die
Disqualifikation
📜 What does "die Disqualifikation" mean?
Die Disqualifikation (noun, feminine) generally describes the exclusion or the revocation of suitability, eligibility, or a right. There are mainly two nuances:
- Exclusion from competition/activity: This is the most common meaning, especially in sports or exams. A person or team is excluded from further participation or scoring due to a rule violation (e.g., doping, foul play, attempt to cheat). Example: Wegen Dopings erfolgte die sofortige Disqualifikation des Athleten. (Due to doping, the athlete's immediate disqualification followed.)
- Determination of unsuitability: This refers to the formal determination that someone or something is not suitable for a specific task, position, or function. Example: Seine mangelnden Sprachkenntnisse führten zur Disqualifikation für die internationale Konferenz. (His lack of language skills led to his disqualification for the international conference.) Or: Die mangelhafte Qualität des Materials führte zur Disqualifikation für den Einsatz im Bau. (The poor quality of the material led to its disqualification for use in construction.)
🚨 Be careful not to confuse Disqualifikation (disqualification/unsuitability) with Qualifikation (qualification/suitability) – they are antonyms!
📚 Grammar & Declension: "Die Disqualifikation" in Detail
The word "Disqualifikation" is a feminine noun. The article is die. It declines as follows:
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun | (English Meaning) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die | Disqualifikation | (the disqualification) |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der | Disqualifikation | (of the disqualification) |
| Dative (To/For Whom?) | der | Disqualifikation | (to/for the disqualification) |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die | Disqualifikation | (the disqualification) |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun | (English Meaning) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Disqualifikationen | (the disqualifications) |
| Genitive | der | Disqualifikationen | (of the disqualifications) |
| Dative | den | Disqualifikationen | (to/for the disqualifications) |
| Accusative | die | Disqualifikationen | (the disqualifications) |
📝 Example Sentences
- Die Disqualifikation des Läufers war umstritten. (The runner's disqualification was controversial.)
- Die Gründe der Disqualifikation wurden nicht sofort genannt. (The reasons for the disqualification were not immediately stated.)
- Nach der Disqualifikation musste er das Spielfeld verlassen. (After the disqualification, he had to leave the field.)
- Der Schiedsrichter sprach eine Disqualifikation aus. (The referee issued a disqualification.)
- Im Laufe des Turniers gab es mehrere Disqualifikationen. (During the tournament, there were several disqualifications.)
🗣️ How to use "Disqualifikation"? Understanding its Context
The term die Disqualifikation is primarily used in formal contexts, often related to rules, regulations, and evaluations.
- In Sports: Very common for the exclusion of athletes or teams (e.g., "Die rote Karte führte zur Disqualifikation." - The red card led to disqualification.).
- In Law & Administration: Exclusion of officials due to bias, revocation of rights or licenses (e.g., "Die Disqualifikation des Richters wurde beantragt." - The judge's disqualification was requested.).
- In Exams & Competitions: Exclusion due to cheating or rule violations (e.g., "Das Abschreiben führte zur Disqualifikation von der Prüfung." - Copying led to disqualification from the exam.).
- In Technical/Professional Fields: Determination of the unsuitability of a person, material, or product for a specific purpose (e.g., "Die mangelnde Zertifizierung bedeutete die Disqualifikation des Bauteils." - The lack of certification meant the component's disqualification.).
Comparison: While "Ausschluss" (exclusion) is more general, "Disqualifikation" emphasizes the reason for exclusion (rule violation, unsuitability). "Sperre" (ban, suspension) often refers to a temporary disqualification.
🧠 Mnemonics for "Die Disqualifikation"
Mnemonic for the Article (die)
Think: Feminine nouns often end in "-ion" in German, like die Aktion (the action), die Station (the station), and die Disqualifikation. Associate it with die Regel (the rule) – breaking die Regel leads to die Disqualifikation.
Mnemonic for the Meaning
DISqualification literally means you are DIS-qualified, meaning away from or lacking the qualification needed. You're out!
↔️ Opposites and Similar Words
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Ausschluss: (Exclusion) - General term for keeping someone out.
- Aberkennung: (Revocation, withdrawal) - Taking away a title, right, or status (e.g., Aberkennung der Staatsbürgerschaft - revocation of citizenship).
- Sperre: (Ban, suspension) - Often a time-limited exclusion, especially in sports.
- Ungültigkeitserklärung: (Declaration of invalidity) - Declaring something null and void.
- Untauglichkeit / Ungeeignetheit: (Unsuitability / Inappropriateness) - Refers to the lack of suitability for a purpose.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)
- Qualifikation: (Qualification) - Suitability or competence.
- Zulassung: (Admission, approval) - Permission to participate or use.
- Berechtigung: (Eligibility, entitlement) - The right to do or have something.
- Eignung / Tauglichkeit: (Suitability / Aptitude) - Being suitable for a purpose.
⚠️ Be careful with "Deklassierung": This means demotion or outclassing someone significantly in a competition, not necessarily a formal exclusion.
😄 A Little Joke
DE: Warum wurde der Computer vom Rennen disqualifiziert?
Er ist ständig abgestürzt!
EN: Why was the computer disqualified from the race?
It kept crashing!
🎤 Poem about Disqualification
DE:
Im Spiel, im Sport, im Leben gar,
gibt's Regeln, klar und wunderbar.
Wer schummelt, trickst, ist unfair dran,
dem droht sie schnell, die strenge Bahn:
Die Disqualifikation, kein Scherz,
ein jähes Aus, ein kleiner Schmerz.
Drum spiel fair, sei ehrlich, gut,
dann fehlt dir nie der rechte Mut!
EN:
In games, in sports, in life indeed,
There are rules, clear for all to heed.
Who cheats or tricks, plays an unfair hand,
Faces swiftly the strict command:
The Disqualification, no jest,
A sudden end, a painful test.
So play fair, be honest, true,
Then courage will see you through!
❓ A Little Riddle
DE:
Ich beende Rennen vor dem Ziel,
weil jemand gegen Regeln fiel.
Ich nehm dir Titel, Rang und Preis,
auf richterlichen Entscheid oder Beweis.
Was bin ich?
Lösung: die Disqualifikation
EN:
I end races before the finish line,
Because someone broke a rule's design.
I take your title, rank, and prize,
By judge's decision or evidence's rise.
What am I?
Solution: die Disqualifikation (disqualification)
🧐 More Interesting Facts
Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung):
The word "Disqualifikation" comes from the verb "disqualifizieren". It is composed of:
- dis-: A Latin prefix meaning separation, negation, or reversal (as in distance, disharmony).
- Qualifikation: Derived from the Latin qualificare (to describe the quality of something, to attribute a quality), which in turn comes from qualis (of what kind).
So, "Disqualifikation" literally means something like "the removal or revocation of a quality/suitability".
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Disqualifikation?
The correct article for Disqualifikation is die. It is a feminine noun meaning the exclusion from an activity (often due to a rule violation) or the determination of unsuitability.