die  Entscheidung

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɛntˈʃaɪ̯dʊŋ/

🎯 What exactly is die Entscheidung?

Die Entscheidung (noun, feminine) refers to the process or result of choosing between several possibilities or alternatives. It's the act of committing oneself, taking a specific path, or carrying out a particular action.

• Act of choosing: The process of weighing options and making a choice (e.g., *Die Entscheidung fiel mir schwer. - The decision was difficult for me.*)
• Result: The outcome of this act of choosing (e.g., *Das ist meine endgültige Entscheidung. - That is my final decision.*)
• Ruling/Resolution: Often used in legal or formal contexts (e.g., *Die gerichtliche Entscheidung steht noch aus. - The court's decision is still pending.*)

🚨 Important: 'Entscheidung' is always feminine, so it's always die Entscheidung.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Check: Declining die Entscheidung

The noun "Entscheidung" is feminine. Here are the declension tables:

Example Sentences

1. Wir müssen bald eine Entscheidung treffen.
   (We need to make a decision soon.)
2. Die Entscheidung des Richters war endgültig.
   (The judge's decision was final.)
3. Nach langer Überlegung kam sie zu einer klugen Entscheidung.
   (After long consideration, she came to a wise decision.)
4. Viele kleine Entscheidungen prägen unseren Alltag.
   (Many small decisions shape our everyday lives.)

💡 How to use die Entscheidung correctly?

"Die Entscheidung" is a very common word in German. Here are typical contexts:

• Eine Entscheidung treffen/fällen: These are the most common verbs combined with Entscheidung, meaning 'to make a decision'. Example: Er musste eine schwierige Entscheidung fällen. (He had to make a difficult decision.)
• Vor einer Entscheidung stehen: Describes the situation before making a decision. Example: Wir stehen vor einer wichtigen Entscheidung für die Zukunft des Unternehmens. (We are facing an important decision for the company's future.)
• Zu einer Entscheidung kommen/gelangen: Emphasizes the process of deciding. Example: Nach stundenlanger Diskussion sind wir zu keiner Entscheidung gekommen. (After hours of discussion, we didn't reach a decision.)
• Formal/Legal Decisions: In the context of courts, authorities, or committees. Example: Die Entscheidung der Jury wurde verkündet. (The jury's decision was announced.)

Distinction from similar words:

• Beschluss: Often synonymous, but more common for formal group decisions (e.g., Vorstandsbeschluss - board resolution).
• Urteil: Specifically for judicial decisions (verdicts, judgments).
• Entschluss: Often emphasizes the inner resolve or intention to do something (e.g., der feste Entschluss abzunehmen - the firm resolution to lose weight).

🧠 Mnemonics for die Entscheidung

• For the article 'die': Many German nouns ending in -ung are feminine (die Meinung, die Rechnung, die Hoffnung...). Remember: Die Entscheidung is an important action (Handlung) – both end in -ung, both use die.

• For the meaning: Imagine a crossroads ('scheiden' means to separate or part). You have to 'ent-scheiden' which way to go. The outcome is the deciding choice – the Entscheidung. The 'e' at the end of 'die' matches the 'e' at the start of 'Entscheidung'.

↔️ Entscheidung: Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Caution: Although similar, the contexts for synonyms often differ. 'Urteil' (verdict) rarely fits a personal 'Entscheidung' (decision) when shopping.

😂 A little joke about decisions

DE: Warum treffen Geister so schlechte Entscheidungen?

Weil man durch sie hindurchsehen kann!

EN: Why do ghosts make such bad decisions?

Because you can see right through them!

✍️ Poem: The Moment of Decision

DE:
Ein Weg teilt sich, die Luft steht still,
Gedanken kreisen, wie man will.
Ein Ja, ein Nein, ein Schritt nach vorn,
Im Herzen nagt der Zweifel-Dorn.

Doch dann ein Ruck, ein klarer Blick,
Zurück gibt es kein Wegstück.
Die Entscheidung ist nun klar,
Was kommt, das wird nun wahr.

EN:
A path divides, the air stands still,
Thoughts circle, as they will.
A yes, a no, a step ahead,
In the heart gnaws the thorn of dread.

But then a jolt, a vision clear,
No turning back, no more fear.
The decision is now made,
What comes next, unafraid.

❓ Riddle Time: What am I?

DE:
Ich beende das Zögern, das Hin und Her,
Mal fall ich leicht, mal fall ich schwer.
Ich kann dein Leben lenken,
Man muss gut über mich nachdenken.

Ich komme nach dem Abwägen dran,
Ob von Frau, ob von Mann.
Richter fällen mich, du triffst mich auch,
So ist es alter Brauch.

Was bin ich?

(Lösung: die Entscheidung)

EN:
I end the hesitation, the back and forth,
Sometimes I'm easy, sometimes I have great worth.
I can steer your life's direction,
Requiring careful reflection.

I come after the weighing is done,
Made by everyone.
Judges make me, you make me too,
It's an old custom, tried and true.

What am I?

(Answer: die Entscheidung / the decision)

🧩 More interesting facts

Word Composition:

The word "Entscheidung" derives from the verb "entscheiden" (to decide). This, in turn, comes from "scheiden" (to separate, part) with the prefix "ent-", which here indicates a final separation or selection from several possibilities. The suffix "-ung" turns the verb into a noun.

• ent- (prefix, often indicating beginning or end)
• scheid(en) (root: to separate, divide)
• -ung (suffix for nominalizing verbs, usually feminine)

Trivia:

The ability to make decisions (decision-making) is an important field of research in psychology and economics.