die  Belohnung

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/bəˈloːnʊŋ/

🎁 What does "die Belohnung" mean?

Die Belohnung is a feminine noun that describes something positive received as recognition or compensation for an achievement, behavior, or effort. It's essentially the opposite of a punishment (die Strafe).

• It can be something tangible (e.g., money, a gift - das Geld, das Geschenk) or intangible (e.g., praise, recognition, a day off - das Lob, die Anerkennung, ein freier Tag).
• The focus is on the positive consequence of an action.

As only the article "die" was provided, there are no different meanings based on the article. Die Belohnung is always feminine.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar in Detail: Die Belohnung

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

Example Sentences

1. Nominative: Die Belohnung für die harte Arbeit war ein langer Urlaub.
   (The reward for the hard work was a long vacation.)
2. Genitive: Er freute sich trotz der geringen Höhe der Belohnung.
   (He was happy despite the small amount of the reward.)
3. Dative: Mit der Belohnung kaufte sie sich ein neues Fahrrad.
   (With the reward, she bought herself a new bicycle.)
4. Accusative: Er erhielt die Belohnung direkt nach Abschluss des Projekts.
   (He received the reward right after completing the project.)
5. Plural: Die Kinder bekamen kleine Belohnungen für ihre Hilfe im Garten.
   (The children received small rewards for their help in the garden.)

💡 How to Use "Belohnung"

"Belohnung" is used to describe the positive outcome of an action or effort.

• At work (im Beruf): A salary increase (eine Gehaltserhöhung) or a bonus (ein Bonus) can be a Belohnung for good performance.
• In parenting (in der Erziehung): Parents often give children a small Belohnung for good behavior or completed chores (e.g., sweets - Süßigkeiten, more playtime - mehr Spielzeit).
• In everyday life (im Alltag): Sometimes people treat themselves to a Belohnung after a stressful week (e.g., a nice meal - ein gutes Essen, a relaxing bath - ein entspannendes Bad).
• With animals (bei Tieren): In animal training, treats (Leckerlis) are used as a Belohnung for desired behavior.

Typical verbs: eine Belohnung erhalten (to receive), bekommen (to get), geben (to give), verdienen (to earn/deserve), versprechen (to promise); sich eine Belohnung gönnen (to treat oneself to a reward).

Distinction: While Lohn or Gehalt often refers to contractually agreed payment for work, a Belohnung can also be spontaneous or for non-work-related achievements and doesn't always have to be monetary. Anerkennung (recognition) is often intangible, whereas a Belohnung can be both.

🧠 Memory Aids for "Belohnung"

Remembering the Article (die)

Think: "She (-ung endings are feminine -> die) deserves a reward!" The '-ung' ending is a very strong indicator for feminine nouns (die) in German. Remember this rule!

Remembering the Meaning (Reward)

Imagine you feel you are owed (you 'loaned' something, like effort) and now you get something back -> the 'Be-lohn-ung'. The 'lohn' part sounds like 'loan' or is related to the German verb 'lohnen' (to be worthwhile, to pay). The 'Be-' prefix often indicates the process of doing something to someone/something, and '-ung' makes it a noun. So, it's the 'thing you get when something pays off'.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Words

⚠️ Caution: Not all synonyms are interchangeable in every context. A Belohnung can be emotional, while Vergütung is mostly financial.

😄 A Little Joke

DE: Fragt der Chef seinen Mitarbeiter: "Was würden Sie als Belohnung für Ihre Überstunden bevorzugen: eine Gehaltserhöhung oder eine Medaille?" Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: "Eine Gehaltserhöhung, Chef. Die Medaille kann ich mir dann ja selbst kaufen!"

EN: The boss asks his employee: "What would you prefer as a reward for your overtime: a pay rise or a medal?" The employee replies: "A pay rise, boss. I can buy the medal myself then!"

📜 Poetic Words

DE:
Für Mühe, Fleiß und gute Tat,
Steht oft am Ende parat,
Mal klein, mal groß, mal Lob, mal Geld,
Die Belohnung, die die Seele erhellt.

EN:
For effort, diligence, and good deed,
Often ready at the end, indeed,
Sometimes small, sometimes grand, praise or gold,
The reward, brightening the soul, we're told.

❓ A Little Riddle

DE:
Ich komme nach der Anstrengung,
bin Lohn für Müh' und Leistung.
Mal bin ich Geld, mal nur ein Wort,
verjage Kummer schnell hinfort.

Was bin ich? (Lösung: die Belohnung)

EN:
I come after exertion,
am pay for effort and action.
Sometimes I'm money, sometimes just a word,
I chase away sorrow, quickly spurred.

What am I? (Solution: the reward / die Belohnung)

🧩 Interesting Facts about "Belohnung"

Word Formation

The word "Belohnung" is composed of:

• The prefix "Be-": often used to form verbs from nouns or adjectives, or to intensify meaning.
• The verb stem "lohn-": from the verb "lohnen" (to be worthwhile, to pay wages).
• The suffix "-ung": forms feminine nouns from verbs, often expressing a process or its result.

Cultural Aspects

The concept of reward (Belohnung) plays a significant role in many cultures, whether in child-rearing (Kindererziehung), work life (Bonussysteme - bonus systems), or religious beliefs (reward in the afterlife - Belohnung im Jenseits).