die
Bedürftigkeit
🤔 What does 'die Bedürftigkeit' mean?
Die Bedürftigkeit (noun, feminine) describes the state in which a person or group lacks the necessary means to live. It often refers to material hardship, poverty, or a lack of basic resources such as food, shelter, or clothing. It can also imply a lack of non-material things like affection or support, but it is primarily used in an economic or social context.
🚨 Important: It is an abstract noun that is mostly used in the singular form.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-keit → always feminine.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Bedürftigkeit
The word 'Bedürftigkeit' is a feminine noun. The article is 'die'. It is typically only used in the singular.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Bedürftigkeit |
| Genitive | der | Bedürftigkeit |
| Dative | der | Bedürftigkeit |
| Accusative | die | Bedürftigkeit |
A plural ('die Bedürftigkeiten') is very rare and hardly ever used.
Example Sentences
- Die Bedürftigkeit vieler Familien in der Region ist offensichtlich.
(The neediness of many families in the region is obvious.) - Der Staat versucht, die Bedürftigkeit durch Sozialleistungen zu lindern.
(The state tries to alleviate neediness through social benefits.) - In Zeiten großer Bedürftigkeit zeigt sich oft wahre Solidarität.
(In times of great neediness, true solidarity often shows.)
💡 Everyday Usage
'Die Bedürftigkeit' is mainly used in formal contexts, especially when discussing social issues, poverty, welfare, or humanitarian aid. You often find the word in news reports, political discussions, or social science texts.
- Context: Social situation, economy, politics, ethics.
- Distinction: While 'Armut' (poverty) is often understood purely economically, 'Bedürftigkeit' can also encompass a lack of other essential things (not just money), although the focus is usually material. 'Not' (hardship, distress) is often more acute and existential than 'Bedürftigkeit'.
- Typical combinations: große Bedürftigkeit (great neediness), finanzielle Bedürftigkeit (financial neediness), soziale Bedürftigkeit (social neediness), die Bedürftigkeit lindern/bekämpfen (to alleviate/fight neediness).
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in "-keit" are almost always feminine in German. Think of: die Heiterkeit (cheerfulness), die Fröhlichkeit (happiness), die Möglichkeit (possibility)... and therefore also die Bedürftigkeit.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine someone bedarf (needs/requires) urgent help because they are in great Not (hardship) – that's the state of Bedürftigkeit. The word 'bedarf' is already hidden inside!
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Armut: Poverty (lack of financial means).
- Not: Hardship, distress, need (urgent lack, often life-threatening).
- Mittellosigkeit: Pennilessness, destitution (state of having no financial means).
- Elend: Misery, wretchedness (great hardship and sorrow).
- Dürftigkeit: Scantiness, poverty (meagerness, lack; can also relate to quality).
Antonyms (opposites):
- Reichtum: Wealth, riches (large possession of material goods).
- Wohlstand: Prosperity, affluence (good economic condition).
- Überfluss: Abundance, plenty (having more than enough).
- Wohlhabenheit: Affluence, wealthiness (state of being rich).
- Sicherheit: Security (state of being secure, also financially).
⚠️ Caution: 'Bedürfnis' (das) is not the same as 'Bedürftigkeit'. A 'Bedürfnis' is a need or desire (e.g., das Bedürfnis nach Schlaf – the need for sleep), whereas 'Bedürftigkeit' is the state of lacking.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Millionär Angst vor der Bedürftigkeit?
Weil er fürchtet, sein Geld könnte plötzlich ein Bedürfnis nach Freiheit entwickeln und weglaufen! 😉
(Why is the millionaire afraid of neediness?
Because he's afraid his money might suddenly develop a need for freedom and run away!)
📜 A Short Poem
Die Kälte nagt, der Magen leer,
Die Bedürftigkeit, sie wiegt so schwer.
Ein Dach, ein Brot, ein warmes Wort,
Vertreibt die Not von diesem Ort.
Doch Hoffnung schimmert, fern und licht,
Ein bess'res Leben ist in Sicht.
(The cold gnaws, the stomach empty,
The neediness, it weighs so heavy.
A roof, some bread, a warming word,
Drives hardship from this place, unheard.
But hope still glimmers, distant light,
A better life is in sight.)
❓ A Little Riddle
Ich bin ein Zustand, keine Tat,
Oft folg' ich schlechtem Wirtschaftsdraht.
Ich zeige Mangel, groß und klein,
Will niemand gern mein Gast sein.
Mit '-keit' am Ende, feminin,
Was könnte ich wohl sein?
(I am a state, not an act,
Often follow a poor economic track.
I show lack, both big and small,
No one wants to host me at all.
With '-keit' at the end, feminine so keen,
What could I possibly mean?)
Solution: die Bedürftigkeit (neediness)
🧩 Other Information about Bedürftigkeit
Word Formation:
The word 'Bedürftigkeit' is derived from the adjective 'bedürftig' (needy), which in turn comes from the verb 'bedürfen' (to need, to require). The ending '-keit' is a suffix used to form abstract nouns from adjectives, indicating the state of being needy here.
- bedürfen (verb) → bedürftig (adjective) → Bedürftigkeit (noun)
Social Relevance:
The term is central to German social law, for example, when assessing eligibility for Sozialhilfe (social assistance) or Arbeitslosengeld II (unemployment benefit II, now Bürgergeld). The 'Bedürftigkeitsprüfung' (means test) determines whether someone is entitled to state support.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Bedürftigkeit?
The word 'Bedürftigkeit' is feminine. The correct article is die. It is used to describe a state of lack, need, or poverty and is mostly used in the singular.