die  Bewölkung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/bəˈvœlkʊŋ/

☁️ What does 'die Bewölkung' mean?

Die Bewölkung (noun, feminine) describes the state of the sky when it is covered with clouds. It refers to the extent or degree of cloud cover, essentially meaning cloudiness or cloud cover.

• Meaning 1: The state of the sky being covered with clouds.
• Meaning 2: The entirety of clouds in a specific place at a specific time.

🚨 Attention: 'Die Bewölkung' is a noun describing the state, while 'bewölkt' is the adjective (e.g., der bewölkte Himmel - the cloudy sky).

Article rules for der, die, and das

Grammar of 'die Bewölkung' in Detail

'Bewölkung' is a feminine noun. The article is die. It is mostly used in the singular because it describes a state or a collective amount. The plural ('die Bewölkungen') is rare and only used when referring to different types or instances of cloudiness, which is uncommon.

Example Sentences 📝

1. Die Bewölkung nimmt am Nachmittag zu.
   (The cloudiness increases in the afternoon.)
2. Laut Wetterbericht bleibt die starke Bewölkung bestehen.
   (According to the weather report, the heavy cloud cover will persist.)
3. Hinter der dichten Bewölkung konnte man die Sonne nur erahnen.
   (Behind the dense cloud cover, one could only guess where the sun was.)
4. Die Art der Bewölkung lässt auf Regen schließen.
   (The type of cloudiness suggests rain.)

Everyday Usage

'Die Bewölkung' is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Wetterberichte (Weather reports): To describe the current or forecasted state of the sky (e.g., zunehmende Bewölkung - increasing cloudiness, leichte Bewölkung - light cloudiness, geschlossene Bewölkung - overcast).
• Alltagssprache (Everyday language): When talking about the weather (e.g., "Mir gefällt diese graue Bewölkung nicht." - "I don't like this grey cloudiness.").
• Meteorologie (Meteorology): As a technical term to quantify cloud cover (often measured in oktas, or eighths of the sky).

Comparison:

• Die Wolke: Refers to a single cloud formation. Die Bewölkung is the collective or degree of cover by clouds.
• Bedeckt: Is an adjective meaning 'overcast' or 'cloudy' (Der Himmel ist bedeckt - The sky is overcast). Die Bewölkung is the corresponding noun (Die Bewölkung ist stark - The cloud cover is heavy).

How to Remember 'die Bewölkung'

Article Mnemonic (die): Nouns ending in -ung in German are almost always feminine. Remember: The ending '-ung' likes the feminine form 'die'! This applies to die Bewölkung.

Meaning Mnemonic (Cloudiness): Think of 'Bewölkung' sounding a bit like 'Be-volk-ung' – imagine a large 'folk' or crowd (Volk) of clouds gathering ('be-') and covering the sky. That mass of clouds is die Bewölkung.

Similar and Opposite Terms

⚠️ Potential Confusion: 'Die Wolke' (a single cloud) is not the same as 'die Bewölkung' (the state or extent of cloud cover).

A Little Weather Joke 😄

German: Fragt ein Tourist den Einheimischen: "Gibt es hier oft so eine starke Bewölkung?" Antwortet der Einheimische: "Keine Ahnung, ich wohne erst seit 30 Jahren hier!"

English: A tourist asks a local: "Is there often such heavy cloudiness here?" The local replies: "I have no idea, I've only lived here for 30 years!"

Poem about Cloudiness

German:
Graue Decke, still und dicht,
nimmst der Sonne warmes Licht.
Die Bewölkung zieht dahin,
trägt den Regen oft im Sinn.
Mal leicht, mal schwer,
veränderst stets das Himmelsmeer.

English:
Grey blanket, silent and dense,
takes the sun's warm light hence.
The cloudiness drifts along,
often carrying rain in its song.
Sometimes light, sometimes severe,
always changing the sky's ocean clear.

Who or what am I? 🤔

German:
Ich hab kein Haus, doch deck' den Himmel zu.
Ich bring' mal Schatten, mal Regen im Nu.
Mein Name endet auf '-ung' und ist feminin.
Ich bin das Gegenteil von Sonnenschein.

English:
I have no house, yet I cover the sky.
I bring shade, sometimes rain in the blink of an eye.
My name ends in '-ung' and is feminine keen.
I am the opposite of bright sunshine.

Solution: Die Bewölkung (Cloudiness)

Interesting Facts about 'die Bewölkung'

Wortzusammensetzung (Word Composition):

The word 'Bewölkung' is composed of:

• The prefix 'be-' (often implies providing something with something)
• The stem of the verb 'wölken' (to become cloudy, related to 'Wolke' - cloud)
• The suffix '-ung' (forms nouns from verbs, usually feminine, expresses a state or process)

Meteorology: The degree of Bewölkung (cloud cover) is often measured internationally in eighths (oktas). 0/8 means a clear sky, while 8/8 means completely overcast.