die  Einigung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈaɪnɪɡʊŋ/

🤝 What does "die Einigung" mean?

Die Einigung (feminine noun) refers to the result of a process where different parties or individuals with varying opinions or interests reach a mutual understanding or consensus. It signifies the state or the act of reaching an agreement.

Essentially, it means:

• Agreement / Settlement: The outcome of negotiations where a compromise or common solution was found (e.g., a vertragliche Einigung - contractual agreement, a gütliche Einigung - amicable settlement in court).
• Consensus / Understanding: A state of agreement in opinions or goals.
• Unification: Less commonly, it can also refer to state or political unification (although Vereinigung is more common here, e.g., Wiedervereinigung - reunification).

🚨 Attention: Don't confuse it with Vereinbarung, which often refers to the formal document resulting from an agreement, while Einigung emphasizes the process or outcome of coming to terms.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📝 Grammar of "die Einigung" in Detail

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

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

The plural is formed by adding "-en": die Einigungen.

💡 Application Examples

1. Nach langen Verhandlungen erzielten die Parteien endlich eine Einigung.
   (After long negotiations, the parties finally reached an agreement.)
2. Die Einigung der Tarifpartner wurde gestern bekannt gegeben.
   (The agreement between the wage bargaining partners was announced yesterday.)
3. Es bedurfte vieler Gespräche, um zu einer gütlichen Einigung zu kommen.
   (It took many conversations to reach an amicable settlement.)
4. Die verschiedenen Einigungen in der Vergangenheit haben den Weg geebnet.
   (The various agreements in the past have paved the way.)

🗣️ How to use "Einigung"?

"Einigung" is frequently used in contexts where disagreements or conflicts are resolved:

• Law & Contracts: A gerichtliche Einigung (judicial settlement), an außergerichtliche Einigung (out-of-court settlement), a vertragliche Einigung (contractual agreement). This often involves ending a legal dispute or concluding contracts.
• Politics & Diplomacy: A politische Einigung (political agreement), an Einigung zwischen Staaten (agreement between states). Refers to accords or compromises at a political level.
• Business & Labor: A tarifliche Einigung (collective bargaining agreement, between unions and employers), an Einigung über den Preis (agreement on the price).
• Everyday Life: An Einigung in der Familie (agreement within the family) or unter Freunden (among friends) about a common course of action.

Distinction from similar words:

• Vereinbarung: Often the specific result or document of an agreement (e.g., “Wir haben eine Vereinbarung unterzeichnet.” - We signed an agreement). Einigung emphasizes the process of agreeing more.
• Abkommen: Usually more formal and often between larger parties or states (e.g., “ein internationales Abkommen” - an international treaty/agreement).
• Konsens: Refers more strongly to concurring opinion or consensus within a group, less about negotiating opposing views.
• Kompromiss: Highlights that both sides made concessions to reach the agreement (Einigung).

🧠 Mnemonics for "Einigung"

Mnemonic for the Article (die):

Most German nouns ending in "-ung" are feminine, including die Einigung. Think: Reaching an Einigung often brings Erleichtung (relief), which is also feminine ('die'). Both end in -ung and require 'die'.

Mnemonic for the Meaning:

Imagine two parties arguing, then they decide to become 'ein Team' (one team). The process of becoming one team, resolving differences, is the Einigung (agreement/settlement). It contains 'einig' (agreed/united).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Beware of similar words: Einigkeit (unity, state of being agreed, often an ideal) is not the same as Einigung (the process or result of reaching an agreement).

😂 A Little Joke

Richter: "Sind Sie bereit, sich auf eine gütliche Einigung einzulassen?"
Angeklagter: "Klar, Herr Richter! Wie viel einigen Sie denn so üblicherweise?"

Translation:
Judge: "Are you prepared to accept an amicable settlement (Einigung)?"
Defendant: "Sure, Your Honor! How much do you usually settle (einigen) for?"
(It's a pun on 'sich einigen' - to agree/settle, and the defendant pretending the judge is asking how much money he usually settles for personally.)

📜 Poem about Einigung

Zwei Stimmen laut, zwei Meinungen klar,
Der Streit schien endlos, Jahr um Jahr.
Doch dann ein Wort, ein Blick, ein Schritt,
Man fand zusammen, Stück für Stück.

Die Hände reichen, der Zorn verfliegt,
Wo früher Kampf, nun Frieden wiegt.
Ein kluger Kompromiss entsteht,
Die Einigung, die alles dreht.

Translation:
Two voices loud, two opinions clear,
The conflict seemed endless, year after year.
But then a word, a glance, a step,
They came together, bit by bit, adept.

Hands reach out, the anger flies,
Where once was struggle, peace now lies.
A clever compromise takes hold,
The agreement (Einigung), a story told.

❓ Riddle

Ich beende Streit und Zwist,
Auch wenn der Weg oft steinig ist.
Verträge schließ' ich, Frieden schaff' ich,
Durch Reden und Verhandeln mach' ich
Aus zwei Parteien wieder eine - ganz fein.
Wer oder was mag ich wohl sein?

Translation:
I end arguments and strife,
Even if the path is often rife
With stones. I conclude contracts, create peace,
Through talking and negotiating, I make cease
The division, turning two parties into one again - quite neat.
Who or what might I be?

Solution: die Einigung (the agreement/settlement)

🧩 Further Details

Word Formation (Wortbildung):

The word "Einigung" is a nominalization of the verb einigen (to agree, to unite) using the suffix -ung. This suffix is commonly used in German to form feminine nouns from verbs, often denoting a process, result, or state (e.g., Hoffnung from hoffen - hope, Meinung from meinen - opinion).

Historical Significance (Historische Bedeutung):

Although Vereinigung (unification) is more commonly used today, the term Einigung also played a role in German history, particularly in the 19th century during the quest for a unified nation-state (Einigungsbestrebungen - unification efforts).