die
Berechnung
📊 What does "die Berechnung" mean?
Die Berechnung (noun, feminine) generally refers to the process of calculating or determining a result through mathematical operations or logical reasoning.
- Mathematical/Technical Context: Determining a numerical result. Example: die Berechnung der Flugbahn (the calculation of the trajectory).
- Financial/Economic Context: The calculation of costs, prices, or fees; sometimes also the bill or invoice itself. Example: die Berechnung der Mehrwertsteuer (the calculation of VAT), die Berechnung der Projektkosten (the calculation of project costs).
- Figurative/Negative Context: Acting out of self-interest or with cool deliberation, often with a negative connotation (being calculating - berechnend sein). Example: Sein Handeln war reine Berechnung (His actions were pure calculation/deliberate self-interest). ⚠️ *Here, 'Berechnung' refers to the motivation, not the mathematical act.*
The word is derived from the verb berechnen (to calculate).
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ung → always feminine.
There are many -ung words, we won't list them all. There are only a few exceptions.
Numbers, calculations → almost always feminine.
Caution: When verbs are turned into nouns, the result is 'das Addieren', 'das Subtrahieren', 'das Multiplizieren', 'das Dividieren'.
📝 Grammar in Detail: die Berechnung
"Berechnung" is a feminine noun. Like many German nouns ending in -ung, it takes the feminine article die.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die | Berechnung |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der | Berechnung |
| Dative (To whom?) | der | Berechnung |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die | Berechnung |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Berechnungen |
| Genitive | der | Berechnungen |
| Dative | den | Berechnungen |
| Accusative | die | Berechnungen |
💡 Example Sentences
- Die Berechnung der Ergebnisse dauerte länger als erwartet. (The calculation of the results took longer than expected. - Nominative Singular)
- Das Ergebnis der Berechnung war korrekt. (The result of the calculation was correct. - Genitive Singular)
- Ich stimme der Berechnung des Ingenieurs zu. (I agree with the engineer's calculation. - Dative Singular)
- Bitte überprüfen Sie die Berechnung noch einmal. (Please check the calculation again. - Accusative Singular)
- Die Berechnungen für das neue Gebäude sind komplex. (The calculations for the new building are complex. - Nominative Plural)
🔧 How to use "die Berechnung"?
- In everyday life: Often in the context of costs, prices, or simple math tasks. "Die Berechnung der Restaurantrechnung war einfach." (The calculation of the restaurant bill was easy.)
- At work: Very common in technical, scientific, and commercial professions. Static calculations (statische Berechnungen), cost calculations (Kostenberechnungen), salary calculations (Gehaltsberechnungen), etc. "Die Finanzabteilung ist für die Berechnung der Boni zuständig." (The finance department is responsible for calculating the bonuses.)
- In science/mathematics: Refers to complex mathematical processes. "Die Berechnung von Integralen erfordert Übung." (The calculation of integrals requires practice.)
- Figuratively (often negative): When someone acts very strategically and selfishly. "Ihre Freundlichkeit war reine Berechnung, um an Informationen zu kommen." (Her friendliness was pure calculation to get information.)
Distinction from "Rechnung": While Berechnung often emphasizes the process of determining something, Rechnung can mean both the process (das Rechnen - the act of calculating) and the result (e.g., the written invoice/bill). Berechnung is more specific to the act of calculating.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Remembering the Article "die"
Most German nouns ending in -ung are feminine. Think of other words like die Meinung (opinion), die Lösung (solution), die Hoffnung (hope). So, it's die Berechnung! ♀️
Remembering the Meaning
"Berechnung" comes from "rechnen" (to calculate). When you berechnest something, you perform a Berechnung. Imagine someone using a calculator (Taschenrechner) to solve a complex problem – that's the core of a Berechnung. ➕➖✖️➗
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Kalkulation: Very similar, often used in a commercial context (e.g., Preiskalkulation - price calculation).
- Ermittlung: Emphasizes finding a value, often through investigation or calculation (e.g., Bedarfsermittlung - needs assessment).
- Rechnung: Can be synonymous, but also means the invoice/bill.
- Kalkül (rarer): Often in the sense of strategic consideration or mathematical calculus.
- Auswertung (context-dependent): Evaluation/analysis, used when data is calculated and interpreted.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)
- Schätzung: An estimate, an approximate determination, not exact.
- Vermutung: A guess or assumption, not based on facts or calculation.
- Intuition: A gut feeling, not logical derivation.
- Spekulation: Speculation, an assumption based on uncertainty.
⚠️ Similar Words
- Rechnung: As mentioned, can also be the invoice/bill.
- Berechenbarkeit: The quality of being calculable or predictable.
😄 A Little Joke
Warum war der Mathematiker schlecht gelaunt?
(Why was the mathematician in a bad mood?)
Er hatte zu viele Probleme zu berechnen!
(He had too many problems to calculate!)
📜 Poem about Berechnung
Zahlen tanzen, groß und klein,
(Numbers dance, big and small,)
im Kopf, auf Papier, so soll es sein.
(in the head, on paper, as it should be.)
Addition, Subtraktion, geschwind,
(Addition, subtraction, quickly,)
die Berechnung stets ein Ergebnis find'.
(the calculation always finds a result.)
Ob Kosten, Zeit, ob Weg und Raum,
(Whether cost, time, or path and space,)
die Berechnung weckt den Zahlentraum.
(the calculation awakens the number dream.)
🧩 Little Riddle
Ich brauche Zahlen, groß und klein,
(I need numbers, big and small,)
um exakt und präzise zu sein.
(to be exact and precise.)
Ingenieure lieben mich sehr,
(Engineers love me dearly,)
Kaufleute brauchen mich noch mehr.
(Business people need me even more.)
Am Ende steht ein Resultat,
(In the end, there is a result,)
gefunden durch die Zahlensaat.
(found through the seed of numbers.)
Was bin ich? / What am I?
(... die Berechnung / the calculation)
ℹ️ More Information
Word Origin & Composition
The word "Berechnung" is a nominalization (making a noun) of the verb "berechnen" (to calculate). This verb is composed of the prefix "be-" (which often directs an action towards an object or intensifies it) and the verb "rechnen" (to count, to calculate). The suffix "-ung" forms the noun, denoting the process or result of the action.
Related Words & Compounds
- berechnen (verb): to calculate.
- berechenbar (adjective): calculable, predictable.
- unberechenbar (adjective): unpredictable.
- Kostenberechnung: cost calculation.
- Zinsberechnung: interest calculation.
- Neuberechnung: recalculation.
- Fehlberechnung: miscalculation.
Summary: is it der, die or das Berechnung?
The word "Berechnung" is always feminine. The correct article is die Berechnung.