die  Enteignung

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɛntˈaɪ̯ɡnʊŋ/

🏛️ What exactly is 'die Enteignung'?

The German noun die Enteignung refers to the legal process by which an owner (a person or a company) is deprived of their property through an act of sovereignty (usually by the state or an authority). This typically happens in the public interest, for example, for the construction of infrastructure such as roads, railway lines, or airports.

Key points:

• It's a state intervention into the fundamental right to property.
• It may only occur for the public good (zum Wohle der Allgemeinheit).
• The owner is entitled to fair compensation (eine angemessene Entschädigung).

🚨 Attention: Eine Enteignung is different from a Beschlagnahmung (seizure, often temporary and in the context of criminal proceedings) or a Konfiskation (confiscation, often without compensation as a penalty).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar: 'Die Enteignung' in Detail

The word "Enteignung" is a feminine noun. Therefore, the definite article is "die".

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die Enteignung des Grundstücks war für den Autobahnbau notwendig.
   (The expropriation of the property was necessary for the highway construction.)
2. Der Bauer kämpfte gegen die drohende Enteignung seines Hofes.
   (The farmer fought against the impending expropriation of his farm.)
3. Die Höhe der Entschädigung nach der Enteignung wird noch verhandelt.
   (The amount of compensation after the expropriation is still being negotiated.)
4. Im Geschichtsunterricht sprachen wir über Enteignungen nach dem Krieg. (Plural)
   (In history class, we talked about expropriations after the war.)

🗣️ Context and Usage Notes

The term die Enteignung is primarily used in legal, political, and economic discussions. It frequently appears when discussing large construction projects, urban planning, land reforms, or historical events.

• Legal Context: Discussions about the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz, Artikel 14 GG), administrative law, compensation payments (Entschädigungszahlungen).
• Political Context: Debates about infrastructure projects, social justice, the role of the state, and the protection of private property.
• Economic Context: Valuation of land and real estate, impact on businesses and investors.

In everyday language, the word is used less often but can be employed metaphorically for a perceived deprivation of something important, even if it's not a true legal expropriation (e.g., "The new software feels like an Enteignung of my old workflow."). However, this is not the correct use of the technical term.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic: Many German nouns ending in "-ung" are feminine (die Handlung - the action, die Planung - the planning, die Meinung - the opinion...). Remember: Die Handlung (the act) of Enteignung is a serious matter. It takes "die" away!

Meaning Mnemonic: Think of the components: Ent- (away/deprive) + eignen (to own) + -ung (process/act). It's the process of taking ownership *away*. Imagine an official saying: "Your property is now ent-owned!" (de-owned).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Enteignung

⚠️ Potential Confusion: Don't confuse with Beschlagnahmung (seizure, often temporary, e.g., in criminal cases) or Konfiskation (confiscation, often without compensation as a penalty).

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten: "Warum haben Sie das Huhn Ihres Nachbarn gestohlen?"
Antwortet der Angeklagte: "Herr Richter, das war keine Diebstahl, das war eine spontane Umverteilung von Federvieh im Sinne der sozialen Gerechtigkeit! Quasi eine private Enteignung..."

Translation:
The judge asks the defendant: "Why did you steal your neighbor's chicken?"
The defendant replies: "Your Honor, that wasn't theft, it was a spontaneous redistribution of poultry in the spirit of social justice! Practically a private expropriation..."

(Please don't try this at home!)

📜 Poem about Enteignung

Das Amt schreibt einen Brief, ganz klar,
Dein Grund und Boden, wunderbar,
Wird nun gebraucht, fürs große Ziel,
'ne Straße muss her, kost' es, was es will.
Die Enteignung, ein schweres Wort,
Nimmt dir dein Heim, den sich'ren Hort.
Doch 's Allgemeinwohl, so heißt es dann,
Zählt mehr als das Gut von einem Mann.
Entschädigung, ein Trost vielleicht,
Wenn Heimat tief im Herzen weicht.

Translation:
The office writes a letter, quite clear,
Your land and soil, held so dear,
Is needed now, for the grand goal,
A road must come, whatever the toll.
Expropriation, a heavy word,
Takes your home, a place preferred.
But the common good, so they proclaim,
Outweighs one person's property claim.
Compensation, perhaps some solace found,
When homeland deep in the heart gives ground.

❓ A Riddle

Ich nehme, was dir lieb und teuer,
Nicht durch Diebstahl, nicht durch Feuer.
Der Staat braucht Platz, so ist's beschlossen,
Dein Eigentum wird ihm überlassen.
Mit Geld versucht man dich zu trösten,
Doch was du verlierst, kann's nicht ersetzen, meistens.

Wer oder was bin ich? ... Die Enteignung

Translation:
I take what's dear and prized by you,
Not through theft, nor fire's hue.
The state needs space, it has decided,
Your property to it is guided.
With money, they try to console,
But what you lose, can't make you whole, mostly.

Who or what am I?
... Expropriation (Die Enteignung)

🧩 Other Information

• Word Formation: The word is composed of the prefix ent- (here meaning 'to deprive', 'remove'), the verb eignen (to own, possess), and the suffix -ung (which turns the verb into a noun denoting a process or action).
• Legal Basis in Germany: The possibility of Enteignung is regulated in the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz - GG) in Article 14, Paragraph 3. It is only permissible under specific conditions (for the public good) and with compensation (gegen Entschädigung).
• International Terms: In English, the common terms are expropriation or (especially in US law) eminent domain.