die
Bürgschaft
🤝 What Exactly is a Bürgschaft?
Die Bürgschaft (feminine, article 'die') is a legal term describing a contractual obligation. In it, one person (der Bürge - the guarantor/surety) commits to a creditor to be responsible for the fulfillment of the liabilities of a third party (der Hauptschuldner - the principal debtor).
Essentially, it's a security for the creditor: If the principal debtor cannot pay, der Bürge must pay. 🏦 This often occurs with loans (Kredite), rental agreements (Mietverträge), or other financial arrangements.
⚠️ There are different types of Bürgschaften (e.g., selbstschuldnerische Bürgschaft - directly enforceable guarantee), which imply different liability conditions for the guarantor.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ft/ -schaft → almost always feminine.
All -schaft nouns are feminine, but not all -ft nouns are.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Bürgschaft
The word 'Bürgschaft' is a feminine noun. The article is always 'die'. It is declined as follows:
| Case | Article | Noun | (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Bürgschaft | (the guarantee) |
| Genitive | der | Bürgschaft | (of the guarantee) |
| Dative | der | Bürgschaft | (to/for the guarantee) |
| Accusative | die | Bürgschaft | (the guarantee) |
| Case | Article | Noun | (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Bürgschaften | (the guarantees) |
| Genitive | der | Bürgschaften | (of the guarantees) |
| Dative | den | Bürgschaften | (to/for the guarantees) |
| Accusative | die | Bürgschaften | (the guarantees) |
Example Sentences
- Die Bank verlangte eine Bürgschaft für den Kredit.
(The bank demanded a guarantee for the loan.) - Er hat für seinen Freund eine Bürgschaft übernommen.
(He took on a surety for his friend.) - Die Bedingungen der Bürgschaft waren sehr streng.
(The conditions of the guarantee were very strict.) - Ohne Bürgschaft bekommt er die Wohnung nicht.
(Without a guarantee, he won't get the apartment.)
📝 When to use 'Bürgschaft'?
The term 'Bürgschaft' is primarily used in legal and financial contexts.
- Loan security (Kreditabsicherung): Banks often require a Bürgschaft if the principal debtor's creditworthiness (Kreditwürdigkeit) is insufficient.
- Rental agreements (Mietverträge): Especially for young tenants or those with low income, a parental guarantee (Elternbürgschaft) or rent guarantee (Mietbürgschaft) may be required.
- Business relationships (Geschäftsbeziehungen): To secure deliveries or services between companies.
It's a formal term representing a serious financial commitment. In everyday language, one might talk about 'für jemanden bürgen' (to vouch/guarantee for someone) or 'Garantie'. However, a 'Garantie' usually refers to the functionality of a product, while 'Bürgschaft' refers to the fulfillment of a debt.
💡 Mnemonics for Bürgschaft
Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in '-schaft' in German are almost always feminine (like die Freundschaft - friendship, die Mannschaft - team). So, remember: die Bürgschaft.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a burglar needs bail, and his friend offers a guarantee or 'surety ship' (sounds like Bürg-schaft) to get him out. It's a guarantee/surety given for someone else.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Garantie (f.): (Guarantee) Can be used similarly, but often more for products or services.
- Sicherheit (f.): (Security) General term for collateral or security; a Bürgschaft is one form of it.
- Haftung (f.): (Liability) Describes the obligation to be responsible for damage or debt.
- Gewährleistung (f.): (Warranty) Legal obligation of the seller in case of defects (more product-related).
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Schuldenfreiheit (f.): (Freedom from debt) The state of having no debts, the opposite of a potential obligation.
- Unabhängigkeit (f.): (Independence) Financial or legal independence from third parties.
- Risiko (n.): (Risk) (of the creditor without a guarantee)
Related Terms:
- Der Bürge / die Bürgin: (The guarantor / surety - male/female) The person who provides the Bürgschaft.
- Bürgen (verb): (To guarantee, vouch for) The act of taking on a Bürgschaft.
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Bankberater den Kunden: "Können Sie eine Bürgschaft vorweisen?"
Antwortet der Kunde: "Klar, meine Frau bürgt dafür, dass ich das Geld schnell ausgebe!"
(Bank advisor asks the customer: "Can you provide a guarantee?"
Customer replies: "Sure, my wife guarantees that I'll spend the money quickly!")
📜 A Poem about Bürgschaft
Die Schuld drückt schwer, das Geld ist knapp,
Die Bank sagt streng: "Kein weiterer Schlapp!"
Doch Freundschaft zählt, ein Wort, ein Stand,
Mit einer Bürgschaft, Hand in Hand.
Der Bürge hofft, es geht gut aus,
Sonst zahlt er selbst – welch großer Graus.
(Debt weighs heavily, money is scarce,
The bank says sternly: "No more lapse!"
But friendship counts, a word, a stand,
With a guarantee, hand in hand.
The guarantor hopes it turns out well,
Or pays himself – what a terrible hell.)
❓ Little Riddle
Ich bin ein Versprechen, oft auf Papier,
Ich helfe dem einen, doch hafte dafür.
Kann teuer werden, bin gut zu durchdenken,
Soll Gläubigern Sicherheit schenken.
Was bin ich?
(Lösung: die Bürgschaft)
(I am a promise, often on paper,
I help one person, but am liable therefor.
Can become expensive, should be well considered,
Meant to give creditors security delivered.)
(What am I?
Solution: die Bürgschaft / the guarantee/surety)
🧩 Other Information
Word Composition:
The word 'Bürgschaft' is composed of:
- Der Bürge: (The guarantor/surety) The person who is liable. The word comes from the Old High German 'burgo' (protector, guarantor).
- -schaft: A suffix often forming abstract or collective nouns, usually feminine (e.g., Freundschaft - friendship, Gesellschaft - society). Here it expresses the state or quality of guaranteeing.
Interestingly, the Bürgschaft is a very old legal concept, existing in similar forms already in Roman law.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Bürgschaft?
The noun "Bürgschaft" is feminine. The correct article is always die: die Bürgschaft. The ending "-schaft" typically indicates feminine nouns in German.