die
Bereitschaft
🤔 What does "die Bereitschaft" mean?
Die Bereitschaft is a feminine noun with several related meanings:
- Willingness / Readiness: The inner attitude of being prepared or agreeing to do or allow something. Example: Seine Bereitschaft zur Mitarbeit war groß. (His willingness to cooperate was great.)
- Preparedness / State of Readiness: The state of being prepared for a task, mission, or event. Example: Die Feuerwehr ist in ständiger Bereitschaft. (The fire brigade is constantly on standby/ready.)
- On-call duty / Standby service: A period during which someone (often professionally) must be available to act immediately if needed. Example: Der Arzt hat heute Nacht Bereitschaft. (The doctor is on call tonight.)
- Unit / Squad (less common): Sometimes the term is used for a group of people ready for a specific purpose (e.g., Polizei-Bereitschaft - police riot squad/unit).
⚠️ It's important to understand the context to grasp the precise meaning.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ft/ -schaft → almost always feminine.
All -schaft nouns are feminine, but not all -ft nouns are.
📚 Grammar in Detail: Die Bereitschaft
"Bereitschaft" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
Declension Feminine: die Bereitschaft
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Bereitschaft |
| Genitive | der | Bereitschaft |
| Dative | der | Bereitschaft |
| Accusative | die | Bereitschaft |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Bereitschaften |
| Genitive | der | Bereitschaften |
| Dative | den | Bereitschaften |
| Accusative | die | Bereitschaften |
Note: The plural "Bereitschaften" is mainly used when referring to organized groups/units (e.g., police, Red Cross) or recurring on-call duties.
Example Sentences
- Die Bereitschaft der Bevölkerung zu helfen war überwältigend.
(The willingness of the population to help was overwhelming.) - Nach dem Alarm war die Einheit sofort in voller Bereitschaft.
(After the alarm, the unit was immediately on full alert/readiness.) - Welcher Kollege hat diese Woche Bereitschaft?
(Which colleague is on call this week?) - Mehrere Bereitschaften der Polizei wurden zum Einsatzort gerufen.
(Several police units were called to the scene.)
💡 Usage and Context
Die Bereitschaft is used in various contexts:
- Psychological/Social: To express a person's inner attitude or will (e.g., Lernbereitschaft - willingness to learn, Kompromissbereitschaft - willingness to compromise).
- Professional/Organizational: Often refers to the state of being prepared or on-call duty (e.g., Einsatzbereitschaft - operational readiness, Rufbereitschaft - on-call duty where you can be reached by phone). Here, it often means the duty or the state, not just the willingness.
- Technical/Military: Describes the state of equipment, systems, or troops being ready for operation (e.g., Operationsbereitschaft - operational readiness).
Distinction from similar words:
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic: Think of words ending in "-schaft" in German, which are almost always feminine (die). Examples: die Freundschaft (friendship), die Mannschaft (team), die Landschaft (landscape). So, it's die Bereitschaft.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine someone shouting "I'm ready!". In German, that's "Ich bin bereit!". This person shows die Bereitschaft. Connect the English "ready" to the German "bereit" in "Bereitschaft" to remember it means readiness or willingness.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- For willingness: der Wille (will), die Willigkeit (willingness), die Geneigtheit (inclination)
- For readiness/preparedness: die Einsatzfähigkeit (operational readiness), die Verfügbarkeit (availability), das Bereitsein (being ready)
- For on-call duty: der Bereitschaftsdienst (on-call service), die Rufbereitschaft (on-call duty, reachable by phone)
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- To willingness: die Unlust (reluctance), der Unwille (unwillingness), die Weigerung (refusal), die Ablehnung (rejection)
- To readiness/preparedness: die Unvorbereitetheit (unpreparedness)
- To on-call duty: die Freizeit (free time), der Feierabend (end of the workday)
Similar but different words:
- Die Fähigkeit: (ability) Refers to competence, not necessarily willingness.
- Die Gelegenheit: (opportunity) A suitable situation, not the inner attitude.
😄 Humor Corner
Warum hat der Wecker immer Bereitschaft?
... Weil er jederzeit zum Aufwecken bereit sein muss!
(Why is the alarm clock always on call/ready?
... Because it must be ready to wake someone up at any time!)
📜 Poetry Time
Die Bereitschaft, sie zeigt sich klar,
Im Herzen, hell und wunderbar.
Zu helfen, lernen, dazusein,
Mal laut gerufen, mal ganz klein.
Ob Tag, ob Nacht, ob Sturm, ob Wind,
Wenn Pflicht ruft, schnell und geschwind.
Ein Dienst, ein Wille, stark und fest,
Der Gutes schafft, hält jeden Test.
(The readiness, it shows itself clear,
In the heart, bright and wonderful, dear.
To help, to learn, to just be there,
Sometimes called loudly, sometimes a soft prayer.
Be it day, be it night, storm or wind's blow,
When duty calls, swiftly they go.
A service, a will, strong and steady,
That creates good, and holds always ready.)
🧩 Riddle Fun
Ich habe keinen Körper, doch man kann mich zeigen.
Ich schlafe nie, muss oft im Dienst verweilen.
Man braucht mich sehr, wenn Not am Mann,
Ob Arzt, ob Wehr, ich packe an.
Was bin ich?
... Die Bereitschaft
(I have no body, yet I can be shown.
I never sleep, must often stay on duty alone.
You need me much when trouble's near,
Whether doctor or defense, I volunteer.
What am I?
... Die Bereitschaft (Readiness/Willingness/On-call duty))
✨ Other Information
Word Composition:
"Bereitschaft" is composed of the adjective "bereit" (ready) and the suffix "-schaft". The suffix "-schaft" forms feminine nouns and often expresses a state, quality, or community (cf. Freundschaft - friendship, Mannschaft - team, Landschaft - landscape).
Related Terms:
- bereitstellen: to provide, make available
- sich bereithalten: to hold oneself ready, be available
- Bereitschaftserklärung: a formal declaration of readiness/willingness
Summary: is it der, die or das Bereitschaft?
The word "Bereitschaft" is a feminine noun. The correct article is always die Bereitschaft.