die
Bescherung
🎁 What Exactly Does "Bescherung" Mean?
The German word die Bescherung primarily has two meanings:
-
The act of giving gifts: This usually refers to Christmas (Weihnachten) when gifts (Geschenke) are exchanged. This is the classic, positive meaning.
Example: The children are excitedly waiting for the Bescherung on Christmas Eve.
-
An unpleasant surprise or a mess: This meaning is often used ironically or sarcastically when something unexpected and usually negative has happened. It's like saying 'What a mess!' or 'Here's a fine state of affairs!'.
Example: The dog ate the cake? Well, da haben wir ja die Bescherung! (Well, now we have the mess!) 😩
⚠️ Pay attention to the context to understand the correct meaning!
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.
🧐 Grammar Focus: Die Bescherung
Die Bescherung is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
Declension (Singular)
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Bescherung |
| Genitive | der | Bescherung |
| Dative | der | Bescherung |
| Accusative | die | Bescherung |
The plural form ("die Bescherungen") is rarely used. If used, it usually refers to multiple gift-giving occasions or (even less commonly) multiple unpleasant surprises.
💡 Example Sentences
- (Gifts) Nach dem Lied beginnt endlich die Bescherung.
(After the song, the gift-giving finally begins.) - (Gifts) Die schönste Bescherung war für mich das Fahrrad.
(The best gift-giving moment/best gift for me was the bicycle.) - (Surprise/Mess) Als ich nach Hause kam, sah ich die Bescherung: Die ganze Wohnung stand unter Wasser!
(When I came home, I saw the mess: The whole apartment was flooded!) - (Surprise/Mess) "Da haben wir die Bescherung!", sagte Papa, als das Auto liegen blieb.
("Well, here's a fine mess!", Dad said when the car broke down.)
💬 How to Use "Bescherung"?
The use of die Bescherung heavily depends on the context:
- In a positive sense: Mainly in the context of Christmas and gift-giving. It often sounds traditional or somewhat festive.
- Example: "Wann ist denn endlich Bescherung?" (When is the gift-giving finally happening?) the children ask impatiently.
- In a negative, often ironic sense: When commenting on an unpleasant situation or an unexpected problem. The phrase "Da haben wir die Bescherung!" is very common here, expressing annoyance or resignation.
- Example: Du hast den Schlüssel verloren? Na, schöne Bescherung! (You lost the key? Well, that's a fine mess!)
Distinction: While Geschenk is a single gift, Bescherung (in the positive sense) refers to the act of giving gifts or the collection of gifts received on a specific occasion. In the negative sense, it's similar to words like Schlamassel (mess, shambles), Malheur (mishap), or Unheil (disaster), but often with an undertone of (unpleasant) surprise.
🧠 Mnemonics for Bescherung
Remembering the Article (die): Think of a female figure bringing gifts: *SHE* (feminine, like *die*) brings the presents for *die Bescherung*.
Remembering the Meanings: Think of the English word *sharing*:
You might be *sharing* gifts (the positive Bescherung).
Or you might be dealing with a *sheer* mess (the negative Bescherung).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- For gift-giving: Geschenkverteilung (distribution of gifts), Gabentisch (gift table/moment of gifting), Weihnachtsbescherung (Christmas gift-giving)
- For unpleasant surprise: Schlamassel (mess, shambles, coll.), Malheur (mishap), Unheil (disaster, bane), Katastrophe (catastrophe, fig.), böse Überraschung (nasty surprise), Sauerei (mess, pigsty, coll.)
Antonyms
- For gift-giving: (No direct antonym, perhaps 'receiving' instead of 'giving')
- For unpleasant surprise: Glücksfall (stroke of luck), Segen (blessing), angenehme Überraschung (pleasant surprise), Ordnung (order), Planmäßigkeit (regularity, predictability)
🚨 Misleading Words?
Sometimes learners might confuse it with Beschwerde (complaint), but the meaning is completely different. The similarity is only phonetic.
😂 A Little Joke
DE: Fragt Fritzchen seine Mutter: "Mama, gibt es dieses Jahr wieder eine schöne Bescherung?" Antwortet die Mutter: "Ich hoffe nicht, mein Kind. Dein Vater hat versprochen, dieses Jahr das Auto selbst zu reparieren..."
EN: Little Freddy asks his mother: "Mom, will there be a nice 'Bescherung' (gift-giving/mess) again this year?" The mother replies: "I hope not, my child. Your father promised to fix the car himself this year..."
📜 Poem about Bescherung
DE:
Die Kerzen leuchten, Glocken klingen,
die Kinder frohe Lieder singen.
Unter dem Baum, hell und klar,
wartet die Bescherung wunderbar.
Doch kippt der Baum – o weh, o Schreck!
Die Kugeln rollen, sind schnell weg.
Der Vater ruft: "Was ist geschehen?"
Da ist die andre Bescherung zu sehen!
EN Translation:
The candles glow, the bells do ring,
The children happy songs do sing.
Beneath the tree, so bright and clear,
The wonderful Bescherung (gift-giving) is here.
But the tree tips over – oh dear, oh fright!
The baubles roll right out of sight.
The father calls: "What happened now?"
The other Bescherung (mess) takes a bow!
🧩 Riddle Time
DE:
Ich komme oft zur Weihnachtszeit,
mit Freude, Glanz und Heimlichkeit.
Doch komme ich auch ungeladen,
und bringe Ärger oder Schaden.
Mal bin ich Segen, mal ein Graus,
mal im Paket, mal im ganzen Haus.
Was bin ich wohl, mal lieb, mal schwer?
Rate schnell, es ist nicht schwer!
Lösung: die Bescherung
EN Translation:
I often come at Christmas time,
With joy and glitter, quite sublime.
But I also come uninvited,
Bringing trouble or things blighted.
Sometimes a blessing, sometimes dread,
Sometimes in boxes, sometimes widespread.
What am I, now kind, now tough?
Guess quickly, it's not rough!
Answer: die Bescherung
✨ More Tidbits
Word Formation:
The word Bescherung is a noun formed from the verb bescheren. The verb means "to bestow something upon someone", "to give as a gift", or (in a negative sense) "to cause someone something unpleasant".
Examples of the verb:
- Der Weihnachtsmann beschert die Kinder. (Santa Claus gives gifts to the children.)
- Diese Entscheidung hat uns viele Probleme beschert. (This decision has brought us many problems.)
Etymology:
The word originates from the Middle High German word beschern, which meant "to allot" or "to decree". So, it has always carried this dual connotation of something being granted or assigned – whether good or bad.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Bescherung?
The word Bescherung is always feminine. The correct article is die. It means either the act of giving gifts (often at Christmas) or an unpleasant surprise/mess.