die
Biografie
📖 What does 'die Biografie' mean?
A Biografie (also sometimes spelled Biographie) is the life story of a person, written by someone else. It narrates a person's life, often from birth to death (or the present), highlighting important events, achievements, and experiences. Biographies can be about historical figures, famous people, or even ordinary individuals.
Important: The word 'Biografie' in German is feminine, so the article is always die. There's only this one gender associated with the word. If someone writes their own life story, it's called an Autobiografie.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ie → almost always feminine.
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
📊 Grammar Deep Dive: die Biografie
The noun 'Biografie' is feminine. Its article is always 'die'. Here's the declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Biografie |
| Accusative | die | Biografie |
| Dative | der | Biografie |
| Genitive | der | Biografie |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Biografien |
| Accusative | die | Biografien |
| Dative | den | Biografien |
| Genitive | der | Biografien |
Example Sentences
- Ich lese gerade eine spannende Biografie über Marie Curie. (I am currently reading an exciting biography about Marie Curie.)
- Der Autor arbeitet an einer neuen Biografie. (The author is working on a new biography.)
- In der Bibliothek findest du viele Biografien berühmter Persönlichkeiten. (In the library, you can find many biographies of famous personalities.)
- Der Wert dieser Biografie liegt in ihrer Detailgenauigkeit. (The value of this biography lies in its attention to detail.)
✍️ Usage in Context
The word Biografie is used when talking about the written account of someone's life. It's a common term in literature, history, and general conversation.
- Context: Often used in relation to books, films, or documentaries.
- Distinction: An Autobiografie is a life story written by the person themselves. A Biografie is written by someone else. A Lebenslauf (CV or résumé) is a brief, usually tabular summary of education and career, not a detailed narrative.
- Spelling: The spelling Biographie is also correct, but Biografie is the recommended and more common spelling according to the latest German orthography reform.
🧠 Memory Aids
For the article 'die': Many nouns ending in '-ie' in German are feminine (like die Materie, die Theorie, die Komödie). Remember die Biografie fits this pattern. Also, think of it as telling 'the story' - die Geschichte is also feminine.
For the meaning: Break it down: Bio comes from Greek for 'life' (like biology). Grafie comes from Greek for 'writing' or 'description' (like geography). So, a Biografie is literally a 'life-writing'.
↔️ Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Lebensbeschreibung (life description - very direct synonym)
- Lebensgeschichte (life story - also very common)
- Vita (Latin, often used for a brief professional/academic bio)
- Porträt (portrait - can describe a person, sometimes less comprehensive than a full Biografie)
⚠️ Note: An Autobiografie (autobiography) is not an antonym, but a specific type of biography (self-written).
😂 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Bleistift eine Biografie geschrieben?
Weil er sein Leben unbedingt zu Papier bringen wollte!
(Why did the pencil write a biography? Because he really wanted to put his life down on paper!)
📜 Poem about Biografie
Ein Leben, Blatt für Blatt,
Die Biografie erzählt die Tat.
Von Kindheitstagen bis ins Alter,
Ein Lebensweg, mal froh, mal kalter.
Geschrieben, um zu inspirieren,
Vergangene Zeiten zu kapieren.
(A life, page by page,
The biography tells the deed.
From childhood days to old age,
A life path, sometimes glad, sometimes colder.
Written to inspire,
To understand past times.)
❓ Little Riddle
Ich erzähle von Geburt und Tod,
Von Freude, Leid und Alltagsbrot.
Ein anderer schreibt mein ganzes Sein,
Ich bin das Leben – eingefangen im Schein
Von Buchstaben, auf Papier gebracht.
Wer bin ich, wenn man’s recht bedacht?
(I tell of birth and death,
Of joy, sorrow, and daily bread.
Another writes my entire being,
I am life – captured in the appearance
Of letters, put on paper.
Who am I, when you think about it?)
Solution: die Biografie (the biography)
🤓 Other Interesting Facts
Word Origin: The word comes from Greek: bios (βίος) meaning 'life' and graphein (γράφειν) meaning 'to write'.
Related Terms:
- Autobiografie: Autobiography (self-written life story).
- Biograf/Biograph: Biographer (person who writes a biography).
- Biografisch/Biographisch: Biographical (adjective, e.g., ein biografischer Film - a biographical film).
- Hagiografie: Hagiography (life story of a saint, often idealizing).
Summary: is it der, die or das Biografie?
The German word 'Biografie' is feminine. The correct article is always die. For example: die Biografie (the biography), die Biografien (the biographies).