die  Entbindung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɛntˈbɪndʊŋ/

👶 What Does 'die Entbindung' Mean?

The word die Entbindung primarily has two meanings:

• Childbirth / Delivery: This is the most common and everyday meaning. It describes the process of giving birth to a child. Synonyms for this are Geburt or Niederkunft.
• Release (from an obligation or office): This meaning is more formal and less common. It refers to being freed from an obligation, e.g., the Entbindung von der Schweigepflicht (release from the duty of confidentiality) by a doctor or lawyer.

🚨 Since the first meaning (childbirth) is much more frequent, the word is usually understood in this context.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📜 Grammar Deep Dive: die Entbindung

Die Entbindung is a feminine noun. Like most nouns ending in -ung, it takes the article die.

Declension

Example Sentences

1. Die Entbindung verlief ohne Komplikationen.
   (The delivery went without complications.)
2. Sie freut sich auf die bevorstehende Entbindung ihres ersten Kindes.
   (She is looking forward to the upcoming birth of her first child.)
3. Der Arzt bat um die Entbindung von seiner Schweigepflicht.
   (The doctor asked for release from his duty of confidentiality.)
4. Nach seiner Entbindung aus dem Vertrag konnte er eine neue Stelle antreten.
   (After his release from the contract, he could start a new job. - Note: 'Freistellung' or 'Auflösung' would be more common here.)

💡 How to Use 'die Entbindung'

In everyday language, die Entbindung almost exclusively refers to childbirth. People talk about natürliche Entbindung (natural birth), the Entbindungstermin (due date), or the Kreißsaal (delivery room).

The meaning release is more likely found in formal, written contexts, especially in legal or medical fields (e.g., Entbindung von der ärztlichen Schweigepflicht - release from medical confidentiality).

Comparison:

• Geburt: The most general and neutral word for giving birth.
• Entbindung: Slightly more formal than Geburt, often used in a medical context.
• Niederkunft: An archaic, rarely used word for childbirth today.
• Freistellung: The more common word for release from a duty or task.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'die Entbindung'

Article Mnemonic: Words ending in -ung are almost always feminine (die). Think of the 'bond' (Bindung) between mother and child – it's 'undone' (ent-) during childbirth (Entbindung), but the word stays feminine: die Entbindung.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a baby being 'un-bound' (ent-bunden) – 'untied' from the umbilical cord and the womb. This helps remember the main meaning (childbirth). For the second meaning: you are 'un-bound' or released from a duty.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms for Entbindung

⚠️ Similar but Misleading Words

• Verbindung: Related to 'binden' (to bind), but means connection or link (e.g., a train connection - eine Zugverbindung).
• Einbindung: Means integration or involvement (e.g., employee involvement - die Einbindung von Mitarbeitern).

😄 A Little Joke

Warum hat die Hebamme immer einen Faden dabei?

Damit sie bei der Entbindung den roten Faden nicht verliert! 😉

Translation: Why does the midwife always carry a thread?

So she doesn't lose the 'red thread' (common thread/plot/track) during the delivery! 😉 (It's a pun on the German idiom 'den roten Faden verlieren' - to lose track.)

✍️ Poem about Entbindung

Neun Monde lang, im Schoß geborgen,
Vergisst die Welt fast alle Sorgen.
Dann kommt der Tag, die große Stunde,
Ein neuer Mensch macht frohe Kunde.
Die Entbindung, Schmerz und Glück vereint,
Ein Wunder, das so wirklich scheint.

Translation:
For nine moons long, held safe inside,
The world forgets most worries to hide.
Then comes the day, the greatest hour,
A new human brings joyful power.
The delivery, pain and joy combined,
A miracle, so real to find.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich beende eine lange Reise,
mal laut und mal ganz leise.
Ich bringe Freude, manchmal Schmerz,
und öffne manches Mutterherz.
Manchmal befrei' ich auch von Pflicht,
wer bin ich, sag's und zög're nicht!

Translation:
I end a long journey,
Sometimes loud and sometimes quietly.
I bring joy, sometimes pain,
And open many a mother's heart again.
Sometimes I also release from duty,
Who am I? Tell me, don't be moody!

Solution: die Entbindung (childbirth / release)

🧐 Trivia & Word Origin

Word Composition: The word "Entbindung" is composed of the prefix ent- (which often expresses separation or removal), the verb stem binden (to bind/tie), and the suffix -ung (which nominalizes an action or process).

Cultural Context: Historically, "Niederkunft" was a common term in German, but today it sounds very archaic. "Entbindung" is established in medical and official language, while "Geburt" is the most common term used in everyday life.