die  Befristung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/bəˈfʁɪstʊŋ/

⏳ What exactly is a Befristung?

Die Befristung (noun, feminine) refers to the setting of an end date or a specific duration for something, especially for contracts or legal relationships. It means that something is limited in time and does not apply indefinitely.

You most commonly encounter the term in labor law (befristeter Arbeitsvertrag - fixed-term employment contract) or tenancy law (befristeter Mietvertrag - fixed-term rental agreement). So, a Befristung specifies when something ends, either by a concrete date or by achieving a specific purpose.

⚠️ A Befristung often needs to meet certain legal requirements to be valid (e.g., written form, existence of a material reason - Sachgrund).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of Befristung in Detail

The word 'Befristung' is a feminine noun. It is mainly used in the singular. The plural 'die Befristungen' is grammatically correct but less common, usually referring to multiple separate instances of limitation or several fixed-term agreements.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die Befristung des Arbeitsvertrages läuft Ende des Jahres aus.
   (The fixed term of the employment contract expires at the end of the year.)
2. Eine Befristung ohne Sachgrund ist nur unter bestimmten Voraussetzungen zulässig.
   (A fixed-term limitation without a material reason is only permissible under certain conditions.)
3. Wir müssen die Verlängerung der Befristung beantragen.
   (We need to apply for the extension of the fixed term.)
4. Nach Ablauf der Befristung endet das Mietverhältnis automatisch.
   (After the expiry of the fixed term, the tenancy ends automatically.)

💡 Everyday Usage

The term die Befristung is primarily used in formal and legal contexts:

• Arbeitsverträge (Employment Contracts): Here, Befristung is very common. One speaks of Sachgrundbefristung (fixed term with a material reason, e.g., substitution, project work) or sachgrundlose Befristung (fixed term without a material reason).
• Mietverträge (Rental Agreements): Less common than with employment contracts, but possible, e.g., for personal use (Zeitmietvertrag - fixed-term lease).
• Projektmanagement (Project Management): The duration of a project can be seen as a type of Befristung.
• Verwaltung (Administration): Permits or licenses can be issued with a Befristung.

In everyday language, one might rather speak of a 'Zeitvertrag' (temporary contract), an 'Enddatum' (end date), or a 'Frist' (deadline), but in official contexts, 'Befristung' is the precise term.

🧠 Mnemonics for Befristung

Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -ung in German are almost always feminine (die). Think of common examples like die Rechnung (the bill), die Wohnung (the apartment). So, it's die Befristung. The '-ung' ending signals 'die'.

Meaning Mnemonic: 'Befristung' contains the word 'Frist', which means deadline or term. Think of 'Be-Frist-ung' as applying a 'Frist' (a time limit) to something. Imagine a contract that is 'be-frozen' 🥶 in time until a certain date – that's the Befristung.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

⚠️ Potential Confusion:

• Frist: A 'Frist' is the deadline or period itself (e.g., Kündigungsfrist - notice period), whereas 'Befristung' is the act or state of limiting something in time.

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Ihre Probezeit ist ja fast um. Wissen Sie, was danach kommt?"
Mitarbeiter: "Ja, Chef. Die Befristung?"
Chef: "Nein, der Urlaub! Aber den gibt's nur ohne Befristung..." 😉

Translation:
The boss asks the new employee: "Your probationary period is almost over. Do you know what comes next?"
Employee: "Yes, boss. The fixed-term limitation (Befristung)?"
Boss: "No, the vacation! But you only get that without a fixed term..." 😉

📜 A Poem about Befristung

Die Zeit verrinnt, die Uhr, sie tickt,
Ein Vertrag, zeitlich geschickt.
Die Befristung, klar und rein,
Setzt dem Ganzen einen Schein
Von Endlichkeit, ein klares Ziel,
Nicht ewig währt das Arbeitsspiel.

Translation:
Time flows on, the clock, it ticks,
A contract, temporally fixed.
The time limit (Befristung), clear and pure,
Gives the whole thing an allure
Of finality, a clear goal set,
The work game isn't eternal yet.

❓ A Little Riddle

Ich habe kein Herz, doch setze ein Ende.
Ich bin im Vertrag, bringe die Zeitwende.
Manchmal mit Grund, manchmal auch ohne,
Ich sorge dafür, dass nichts ewig wohne.

Was bin ich?
(Lösung/Solution: die Befristung)

Translation:
I have no heart, yet I set an end.
I'm in the contract, a time-turn I send.
Sometimes with reason, sometimes without shown,
I ensure that nothing eternally is sown.

What am I?
(Answer: die Befristung / the fixed-term limitation)

🧩 Further Details

Word Composition:

The word 'Befristung' is derived from the verb 'befristen' (to limit in time). It is composed of:

• Prefix 'be-': Often used to form verbs from nouns or adjectives, here intensifying or goal-oriented.
• Stem 'Frist': Core meaning 'time period, deadline'.
• Suffix '-ung': Used to nominalize verbs, often indicating a process or state, and makes the noun feminine.

Legal Context:

In Germany, the fixed-term limitation of employment contracts is centrally regulated in the Teilzeit- und Befristungsgesetz (TzBfG) - Act on Part-Time Work and Fixed-Term Employment Contracts. This law specifies the conditions under which a Befristung is permissible.