die  Bedingung

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/bəˈdɪŋʊŋ/

📜 What does "die Bedingung" mean?

The German word die Bedingung (feminine) generally describes a prerequisite, a requirement, or a circumstance on which something else depends. It can relate to various contexts:

• Contractual or legal clause: A regulation or point in a contract or law. (e.g., Vertragsbedingungen - contract terms)
• Prerequisite / Requirement: Something that must be fulfilled for something else to happen. (e.g., Eine Bedingung für die Teilnahme ist... - A condition for participation is...)
• Condition or circumstance (often plural): The external situation or living conditions. (e.g., unter schwierigen Bedingungen arbeiten - to work under difficult conditions)
• Logical condition: In mathematics or logic, a statement of the form "If A, then B".

🚨 There is only one article for this noun: die. It is always feminine.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Bedingung

"Bedingung" is a feminine noun and therefore uses the article die. Here is its declension:

📝 Example Sentences

• Die wichtigste Bedingung für den Job ist Erfahrung.
  (The most important condition for the job is experience.)
• Er stimmte dem Vertrag nur unter einer Bedingung zu.
  (He agreed to the contract only under one condition.)
• Die Arbeitsbedingungen in dieser Firma sind ausgezeichnet.
  (The working conditions in this company are excellent.)
• Wir müssen alle Bedingungen erfüllen, um das Projekt starten zu können.
  (We have to meet all conditions to be able to start the project.)

💡 Using "Bedingung" in Context

Typical Uses

• Unter der Bedingung, dass...: (On the condition that...) A very common phrase to introduce a prerequisite. (Ich helfe dir unter der Bedingung, dass du pünktlich bist. - I'll help you on the condition that you are on time.)
• Bedingungen stellen/aufstellen: (To set/impose conditions) To state requirements. (Der Verkäufer stellte seine Bedingungen. - The seller stated his conditions.)
• Bedingungen erfüllen/akzeptieren: (To meet/accept conditions) To comply with or agree to requirements. (Der Käufer erfüllte alle Bedingungen. - The buyer met all conditions.)
• Allgemeine Geschäftsbedingungen (AGB): (General Terms and Conditions - T&Cs) Standardized contract clauses, often used in the plural.
• Rahmenbedingungen: (Framework conditions / General conditions) The general circumstances or context.
• Lebensbedingungen / Arbeitsbedingungen: (Living conditions / Working conditions) The circumstances under which someone lives or works.

Context

"Bedingung" is often used in formal, legal, business, or logical contexts. In the plural ("Bedingungen"), it more frequently refers to general circumstances or contract terms.

Comparison with Similar Words

• Voraussetzung: (Prerequisite, requirement) Very similar to Bedingung, often interchangeable when talking about requirements. However, "Bedingung" can also mean a clause or circumstance.
• Auflage: (Stipulation, obligation, condition imposed) A specific requirement or obligation, often imposed by an authority or as part of a permit. Stronger than a general Bedingung.
• Klausel: (Clause) A specific paragraph or section in a contract or law (a type of Bedingung).

🧠 Mnemonics & Memory Aids

Article Aid

Think of making a deal: A Queen (feminine, like die) often sets strict rules – these are her Bedingungen (conditions). Also, nouns ending in "-ung" in German are almost always feminine (die).

Meaning Aid

A Bedingung sounds a bit like "*be-doing-soon*" - you can *be doing* something *soon*, but only if the *condition* (Bedingung) is met!

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Bedingung

⚠️ Caution: Similar Sounding Words

• Bedienung (die): Service (in a restaurant), operation (of a device). Sounds similar but has a completely different meaning!

😂 A Little Joke

DE: Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Haben Sie irgendwelche Bedingungen für Ihre Anstellung?" Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: "Ja, ein Gehalt wäre nicht schlecht!"

EN: The boss asks the new employee: "Do you have any conditions for your employment?" The employee replies: "Yes, a salary wouldn't be bad!"

✍️ Poem about a Condition

DE:
Das Leben stellt, mal sanft, mal kühn,
Die Bedingung, um zu blühn.
Ein Wenn und Aber, hier und dort,
Ein ungeschrieb'nes, ernstes Wort.
Erfüllst du sie mit Mut und Kraft,
Ist oft ein schönes Ziel geschafft.
Doch manchmal scheint sie schwer und grau,
Die ew'ge Bedingung, ganz genau.

EN:
Life sets, sometimes gently, sometimes bold,
The condition, for stories to unfold.
An if and but, both here and there,
An unwritten word, a solemn prayer.
If you fulfill it, brave and strong,
A worthy goal won't take too long.
But sometimes it seems hard and grey,
The eternal condition, day by day.

❓ Riddle

DE:
Ich bin ein Muss, ein Wenn und Aber,
In Verträgen steh' ich manchmal mager,
Manchmal fett und sehr genau,
Ob Regen kommt, ob Himmel blau –
Von mir hängt oft das nächste Tun,
Ich lass' dich handeln oder ruh'n.
Man muss mich oft erfüllen,
Um seine Ziele zu enthüllen.

Was bin ich?

Lösung: die Bedingung

EN:
I am a must, an if and but,
In contracts, sometimes leanly cut,
Sometimes bold and specified,
If rain will fall or sun will ride –
On me depends what happens next,
I let you act or pause, perplexed.
You often must fulfill my plea,
To reach the goal you wish to see.

What am I?

Answer: die Bedingung (the condition)

ℹ️ Additional Information

Word Origin & Composition

The word "Bedingung" derives from the verb bedingen, which means "to require", "to necessitate", "to make dependent on". The suffix -ung is a common ending in German used to form nouns from verbs, and these nouns are almost always feminine (die).

Trivia

• The term "bedingte Wahrscheinlichkeit" (conditional probability) is a fundamental concept in stochastics (probability theory).
• "Bedingte Formatierung" (conditional formatting) is a feature in spreadsheet programs like Excel.