weg, weist sicher durch.
Ob Chef im Amt, ob Meister schlau,
Man hört auf sie, das weiß man genau.

Translation:
Authority, sometimes gentle, sometimes hard,
Is built on knowledge, rank, and kind.
Sometimes respect, sometimes quiet fear,
It guides the way, shows clearly through.
Whether boss in office, or master clever,
One listens to it, that's known forever.

🕵️‍♀️ Little Riddle

Ich kann von Wissen oder Macht herrühren.
Manche folgen mir gern, andere müssen.
Ich kann eine Person sein oder ein Amt bekleiden,
Manchmal muss man sich vor mir bescheiden.

Wer oder was bin ich?

Translation:
I can stem from knowledge or from might.
Some follow me gladly, others must by right.
I can be a person or hold an office true,
Sometimes before me, you must be humble too.

Who or what am I?

(Answer: die Autorität / authority)

More Tidbits 🤓

Word Origin (Etymology):

The word "Autorität" comes from the Latin word auctoritas, meaning 'prestige', 'influence', 'power', 'guarantee', 'validity', or 'dignity'. It is closely related to auctor (originator, creator, promoter).

Related Words:

• autorisieren: to authorize, to empower someone, to permit something.
• autoritär: authoritarian, based on authority, often in the sense of strict, undemocratic.