die
Dividende
💰 What Exactly is a Dividende?
The noun die Dividende (feminine, article 'die') refers to the portion of a company's profit that a public limited company (Aktiengesellschaft or AG) distributes to its shareholders (Aktionäre - the owners of the shares, Aktien). It's essentially a reward for providing capital to the company.
Imagine owning a small part of a large company (an Aktie). If the company performs well and makes a profit (Gewinn), it might decide to distribute part of this profit to all its owners, including you. This share is die Dividende.
🚨 Important: Not every company pays a Dividende. Some prefer to reinvest all profits back into growth (Wachstum).
Article rules for der, die, and das
Numbers, calculations → almost always feminine.
Caution: When verbs are turned into nouns, the result is 'das Addieren', 'das Subtrahieren', 'das Multiplizieren', 'das Dividieren'.
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
📊 Grammar of die Dividende at a Glance
The word "Dividende" is a feminine noun. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun | (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Dividende | (the dividend) |
| Genitive | der | Dividende | (of the dividend) |
| Dative | der | Dividende | (to/for the dividend) |
| Accusative | die | Dividende | (the dividend) |
| Case | Article | Noun | (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Dividenden | (the dividends) |
| Genitive | der | Dividenden | (of the dividends) |
| Dative | den | Dividenden | (to/for the dividends) |
| Accusative | die | Dividenden | (the dividends) |
Example Sentences
- Die Höhe der Dividende wird auf der Hauptversammlung beschlossen.
(The amount of the dividend is decided at the general meeting.) - Viele Anleger freuen sich über regelmäßige Dividenden.
(Many investors appreciate regular dividends.) - Das Unternehmen hat angekündigt, dieses Jahr keine Dividende auszuschütten.
(The company has announced it will not pay out a dividend this year.) - Mit den Dividenden kann man sich ein kleines Zusatzeinkommen aufbauen.
(With the dividends, one can build up a small additional income.)
🏦 When and How is "Dividende" Used?
The term "Dividende" is used almost exclusively in the context of finance, stocks (Aktien), and corporate profits (Unternehmensgewinne).
- Typical Verbs: eine Dividende ausschütten (to pay out), zahlen (to pay), erhalten (to receive), kürzen (to cut), streichen (to cancel), erhöhen (to increase).
- Context: People talk about Dividenden in relation to stock investments (Aktienanlagen), company reports (Unternehmensberichte), general meetings (Hauptversammlungen), and investment strategies (e.g., Dividendenstrategie - dividend strategy).
- Distinction: A Dividende is not the same as Zinsen (interest earned on loans or savings accounts) or Kursgewinne (capital gains, which occur when the value of a stock increases). The Dividende is a direct share of the distributed profit.
🧠 Mnemonics for Dividende
Article Mnemonic: Think of the ending "-e". Many German nouns ending in '-e' are feminine, taking the article "die". Imagine saying: "Die excellence of this dividend!"
Meaning Mnemonic: Connect "Dividende" to the English word "divide". A Dividende is the profit that is divided among the shareholders.
🔁 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Gewinnbeteiligung: (Profit sharing) - Emphasizes sharing in the company's profit.
- Ausschüttung: (Distribution, payout) - More general term for distributing funds (specifically company profits here).
- Ertragsanteil: (Share of earnings/yield) - Refers to the portion of the earnings paid out.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Verlust: (Loss) - If the company makes no profit, there's no dividend.
- Kapitaleinlage: (Capital contribution) - Money shareholders pay into the company (opposite of receiving money).
- Thesaurierung: (Retention of earnings, reinvestment) - When the company keeps the profit instead of distributing it.
⚠️ Caution: Don't confuse Dividende with Provision (commission for brokerage) or Zinsen (interest on borrowed money).
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt ein Aktionär den anderen: "Warum lächelst du so?"
Sagt der andere: "Ich denke gerade an meine Dividende."
Fragt der erste: "Ist sie so hoch?"
Sagt der andere: "Nein, aber der Gedanke daran ist das Einzige, was bei dieser Aktie noch im Plus ist!" 😂
Translation:
One shareholder asks another: "Why are you smiling like that?"
The other replies: "I'm just thinking about my dividend."
The first asks: "Is it that high?"
The other says: "No, but the thought of it is the only thing about this stock that's still in the positive!" 😂
📜 A Poem about the Dividende
Die Aktie steigt, die Aktie fällt,
doch was der Anleger erhält,
was jährlich auf dem Konto lacht,
ist die Dividende – gut gemacht!
Ein Teil vom Kuchen, süß und fein,
so soll's für Aktionäre sein.
Translation:
The stock goes up, the stock goes down,
But what the investor gets around,
What laughs each year upon the sheet,
Is the dividend – oh what a treat!
A piece of cake, so sweet and fine,
That's how it should be for shares divine.
🧩 Who am I?
Ich bin ein Teil vom großen Ganzen,
lass Aktionärsherzen tanzen.
Ich werd' gezahlt, wenn's gut gelaufen,
doch musst du erst die Aktie kaufen.
Bin ich mal hoch, ist groß die Freud',
ich bin die ...?
(Lösung: Dividende)
Translation:
I am a part of the bigger whole,
Make shareholders' hearts feel bold.
I'm paid out when things went well, you see,
But first, you must buy the share of me.
When I am high, great joy I send,
I am the...?
(Solution: dividend / Dividende)
💡 More Tidbits
Word Origin (Etymology): The word "Dividende" comes from the Latin gerundive dividendus, meaning "that which is to be divided." It derives from the verb dividere, meaning "to divide" or "to separate." This fits perfectly with its meaning as the share of profit to be divided.
International: The term is used similarly in many languages (e.g., English: dividend, French: dividende).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Dividende?
The noun "Dividende" is feminine. The correct article is die. So it's die Dividende (nominative/accusative singular), der Dividende (genitive/dative singular), and die Dividenden (plural).