die  Drohung

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈdʁoːʊŋ/

🤔 What does "die Drohung" mean?

Die Drohung (noun, feminine) refers to the announcement of an unpleasant measure or an evil, intended to intimidate someone, force them to do something, or deter them from doing something. It's the expression of an intent to cause harm if a certain condition is not met.

• Eine ernsthafte Drohung: A serious threat; a credible announcement of violence or harm.
• Eine leere Drohung: An empty threat; an announcement that isn't meant seriously or cannot/will not be carried out.

⚠️ Depending on the context and content, a Drohung can have legal consequences (e.g., under German law § 241 StGB).

Article rules for der, die, and das

📝 Grammar in Detail: Die Drohung

The noun "Drohung" is feminine. The article is "die".

Example Sentences

1. Er sprach eine deutliche Drohung aus. (He issued a clear threat.)
2. Die Polizei nahm die anonyme Drohung sehr ernst. (The police took the anonymous threat very seriously.)
3. Sie ließ sich von seinen leeren Drohungen nicht einschüchtern. (She wasn't intimidated by his empty threats.)
4. Der Inhalt der Drohung war besorgniserregend. (The content of the threat was worrying.)
5. Man muss auf solche Drohungen reagieren. (One must react to such threats.)

🗣️ How to use "Drohung"?

"Drohung" is used when referring to the explicit or implicit announcement of negative consequences.

• Context: Often found in situations of conflict, coercion, blackmail, or deterrence. It can be expressed verbally, in writing, or through gestures.
• Typical Collocations:
  • eine Drohung aussprechen/ausstoßen (to issue/utter a threat)
  • unter Drohung von Gewalt (under threat of violence)
  • eine Drohung ernst nehmen/ignorieren (to take/ignore a threat seriously)
  • eine verdeckte/offene Drohung (a veiled/open threat)
  • eine Bombendrohung (a bomb threat)
• Distinction: A Warnung (warning) points out a danger without necessarily implying the intention to cause it oneself. A Drohung often involves the threatener's intention to carry out the threatened action or have it carried out. An Erpressung (blackmail) combines a threat with a demand.

🧠 Mnemonics for "Drohung"

Article Mnemonic: Many German nouns ending in "-ung" are feminine (die), like die Meinung (opinion), die Übung (exercise), die Warnung (warning). So, remember: die Drohung follows this common pattern.

Meaning Mnemonic: "Drohung" sounds a bit like "drone on" - imagine someone droning on and on with threats until you give in. That's die Drohung. Or, link it to the verb 'drohen' (to threaten) - think of someone throwing down a threat (droh-).

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Watch out for Confusion!

Sometimes Drohung is confused with Warnung (warning). A Warnung (e.g., "Warnung vor dem Hund!" - "Beware of the dog!") points out an existing danger, whereas a Drohung represents an actively threatened negative consequence ("Wenn du das tust, zeige ich dich an!" - "If you do that, I'll report you!").

😄 A Little Joke

German: Warum nehmen Piraten Drohungen auf See nicht ernst?
Weil sie meistens nur leere Rum-Drohungen sind! 😉

English: Why don't pirates take threats at sea seriously?
Because they are usually just empty Rum-threats! 😉 (Play on words: 'leere Drohung' = empty threat; 'Rum' = rum)

📜 Poem about "Drohung"

German:
Ein finst'res Wort, im Zorn gesagt,
Die Drohung, die das Herz anklagt.
Sie schüchtert ein, will Willen brechen,
Lässt kalte Angst durch Adern stechen.

Mal laut gebrüllt, mal leis' geraunt,
Ob ernst gemeint, ob nur erstaunt?
Doch besser wär's, statt Streit und Groll,
Wenn Frieden stets regieren soll.

English Translation:
A somber word, in anger spoken,
The threat, by which the heart is broken.
It intimidates, wants will to bend,
Lets cold fear through the veins extend.

Sometimes yelled loud, sometimes whispered low,
Is it meant seriously, or just for show?
But better it were, instead of strife and spite,
If peace should always reign with light.

🧩 Little Riddle

German:
Ich werde ausgesprochen, um Angst zu machen,
manchmal bin ich ernst, manchmal nur zum Lachen.
Ich kündige Unheil an, will dich zu etwas zwingen,
doch oft bleib ich nur Luft, ohne Folgen zu bringen.

Was bin ich?

English Translation:
I am uttered to cause fear,
sometimes serious, sometimes mere jest, it's clear.
I announce misfortune, aim to compel,
but often I'm just air, with no ill effects to tell.

What am I?

Solution: die Drohung (the threat)

💡 More on "Drohung"

Word Formation:

The noun "die Drohung" is derived from the verb "drohen" (to threaten). The suffix "-ung" is commonly used in German to form nouns from verbs, often denoting the process or result of the action (e.g., warnen -> die Warnung (warning), hoffen -> die Hoffnung (hope)).

Idioms:

• Drohungen in den Wind schlagen: (Literally: to strike threats into the wind) Meaning: to ignore threats, not take them seriously.