die  Delegation

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/deːleɡaˈt͡si̯oːn/

🌍 What does "die Delegation" mean?

The German word die Delegation primarily has two meanings:

1. A group of people (eine Abordnung): A group of individuals chosen or sent to officially represent a larger group, organization, or country at an event, negotiation, or mission. Example: Eine Delegation von Politikern reiste nach Brüssel. (A delegation of politicians traveled to Brussels.)
2. The act of delegating tasks or authority (die Übertragung): The process of assigning responsibility, tasks, or decision-making power from one person (often a manager) to another person or group. Example: Die Delegation von Aufgaben entlastet den Manager. (The delegation of tasks relieves the manager.)

Context is key to understanding which meaning is intended.

📚 Grammar in Detail: die Delegation

"Delegation" is a feminine noun. Like most nouns ending in -tion, it takes the article "die". This is a very reliable rule in German.

Declension of "die Delegation"

Here's how the noun changes in the different grammatical cases:

Example Sentences

• (Group): Die Delegation erreichte pünktlich den Verhandlungsort.
  (The delegation reached the negotiation venue on time.)
• (Act of delegating): Eine klare Delegation von Zuständigkeiten ist wichtig für effizientes Arbeiten.
  (A clear delegation of responsibilities is important for efficient work.)
• (Group - Genitive): Die Ergebnisse der Delegation wurden positiv aufgenommen.
  (The results of the delegation were received positively.)
• (Act of delegating - Dative): Mit der Delegation dieser Aufgabe konnte er sich auf Wichtigeres konzentrieren.
  (With the delegation of this task, he could concentrate on more important things.)
• (Group - Plural): Mehrere Delegationen aus verschiedenen Ländern nahmen an der Konferenz teil.
  (Several delegations from different countries participated in the conference.)

💡 How to use "die Delegation"?

The term "Delegation" is frequently used in formal, official, or business contexts.

• Politics & Diplomacy: When governments or organizations send representatives to international meetings, summits, or negotiations (e.g., UN-Delegation, Regierungsdelegation - government delegation).
• Business & Management: In a corporate setting, it often refers to the transfer of tasks and responsibility from superiors to employees (e.g., Aufgabendelegation - task delegation) or to a group representing the company (e.g., Wirtschaftsdelegation - business delegation).
• Organizations & Associations: Here too, groups can be sent as delegations to assemblies or conferences.

Distinguishing from similar words:

• Die Abordnung: Very similar to the first meaning (group of people), often interchangeable, perhaps slightly less formal.
• Die Vertretung: Can be a single person or a group; emphasizes the function of representing.
• Die Übertragung: More general term for passing something on (e.g., data transfer - Datenübertragung). "Delegation" is more specific to tasks/powers.
• Die Beauftragung: Refers to giving a specific assignment, whereas Delegation often implies a longer-term transfer of responsibility.

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Delegation"

1. For the article "die": Nouns ending in "-tion" are almost always feminine in German. Think of: die Aktion (action), die Information (information), die Station (station)... and therefore die Delegation. The ending "-tion" signals "die". It sounds very similar to the English '-tion' ending.
2. For the meanings:
   • (Group): Imagine a large nation sending a small group – the (die) delegation – to represent them.
   • (Act of delegating): When a boss hands off tasks, it's an important action – the delegation of responsibility.

You need good Organisation (die Organisation) for a Delegation. Both words end in -tion and are feminine ('die').

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Delegation

⚠️ Caution: Similar Sounding Words

• Die Deklaration: Declaration or statement. Sounds similar but has a completely different meaning.

😄 A Little Joke

Warum bewegt sich die Delegation von Schnecken so langsam fort?

Weil jeder darauf wartet, dass ein anderer die Führung übernimmt – reine Delegation! 😉

(Why does the delegation of snails move so slowly?
Because everyone is waiting for someone else to take the lead – pure delegation!)

📜 Poem about Delegation

Aus fernem Land, mit wichtigem Plan,
kam die Delegation gezogen an.
Vertreter geschickt, mit ernster Miene,
für Handel, Vertrag oder Friedensbühne.

Im Büro der Chef, er seufzt und stöhnt,
mit Arbeit und Stress ist er nicht verwöhnt.
Doch klug gibt er ab, verteilt die Last,
die Delegation von Pflichten passt!

(From a distant land, with an important plan,
the delegation arrived.
Representatives sent, with serious faces,
for trade, treaty, or a stage of peace.

In the office the boss, he sighs and groans,
he's not spoiled with work and stress.
But wisely he hands off, distributes the load,
the delegation of duties fits!)

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich kann eine Gruppe sein, die reist und spricht,
oder die Abgabe einer lästigen Pflicht.
Ich trage stets "die" vor mir im Satz,
und schaffe im Büro oft neuen Platz.

Wer oder was bin ich?

(I can be a group that travels and talks,
or the handing over of a tedious duty.
I always carry "die" before me in the sentence,
and often create new space in the office.

What or who am I?) (Answer: die Delegation)

✨ More Information

Word Origin (Etymology):

The word "Delegation" comes from the Latin verb "delegare", meaning "to send away", "to entrust", "to assign". It is composed of "de-" (away, from) and "legare" (to commission, to send as an envoy; related to lex/legis = law).

Compound Words (Wortzusammensetzungen):

"Delegation" is often part of compound nouns that specify the purpose or origin of the delegation:

• Wirtschaftsdelegation (Business delegation)
• Regierungsdelegation (Government delegation)
• Parteidelegation (Party delegation)
• Jugenddelegation (Youth delegation)
• Aufgabendelegation (Task delegation)