die
Deckung
🛡️ What exactly does "die Deckung" mean?
The word die Deckung is a _feminine noun_ with several meanings, often related to _protection_, _covering_, or _correspondence_.
- Protection / Cover / Shelter: This is often the most literal meaning. It describes a place or state that offers protection from danger (e.g., _gunfire_, _weather_). Example: "Die Soldaten suchten Deckung hinter der Mauer." (The soldiers sought cover behind the wall.)
- Financial Backing / Coverage: In _finance_, Deckung means that sufficient funds are available to cover a liability (e.g., a _check_, an _invoice_). Example: "Der Scheck konnte nicht eingelöst werden, es fehlte die nötige Deckung." (The check couldn't be cashed, the necessary funds/backing were missing.)
- Covering / Layer: It can also refer to a physical covering or layer, but is less common in this sense than words like "Decke" or "Abdeckung".
- Congruence / Correspondence / Alignment: In a more abstract sense, Deckung can mean the correspondence or agreement of two things (e.g., _two geometric shapes_, _opinions_, or _reports_). Example: "Die beiden Zeugenaussagen wiesen eine hohe Deckung auf." (The two witness statements showed a high degree of correspondence.)
- Sports Defense / Coverage: In _sports_, especially team sports, Deckung refers to the task of guarding an opponent or defending an area. Example: "Der Verteidiger übernahm die Deckung des Stürmers." (The defender took on the coverage/marking of the forward.)
⚠️ _Pay attention to the context to understand the correct meaning of die Deckung._
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 of "die Deckung" in Detail
Die Deckung is a _feminine noun_. The plural form (die Deckungen) is used less frequently and usually refers to specific instances of financial coverage or correspondences.
Declension (Singular)
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Deckung |
| Genitive | der | Deckung |
| Dative | der | Deckung |
| Accusative | die | Deckung |
Example Sentences 📝
- Die Katze suchte Deckung unter dem Busch.
(The cat sought cover under the bush.) - Für diesen Kredit benötigen wir eine ausreichende Deckung.
(We need sufficient backing/coverage for this loan.) - Die Deckung der beiden Bilder war perfekt.
(The alignment/correspondence of the two pictures was perfect.) - Im Handball ist eine gute Deckung entscheidend.
(In handball, good defense/coverage is crucial.) - Er ging schnell in Deckung, als die Schüsse fielen.
(He quickly took cover when the shots rang out.)
💡 How to use "die Deckung"?
_The usage of die Deckung strongly depends on the context:_
- Military/Danger: Often in the phrases "in Deckung gehen" (to take cover) or "Deckung suchen" (to seek cover).
- Finance: Frequently used in connection with _checks_, _loans_, _insurance_ (e.g., "fehlende Deckung" - lack of funds/coverage, "Versicherungsdeckung" - insurance coverage).
- Sports: Refers to defensive work, e.g., "Mann-Deckung" (man-to-man marking) or "Raumdeckung" (zone defense).
- Abstract: In comparisons, analyses, or geometry to express _correspondence_ or _alignment_ (e.g., "zur Deckung bringen" - to bring into alignment/correspondence).
_Compared to der Schutz (protection), die Deckung is often more active (one seeks it) or more specific (financial backing). Die Decke primarily refers to a blanket or a ceiling, not cover in a dangerous sense._
🧠 Mnemonics for "die Deckung"
Article Mnemonic: Think of die Decke (_the blanket_ or _the ceiling_). You often seek protection or hiding under a blanket – so it's die Deckung (_the cover_).
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you're caught in the rain 🌧️ (_danger_) and need some Abdeckung (_covering/protection_). Or your bank account is empty and needs financial Abdeckung (_backing_) 💸. Or two shapes fit perfectly on top of each other – they have come zur Deckung (_into alignment_) 📐.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Protection: der Schutz, der Unterschlupf, das Versteck
- Finance: die Absicherung (_security_), die Sicherheit (_security/safety_), die Bonität (_creditworthiness_), die Garantie (_guarantee_), der Rückhalt (_backing_)
- Correspondence: die Kongruenz (_congruence_), die Konformität (_conformity_), die Übereinstimmung (_agreement/correspondence_)
- Sports: die Verteidigung (_defense_), die Abwehr (_defense_)
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Protection: die Entblößung (_exposure_), die Preisgabe (_abandonment/exposure_), der Angriff (_attack_), die Gefahr (_danger_), das Risiko (_risk_)
- Finance: die Lücke (_gap_), die Unterdeckung (_shortfall_), die Insolvenz (_insolvency_), das Defizit (_deficit_)
- Correspondence: die Diskrepanz (_discrepancy_), der Unterschied (_difference_), die Abweichung (_deviation_)
- Sports: der Angriff (_attack_), die Offensive (_offense_)
⚠️ Similar but different words:
😂 A little joke
Warum nehmen Banker immer einen Regenschirm mit, auch wenn die Sonne scheint? ☂️
... Für alle Fälle – zur finanziellen Deckung! 😜
_Why do bankers always carry an umbrella, even when the sun is shining?_
_... Just in case – for financial coverage!_ (It's a pun: "für alle Fälle" means "just in case", but "Fall" also means "case" like in grammar. And "Deckung" means both financial backing and cover).
📜 A Poem about Deckung
Wenn Gefahr am Himmel droht,
Sucht man schnell am sich'ren Ort.
Hinter Mauern, fest und dicht,
Findet man Deckung, Zuversicht.
Auch der Scheck, er braucht den Halt,
Dass die Summe nicht verhallt.
Geld als Deckung muss es sein,
Sonst bleibt die Kasse bitterrein.
_When danger looms up in the sky,_
_One quickly seeks a place nearby._
_Behind strong walls, built firm and tight,_
_One finds cover, hopeful light._
_The check as well, it needs support,_
_So that the sum is not cut short._
_Money as backing, it must be,_
_Or else the cash box stays empty._
❓ Riddle Time
Ich biete Schutz vor Sturm und Schuss,
Bin im Sport ein Muss, kein Überfluss.
Für den Banker bin ich bares Geld wert,
Und bringe Formen überein, ganz unbeschwert.
Was bin ich?
_I offer protection from storm and shot,_
_In sports, I'm essential, needed a lot._
_To bankers, I'm worth cash, you see,_
_And bring shapes together perfectly._
_What am I?_
_Solution: die Deckung_
🧩 Further Information
Word Formation:
_The noun Deckung is derived from the verb decken (to cover, to protect, to back)._
Related Terms and Collocations:
- in Deckung gehen (to take cover)
- Deckung suchen (to seek cover)
- zur Deckung bringen (to bring into alignment/correspondence)
- die Deckung übernehmen (to take over the coverage/defense/backing)
- Versicherungsdeckung (insurance coverage)
- Scheckdeckung (check coverage/backing)
- Kapitaldeckung (capital backing/coverage)
- Mann-Deckung / Raumdeckung (man-to-man marking / zone defense - sports)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Deckung?
The word "Deckung" is feminine. The correct article is die Deckung. It is used to describe _protection/cover_, _financial backing/coverage_, _correspondence/alignment_, or _sports defense/coverage_.
