die
Bestellung
🛍️ What exactly is a 'Bestellung'?
The German word die Bestellung (feminine) has several meanings, mostly related to a request or an instruction:
- Order for purchase or delivery: This is the most common meaning. You place (aufgeben) a Bestellung to receive goods or services (e.g., in an online shop, at a restaurant).
- Booking/Reservation: You can also make a Bestellung for a table in a restaurant or a hotel room, which is equivalent to a reservation (Reservierung).
- (Agriculture) Cultivation of a field: The act of tilling and planting farmland. This meaning is more specific and less common in everyday language.
- (Archaic/formal) Message or regards: You can "eine Bestellung ausrichten", meaning to convey greetings or a message. Example: "Ich soll Ihnen schöne Grüße von Herrn Müller bestellen." (I am supposed to give you regards from Mr. Müller.)
⚠️ Pay attention to the context to understand the correct meaning. However, it usually refers to a purchase order or a reservation.
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 in Detail: Die Bestellung
The noun "die Bestellung" is feminine. Here are the declension tables:
Singular
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die Bestellung | eine Bestellung |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der Bestellung | einer Bestellung |
| Dative (To/for whom?) | der Bestellung | einer Bestellung |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die Bestellung | eine Bestellung |
Plural
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Bestellungen | Bestellungen / keine Bestellungen |
| Genitive | der Bestellungen | Bestellungen / keiner Bestellungen |
| Dative | den Bestellungen | Bestellungen / keinen Bestellungen |
| Accusative | die Bestellungen | Bestellungen / keine Bestellungen |
💡 Example Sentences
- Ich habe gestern eine Bestellung online aufgegeben. (I placed an order online yesterday. - Accusative, Singular)
- Der Status meiner Bestellung ist noch offen. (The status of my order is still open. - Genitive, Singular)
- Können Sie mir bitte bei der Bestellung helfen? (Could you please help me with the order? - Dative, Singular)
- Wir haben heute viele Bestellungen erhalten. (We received many orders today. - Accusative, Plural)
- Die Bearbeitung der Bestellungen dauert etwas. (Processing the orders takes some time. - Genitive, Plural)
🛒 How to Use 'die Bestellung'?
"Die Bestellung" is an everyday word, especially in the context of commerce and services.
- Online Shopping: "Ich verfolge meine Bestellung per Tracking-Nummer." (I'm tracking my order via the tracking number.)
- In a Restaurant: "Der Kellner nimmt die Bestellung auf." (The waiter takes the order.) or "Haben Sie schon eine Bestellung für einen Tisch?" (Do you already have a reservation/booking for a table?)
- Services: "Die Bestellung des Handwerkers wurde bestätigt." (The craftsman's order/appointment has been confirmed.)
- Conveying a message (less common): "Kannst du ihr meine Bestellung ausrichten?" (Can you give her my message/regards?)
Important verbs:
- eine Bestellung aufgeben (to place an order)
- eine Bestellung machen (to make an order - less common than 'aufgeben')
- eine Bestellung stornieren (to cancel an order)
- eine Bestellung bestätigen (to confirm an order)
- eine Bestellung annehmen (to accept an order)
- eine Bestellung ausliefern (to deliver an order)
Compared to der Auftrag (the order, commission, task), die Bestellung is often more specific to purchasing goods or clearly defined services, whereas der Auftrag can be more general (e.g., ein Forschungsauftrag - a research assignment).
🧠 Memory Aids for 'die Bestellung'
For the article 'die': Think of the typical situation: A woman (DIE Frau) places DIE Bestellung. Also, many German nouns ending in "-ung" are feminine, including die Bestellung.
For the meaning ('order'): Imagine you tell (sounds a bit like 'stell' in Bestellung) the shop what you want – that's your order. Or: You make a request (sounds a bit like 'Best...') for something.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Der Auftrag: Often interchangeable, but 'Auftrag' can be more general (order, task, assignment).
- Die Order: English loanword, often used in business contexts (order).
- Die Reservierung: Specifically for seats, tables, rooms (reservation, booking).
- Der Kaufantrag: Formal term for a purchase request (purchase application/request).
- Der Gruß / Die Nachricht: Only relevant for the archaic meaning (greeting / message).
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Die Stornierung: Undoing an order (cancellation).
- Die Absage: Refusal or rejection (of a reservation/request) (rejection, cancellation).
- Die Rücksendung / Retoure: Sending back delivered goods (return).
Watch out for similar words: Don't confuse with die Anstellung (employment, job) or die Vorstellung (introduction, performance, idea).
😄 A Little Joke
DE: Fragt der Ober den Gast: "Hatten Sie schon Ihre Bestellung aufgegeben?"
Antwortet der Gast: "Nein, aber mein Magen knurrt schon seit einer halben Stunde vorwurfsvoll!"
EN: The waiter asks the guest: "Have you placed your order yet?"
The guest replies: "No, but my stomach has been growling reproachfully for half an hour!"
📜 Poem about an Order
DE:
Ein Klick im Netz, so schnell, so leicht,
Die Bestellung ist erreicht.
Ein Buch, ein Schuh, ein neues Spiel,
Erwartungsvoll, das ist das Ziel.
Der Postbote klingelt an der Tür,
Die Freude groß, das Paket ist hier!
EN:
A click online, so quick, so light,
The order placed, feels just right.
A book, a shoe, a brand new game,
Full of expectation, that's the aim.
The postman rings upon the door,
Great joy arrives, the package is ashore!
🤔 Little Riddle
DE:
Ich werde aufgegeben, doch nicht verloren.
Ich bringe Dinge, neu oder erkoren.
Manchmal warte ich auf einen Tisch,
manchmal bin ich online, ganz frisch.
Was bin ich?
... Die Bestellung
EN:
I am placed, but never lost.
I bring things, new or chosen at cost.
Sometimes I wait for a table so neat,
sometimes I'm online, a digital feat.
What am I?
... The order (die Bestellung)
✨ More Interesting Facts
Word Formation:
- The word "Bestellung" derives from the verb bestellen (to order, to book, to cultivate, to deliver [a message]).
- The suffix "-ung" turns the verb into a feminine noun.
Compound Words (Komposita):
Summary: is it der, die or das Bestellung?
The noun "Bestellung" is always feminine. The correct article is die Bestellung. There are no alternative articles for this word.