die
Einstellung
📖 What does "die Einstellung" mean?
The word die Einstellung is a versatile German noun with several meanings. As it ends in "-ung", it is feminine (weiblich).
- Attitude / Mindset / Opinion: Refers to a person's way of thinking, personal opinion, or basic stance towards something or someone. Example: Seine positive Einstellung hilft ihm sehr. (His positive attitude helps him a lot.)
- Technical Setting / Adjustment / Configuration: Describes the adjustment of parameters on devices, software, or machines. Example: Überprüfe die Einstellungen deiner Kamera. (Check the settings on your camera.)
- Hiring / Employment: Denotes the act of starting an employment relationship or the fact of being employed. Example: Die Einstellung neuer Mitarbeiter erfolgt im nächsten Monat. (The hiring of new employees will take place next month.)
- Cessation / Stopping / Discontinuation: Means the stopping or suspension of an activity, procedure, or operation. Example: Die Einstellung des Verfahrens wurde beschlossen. (The discontinuation of the proceedings was decided.) ⚠️ This meaning is often used in the context of legal procedures, payments, or business operations.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ung → always feminine.
There are many -ung words, we won't list them all. There are only a few exceptions.
📚 Grammar of "Einstellung" in Detail
"Die Einstellung" is a feminine noun. Its declension follows the pattern for feminine nouns, most of which end in -ung.
| Case | Article | Noun | (English Case) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Einstellung | (Subject) |
| Genitive | der | Einstellung | (Possessive) |
| Dative | der | Einstellung | (Indirect Object) |
| Accusative | die | Einstellung | (Direct Object) |
| Case | Article | Noun | (English Case) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Einstellungen | (Subject) |
| Genitive | der | Einstellungen | (Possessive) |
| Dative | den | Einstellungen | (Indirect Object) |
| Accusative | die | Einstellungen | (Direct Object) |
Example Sentences:
- (Attitude) Ihre Einstellung zur Arbeit ist vorbildlich. (Her attitude towards work is exemplary.)
- (Setting) Ich muss die Einstellungen am Computer ändern. (I need to change the settings on the computer.)
- (Hiring) Die Firma plant viele neue Einstellungen. (The company is planning many new hires.)
- (Cessation) Die Einstellung der Produktion kam überraschend. (The cessation of production came as a surprise.)
💡 How to use "die Einstellung"?
The correct usage strongly depends on the context:
- Attitude/Opinion: Often used in connection with personal beliefs, morals, or work ethic. One speaks of a positive/negative/critical Einstellung (positive/negative/critical attitude).
- Technical Setting: Typical in manuals, IT support, or when configuring devices (phone, computer, car). You nimmst Einstellungen vor (make settings) or änderst die Einstellungen (change the settings).
- Hiring: Used in a professional context (HR department, job market). One talks about the Einstellung von Personal (hiring of personnel) or a Fest-/Teilzeiteinstellung (permanent/part-time employment).
- Cessation: Frequently used in formal or official contexts (law, business). E.g., Einstellung eines Gerichtsverfahrens (suspension of legal proceedings), Einstellung von Zahlungen (stopping payments), Einstellung des Betriebs (shutdown of operations).
🚨 There is little risk of confusion, as the context usually clarifies the meaning. However, pay attention to which meaning is intended to avoid misunderstandings.
🧠 Mnemonics for "die Einstellung"
- Article Mnemonic: Words ending in -ung are almost always feminine (die). Think of other examples: die Meinung (opinion), die Rechnung (bill), die Wohnung (apartment)... and therefore die Einstellung.
- Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine: You set up (einstellen) your phone's settings (technische Einstellung), then you mentally adjust (einstellen) your attitude (innere Einstellung) for the day, then your boss hires (einstellen) you (Anstellung), and finally, the factory ceases (einstellen) operations (Beendigung). The verb einstellen connects many meanings!
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar words):
- For Attitude/Opinion: die Haltung, die Gesinnung, die Ansicht, der Standpunkt, die Mentalität, die Attitüde
- For Technical Setting: die Konfiguration, die Justierung, die Parametrierung, die Regelung, das Setup
- For Hiring: die Anstellung, die Beschäftigung, der Job, das Arbeitsverhältnis, das Engagement
- For Cessation: die Beendigung, der Stopp, die Aufhebung, die Aussetzung, die Sistierung (legal), die Stilllegung (operations)
Antonyms (opposite words):
- To Attitude/Opinion: die Gleichgültigkeit (indifference), die Teilnahmslosigkeit (apathy) (depending on context)
- To Technical Setting: die Standardeinstellung (default setting), die Werkseinstellung (factory setting) (as starting points)
- To Hiring: die Entlassung (dismissal), die Kündigung (termination), die Freisetzung (release)
- To Cessation: die Fortsetzung (continuation), die Weiterführung (continuation), die Wiederaufnahme (resumption), der Start
Similar, potentially misleading words:
- Die Stellung: Can mean position (also social), posture (body), or job/post. Partially overlaps but not identical.
- Die Vorstellung: Can mean introduction, idea/imagination, or performance/show.
😄 A Little Joke
DE: Warum hat der Computer kalte Füße?
Er hatte die falschen Socken-Einstellungen!
EN: Why does the computer have cold feet?
It had the wrong socket/sock settings! (Plays on 'Einstellungen' as settings and the similar sound of 'Socken' (socks) and 'socket' in English).
🎶 Poem about Einstellung
DE:
Die Einstellung, sie zeigt dein Gesicht,
ob trüb der Blick, ob voller Licht.
Im Job, da zählt sie, froh und klar,
auch am Gerät, Jahr für Jahr.
Man stellt dich ein, mit gutem Sinn,
man stellt was ein, tief im Maschin'.
Und stellt man's ein, das Tun, die Pflicht?
Ein Wort, vierfach, ein Schwergewicht.
EN:
Your attitude, it shows your face,
Whether dim gaze or filled with grace.
In work it counts, happy and clear,
Also on devices, year after year.
You get hired, with good intent,
A setting's made, on instrument.
And if they stop the deed, the task?
One word, four meanings, a heavy ask.
❓ Riddle Time
DE:
Ich bin dein Denken, dein Gefühl.
Ich bin am Handy, kühl und kühl.
Ich geb dir Arbeit, Lohn und Brot.
Ich stoppe manchmal die Not.
Was bin ich?
EN:
I am your thinking, how you feel.
I'm on your phone, settings so real.
I give you work, your pay, your bread.
Sometimes I stop things, it is said.
What am I?
(Solution: die Einstellung)
🧩 Other Details
Word Composition:
The word "Einstellung" is derived from the verb einstellen. It consists of:
- Prefix: ein- (in, into, adjust, start)
- Stem: stell(en) (to place, position, set)
- Suffix: -ung (a common suffix used to nominalize verbs, making the noun feminine)
This composition helps explain the various meanings, all related to the act of "ein-stellen" (adjusting, starting, positioning an opinion).
Trivia: "Einstellung" is a very common word in German, used frequently in everyday language as well as in specialized fields (technology, law, psychology, human resources).
Summary: is it der, die or das Einstellung?
The noun "Einstellung" is always feminine. The correct article is die Einstellung. The plural form is die Einstellungen.