die  Belegung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/bəˈleːɡʊŋ/

📖 What does "die Belegung" mean?

Die Belegung is a feminine noun with several meanings, depending on the context:

• 🏨 Occupancy/Utilization of places: This often refers to the use of rooms (Hotelbelegung - hotel occupancy), beds (Bettenbelegung - hospital bed occupancy), seats (Platzbelegung - seat occupancy in a course), or halls (Hallenbelegung - hall occupancy). It describes the extent to which capacity is used. Example: Die Belegung des Hotels ist im Sommer sehr hoch. (The hotel's occupancy is very high in summer.)
• 🧑‍🏫 Assignment/Enrollment: In the context of education or organization, it means assigning people to courses, seminars, or resources. Example: Die Belegung der Deutschkurse ist abgeschlossen. (The enrollment for the German courses is closed.)
• 🔩 Technical Coating/Layer: In technical fields, it can mean a layer or coating on a surface. Example: Die Belegung der Linse verbessert die optischen Eigenschaften. (The coating on the lens improves the optical properties.)
• 💾 Data/Storage: In IT, it can describe the usage of storage space or resources. Example: Die Belegung der Festplatte ist kritisch. (The disk usage is critical.)

🚨 The word derives from the verb belegen (to cover something with something, to reserve/use a place, to prove something).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Belegung

Die Belegung is a feminine noun. The plural is die Belegungen.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die Belegung des Konferenzraums muss geplant werden.
   The occupancy/booking of the conference room must be planned. (Usage)
2. Wir prüfen die aktuelle Belegung der Intensivstation.
   We are checking the current occupancy of the intensive care unit. (Utilization)
3. Die Belegung des Wahlpflichtfachs war überraschend hoch.
   The enrollment in the elective course was surprisingly high. (Enrollment)
4. Die metallische Belegung schützt vor Korrosion.
   The metallic coating protects against corrosion. (Coating)

🤔 How to use "die Belegung"?

The usage of die Belegung heavily depends on the context:

• Tourism & Hospitality: Talking about the occupancy rate of hotels or holiday apartments (e.g., Belegungsplan - occupancy plan, Belegungskalender - occupancy calendar).
• Administration & Organization: Referring to the allocation of resources like rooms, course slots, or workstations.
• Medicine: Often used in relation to hospital bed occupancy (Bettenbelegung).
• Technology & Production: Describing coatings or the population of circuit boards.
• University & School: Relating to enrollment in courses or seminars (e.g., Kursbelegung).

Risk of confusion? Sometimes 'Belegung' is confused with 'Besetzung'. 'Besetzung' more often refers to roles (theatre, film) or positions (jobs), but can also be used militarily (occupation) or spatially (a seat is occupied - besetzt). 'Belegung' is often more specific to the planned use or allocation of capacities or the application of a layer.

A related word is der Beleg (receipt, proof).

💡 Mnemonics for "die Belegung"

For the article: Many German nouns ending in -ung are feminine (die). Think of: die Übung (the practice), die Meinung (the opinion), die Lösung (the solution)... and therefore die Belegung! It's a 'ruli-ung'! 😉 This -ung ending often corresponds to '-ing' or '-tion' / '-sion' in English nouns derived from verbs.

For the meaning: Imagine you have to belegen (occupy) a hotel room. You *lay* (legen) your *belongings* on the bed – that's your Belegung (occupancy) of the room. Or you have to belegen (enroll in) a course – you *lay* your name on the list. That's the Belegung (enrollment) for the course. Whenever something is 'covered' or 'taken' (a place, a surface), it results in a Belegung.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but different words:

• Der Beleg: Means receipt, proof, or voucher. (e.g., Kassenbeleg - cash receipt) Don't confuse them!

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Hotelgast an der Rezeption: "Ist die Präsidentensuite noch frei?"
Antwortet der Rezeptionist: "Nein, tut mir leid, die hat gerade eine feste Belegung – der Präsident macht dort seinen Mittagsschlaf!"

Translation:
A hotel guest asks at the reception: "Is the presidential suite available?"
The receptionist replies: "No, I'm sorry, it currently has a firm occupancy – the president is taking his nap there!"

📜 Poem about Belegung

Das Hotel ist voll, kein Zimmer leer,
die Belegung hoch, das freut sie sehr.
Auch Kurse sind gefragt, man glaubt es kaum,
für jeden Platz ein dichter Raum.
Selbst Schichten dünn auf Glas und Metall,
nennt Technik dies Belegung, überall.

Translation:
The hotel is full, no room is bare,
the occupancy high, they're glad it's there.
Courses too are sought, you wouldn't believe,
for every seat, a tight-packed weave.
Even thin layers on glass and metal bright,
Technology calls this coating, day and night.

🧩 Riddle

Ich zeige dir, ob ein Hotel noch Platz hat frei,
ob im Kurs noch Stühle sind für zwei oder drei.
Auch auf Spiegeln lieg ich, hauchdünn und klar,
oder zeig' im Krankenhaus, wie voll es war.

Wie heiße ich, wenn etwas genutzt oder zugewiesen ist?

Translation:
I show you if a hotel still has space free,
if in a course there are chairs for two or three.
I also lie on mirrors, wafer-thin and clear,
or show in the hospital how full it was, my dear.

What am I called, when something is used or assigned?

Solution: die Belegung

✨ Other Information

Word Origin

Die Belegung is the nominalization (forming a noun) of the verb belegen. The prefix be- often indicates acting upon something, and legen means to lay or place. Combined, it suggests the idea of placing something onto a surface (Beschichtung - coating) or 'covering' a place through presence or reservation (occupancy/assignment).

Usage in Statistics

The term "Belegung" or "Belegungsquote" (occupancy rate) is a key performance indicator in the tourism industry and healthcare sector to measure efficiency and demand.