die
Berühmtheit
🌟 What does "die Berühmtheit" mean?
The German word die Berühmtheit has two main meanings:
The state of being famous (Fame): This describes the abstract condition of being widely known and recognized. Example: Seine wissenschaftliche Entdeckung brachte ihm weltweite Berühmtheit ein. (His scientific discovery brought him worldwide fame.)
A famous person (Celebrity): This refers to a person who is famous. Example: Viele Berühmtheiten erschienen zur Filmpremiere. (Many celebrities appeared at the film premiere.) ⚠️ *Note: In the singular, it can sometimes be ambiguous whether the state or the person is meant, but the context usually clarifies this.*
Article rules for der, die, and das
-heit → always feminine.
📚 Grammar of "die Berühmtheit"
"Berühmtheit" is a feminine noun. It uses the article die.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Berühmtheit |
| Genitive | der | Berühmtheit |
| Dative | der | Berühmtheit |
| Accusative | die | Berühmtheit |
Declension Plural
The plural is only used for the meaning "famous person".
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Berühmtheiten |
| Genitive | der | Berühmtheiten |
| Dative | den | Berühmtheiten |
| Accusative | die | Berühmtheiten |
Example Sentences
- Nominative (State): Die Berühmtheit kann auch eine Last sein.
(Fame can also be a burden.) - Genitive (State): Trotz der Berühmtheit blieb er bescheiden.
(Despite the fame, he remained modest.) - Dative (Person): Ich begegnete der Berühmtheit zufällig im Supermarkt.
(I bumped into the celebrity by chance in the supermarket.) - Accusative (Person): Hast du die Berühmtheit erkannt?
(Did you recognize the celebrity?) - Nominative (Plural, Persons): Die Berühmtheiten gaben viele Autogramme.
(The celebrities gave many autographs.)
🗣️ How to use "die Berühmtheit"?
Usage depends on the meaning:
- As a state (Fame): Often used in the singular to describe the concept of being well-known. It's an abstract noun. Context: Talking about the price or consequences of fame. Example: "Er strebte nach Berühmtheit." (He strove for fame.)
- As a person (Celebrity): Can be used in singular and plural. Refers to individuals. Context: Talking about stars, famous personalities from film, music, sports, etc. Example: "Auf der Gala waren viele Berühmtheiten anwesend." (Many celebrities were present at the gala.)
Compared to der Ruhm (fame, glory), "die Berühmtheit" is often somewhat more neutral or can refer more specifically to fame generated by the media. "Der Star" (star) or "der/die Prominente" (prominent person, celebrity) are more direct synonyms for the person.
🧠 Mnemonics for "die Berühmtheit"
For the article: Words ending in -heit in German are almost always feminine (die). Think of: die Freiheit (freedom), die Schönheit (beauty), die Gesundheit (health)... and thus also die Berühmtheit. Imagine fame (Berühmtheit) as a demanding she-devil or a diva (a female celebrity)!
For the meaning: The core word is inside: berühmt means famous. The ending -heit turns it into a noun, similar to how '-ness' or the concept of 'fame' works in English. So it's either: the state (-heit) of being famous OR the person who is famous.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms:
- For the state (Fame): der Ruhm (fame, glory), die Bekanntheit (renown, notoriety), die Prominenz (prominence), das Ansehen (standing, reputation), die Popularität (popularity)
- For the person (Celebrity): der/die Prominente (celebrity, often shortened to Promi), der Star (star), die Persönlichkeit (personality), die Koryphäe (luminary, expert - field-specific), der VIP (VIP)
Antonyms:
- For the state: die Unbekanntheit (obscurity), die Anonymität (anonymity), die Bedeutungslosigkeit (insignificance), die Vergessenheit (oblivion)
- For the person: der/die Unbekannte (unknown person), der Niemand (nobody - colloquial)
Similar Words:
- Die Bekanntheit: Similar to Berühmtheit (state), but often less intense or less positively connoted. You can also be 'bekannt' for negative things (notorious).
- Das Ansehen: Refers more to respect and reputation, not just being known.
😂 A little Joke
Warum nehmen Berühmtheiten immer einen Stift mit ins Bett?
Damit sie ihre Träume aufzeichnen können! 😉
(Why do celebrities always take a pen to bed?
So they can draw/record ['aufzeichnen' means both] their dreams!)
📜 A short Poem
Die Berühmtheit, ein gleißend Licht,
manchmal Segen, manchmal Pflicht.
Gesichter kennt man, Namen ehrt,
doch bleibt das Innen oft verwehrt.
Ein Star am Himmel, fern und klar,
oder Mensch, ganz nah und wahr?
(Fame, a gleaming light,
sometimes blessing, sometimes plight.
Faces known, names revered,
but the inside often stays obscured.
A star in the sky, distant and clear,
or human, quite close and dear?)
🧩 Riddle
Ich habe kein eigenes Gesicht, doch jeder kennt mich im Rampenlicht.
Manchmal bin ich ein Zustand nur, manchmal eine bekannte Figur.
Im Plural treff' ich mich gern mit meinesgleichen,
um auf roten Teppichen Hände zu reichen.
Was bin ich?
(I have no face of my own, yet everyone knows me in the limelight.
Sometimes I'm just a state, sometimes a well-known figure.
In plural, I like to meet with my own kind,
to shake hands on red carpets.)
(Solution: die Berühmtheit / eine Berühmtheit / die Berühmtheiten - fame / a celebrity / celebrities)
🧐 More Interesting Info
Word Composition:
The word "Berühmtheit" is composed of:
- The adjective berühmt (famous, renowned).
- The suffix -heit, which forms abstract feminine nouns from adjectives (e.g., Freiheit from frei, Krankheit from krank, Schönheit from schön).
This structure helps understand why it's "die" Berühmtheit and that one of the main meanings is the abstract state of being famous.
Summary: is it der, die or das Berühmtheit?
The noun Berühmtheit is feminine. The correct article is die Berühmtheit.