die
Einnahme
💰💊🏰 What does "die Einnahme" mean?
The word die Einnahme (feminine) has several meanings, which differ significantly depending on the context:
- Economic/Financial: Here, die Einnahme (often plural: die Einnahmen) refers to the money earned or received by a company, organization, or person. It's the inflow of funds.
- Example: Die Einnahmen des Konzerts deckten die Kosten. (The concert's revenue covered the costs.)
- Medical: In this context, die Einnahme refers to the act of swallowing or taking medication, supplements, or food.
- Example: Die regelmäßige Einnahme der Tabletten ist wichtig. (The regular intake of the tablets is important.)
- Military/Strategic: Here, die Einnahme means the capture or occupation of a place, city, or fortress.
- Example: Die Einnahme der Burg dauerte mehrere Wochen. (The capture of the castle took several weeks.)
🚨 Although there are different meanings, the article always remains die, as it is a feminine noun derived from the verb einnehmen (to take in/up/capture).
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Einnahme
Die Einnahme is a feminine noun. Its declension is as follows:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die | Einnahme |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der | Einnahme |
| Dative (To whom?) | der | Einnahme |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die | Einnahme |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Einnahmen |
| Genitive | der | Einnahmen |
| Dative | den | Einnahmen |
| Accusative | die | Einnahmen |
💡 Example Sentences
- Economic (Plural): Der Verein finanziert sich durch Spenden und die Einnahmen aus Veranstaltungen.
(The association finances itself through donations and the revenue from events.) - Medical (Singular): Der Arzt empfahl die Einnahme des Medikaments vor dem Essen.
(The doctor recommended taking the medication before eating.) - Military (Singular): Nach der Einnahme der Stadt wurden neue Regeln erlassen.
(After the capture of the city, new rules were enacted.)
Context is Key: When to Use "die Einnahme"
The usage of die Einnahme depends heavily on the context:
- In business and finance: When talking about money coming in (revenue, proceeds, fees), Einnahme(n) is the appropriate term. It is often contrasted with Ausgabe(n) (expenditures). Example: Die Einnahmen-Überschuss-Rechnung ist eine vereinfachte Form der Buchführung. (Cash basis accounting is a simplified form of bookkeeping.)
- In the medical field: When referring to medication or food, Einnahme describes the act of consuming. Example: Bitte beachten Sie die Hinweise zur Einnahme auf dem Beipackzettel. (Please note the instructions for intake on the package insert.)
- In historical or military contexts: Here, Einnahme describes the successful takeover or conquest of a strategic point. Example: Die Einnahme von Konstantinopel im Jahr 1453 markierte einen Wendepunkt. (The capture of Constantinople in 1453 marked a turning point.)
Distinction from similar words:
- Der Umsatz (turnover/revenue): Refers specifically to proceeds from selling goods/services, while Einnahmen can be broader (e.g., including rental income, interest income).
- Der Ertrag (yield/profit/proceeds): Often synonymous with Einnahmen, but can also mean profit (income after deducting expenses).
- Die Besetzung (occupation): Emphasizes the control and administration of a captured territory *after* the Einnahme.
- Die Aufnahme (intake/admission/recording): Can refer to food intake, but also admission of members, recording information, etc. (broader than the medical Einnahme).
🧠 How to Remember "die Einnahme"
Article Aid (die): Think of feminine things ending in -e. Die **Ei**nnahm**e** fits this common pattern for feminine nouns in German.
Meaning Aid: Focus on the verb einnehmen (to take in/up/capture). You actively 'take in' something:
The verb einnehmen connects all meanings.
- You take in money (Einnahme as revenue).
- You take in medicine (Einnahme as intake).
- Soldiers take a city (Einnahme as capture).
🔄 Similar and Opposite Words
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- For economic Einnahme: der Erlös (proceeds), der Ertrag (yield, proceeds), das Einkommen (income), der Umsatz (revenue, turnover), der Geldeingang (cash receipt), die Einkünfte (pl., income/revenue)
- For medical Einnahme: die Verabreichung (administration), die Aufnahme (intake), die Zufuhr (supply, intake), die Dosis (dose - more the quantity)
- For military Einnahme: die Eroberung (conquest), die Besetzung (occupation), die Erstürmung (storming), die Kapitulation (capitulation - of the defender), der Fall (the fall - of the city)
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- For economic Einnahme: die Ausgabe (expenditure), der Aufwand (expense), der Verlust (loss), die Kosten (costs)
- For medical Einnahme: die Absetzung (discontinuation - of a drug), die Ausscheidung (excretion)
- For military Einnahme: die Befreiung (liberation), der Rückzug (retreat), die Verteidigung (defense), der Widerstand (resistance)
⚠️ Caution: Do not confuse with die Annahme (assumption; acceptance) or die Ausnahme (exception).
😄 A Little Joke
Steuerberater: "Herr Doktor, wie organisieren Sie Ihre Einnahmen und Ausgaben?"
Arzt: "Ganz einfach. Alles, was ich einnehme, sind Einnahmen. Alles, was die Patienten einnehmen, sind Ausgaben!"
(Tax advisor: "Doctor, how do you organize your income and expenses?"
Doctor: "Very simple. Everything I take in (earn) is income. Everything the patients take in (swallow) are expenses!")
📜 Poem about Einnahme
Ob Kasse klingelt, froh und rein,
als wirtschaftliche Einnahme fein.
Ob Pille wirkt in kranker Zeit,
die Einnahme macht dich bereit.
Ob Mauern fallen, Stadt besiegt,
die Einnahme im Buche liegt.
Ein Wort, drei Welten, klar und schlicht,
versteh den Kontext, 's ist nicht dicht.
(Whether the cash register rings, happy and pure,
as fine economic revenue, secure.
Whether the pill works in times of ill,
the intake makes you ready and still.
Whether walls fall, city defeated,
the capture in the book is seated.
One word, three worlds, clear and plain,
understand the context, it's not vain [lit: dense/tight].)
🤔 Little Riddle
Ich komme als Geld in die Kasse hinein,
als Pille muss ich geschlucket sein.
Als Stadt kann ich fallen nach langem Streit.
Was bin ich, in meiner Vielseitigkeit?
(I come as money into the till,
As a pill, I must be swallowed with skill.
As a city, I can fall after a long fight.
What am I, in my versatile light?)
Solution: die Einnahme
✨ Other Information
Word Formation:
Die Einnahme is a nominalized verb (a noun formed from a verb). It derives from the verb einnehmen.
- ein- (prefix, meaning 'inward' or expressing an action)
- nehm(en) (verb stem of 'nehmen' - to take)
- -e (typical ending for feminine nouns derived from verbs, here specifically from the infinitive, or as a back-formation from 'Einnahmen')
The verb einnehmen itself means: to receive money, to occupy a place, to take medicine, to adopt a certain posture/attitude.
Related terms: Einnahmequelle (source of income), Einnahmenüberschussrechnung (cash basis accounting), Medikamenteneinnahme (medication intake), Stadteinnahme (capture of a city).
Summary: is it der, die or das Einnahme?
The noun "Einnahme" is always feminine. The correct article is die Einnahme. The plural form is die Einnahmen.