die  Erhöhung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɛɐ̯ˈhøːʊŋ/

📈 What does "die Erhöhung" mean?

Die Erhöhung (feminine, plural: die Erhöhungen) is a noun with several meanings:

• Increase / Rise: This is the most common meaning. It refers to an increase in values, prices, salaries, taxes, etc. Examples: die Preiserhöhung (price increase), die Gehaltserhöhung (salary increase).
• Elevation / Raised ground: It describes a spot in the terrain that is higher than its surroundings. Example: Auf der Erhöhung stand eine alte Eiche. (An old oak stood on the elevation.)
• Traffic calming measure: Sometimes the term is used for structures meant to slow down traffic, like a speed bump (although Bodenschwelle or Schwelle are more common). Example: Achtung, da vorne ist eine Erhöhung auf der Straße! (Careful, there's a bump on the road ahead!) ⚠️

The word is derived from the verb erhöhen (to increase, to raise).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Erhöhung

The noun „Erhöhung“ is feminine. The article is „die“. Like most feminine nouns ending in „-ung“, it's feminine.

📝 Example Sentences

• Die Erhöhung der Miete kam unerwartet. (The rent increase came unexpectedly.)
• Von dieser leichten Erhöhung aus hat man einen guten Überblick. (From this slight elevation, you have a good overview.)
• Der Chef kündigte eine Erhöhung des Budgets an. (The boss announced an increase in the budget.)
• Die wiederholten Erhöhungen der Zinsen belasten die Wirtschaft. (The repeated interest rate increases burden the economy.)

💡 How to use "die Erhöhung"?

"Die Erhöhung" is often used in specific contexts:

• Economy & Finance: Very common for Preiserhöhung (price increase), Mieterhöhung (rent increase), Gehaltserhöhung (salary increase), Beitragserhöhung (contribution increase), Steuererhöhung (tax increase).
• Geography & Topography: Description of landforms, hills, or slight rises in terrain.
• Traffic: Less common, but possible for speed bumps or raised areas for speed reduction.

Distinguishing from similar words:

• Anstieg: Often synonymous, but Anstieg can also be more abstract or gradual (e.g., Temperaturanstieg - temperature rise).
• Steigerung: Very similar, often interchangeable, perhaps slightly more formal or related to performance/productivity (Leistungssteigerung - performance increase).
• Zunahme: More general for quantities or numbers (Zunahme der Bevölkerung - population growth).
• Anhebung: Often sounds more official or active (Anhebung des Rentenalters - raising the retirement age).

In everyday language, you'll often hear compound words like Preiserhöhung instead of just Erhöhung for more precision.

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Erhöhung"

1. Article Mnemonic (die): Words ending in -ung are almost always feminine (die). Think: "Die Rechnung (the bill, fem.) often brings die Erhöhung (the increase, fem.)!" Both are often disliked and feminine in German. 😉
2. Meaning Mnemonic (Increase/Elevation): Imagine something going high (er-höh-ung). A line on a graph goes up (📈 increase) or a small hill rises high (⛰️ elevation). The word itself sounds like "Höhe" (height).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words (Caution):

• Erhobenheit: Refers more to a state of being sublime, dignity, or nobility.
• Hebung: Can also mean a lift or raise, but is often used more specifically (e.g., Hebung eines Schatzes - raising a treasure, Stimmhebung - voice raising).

😄 A Little Joke

Chef: „Was halten Sie von einer Gehaltserhöhung?“
Mitarbeiter: „Das wäre fantastisch, Chef!“
Chef: „Gut. Dann halten Sie weiter daran fest, ich denke nämlich auch nur darüber nach.“

--- Translation ---

Boss: "What do you think about a salary increase?"
Employee: "That would be fantastic, boss!"
Boss: "Good. Then keep thinking about it, because I'm also just thinking about it."

📜 Poem about Erhöhung

Die Preise steigen, welch ein Graus,
Die Erhöhung, sie kommt ins Haus.
Das Konto ächzt, das Portemonnaie,
Ach, wär's doch nur 'ne Anhöh' im Schnee!
Doch nein, es ist die Zahl, die klettert,
Die unser Budget arg zerschmettert.

--- Translation ---

The prices rise, oh what a dread,
The increase comes into the shed (house).
The account groans, the wallet too,
If only 'twere a snowy hillock's view!
But no, it is the number climbing,
That shatters our budget's timing.

🧩 Riddle

Ich mache Preise manchmal teuer,
und Löhne bring ich neu ins Feuer.
Im Gelände bin ich ein kleiner Berg,
manchmal auf der Straße auch ein Zwerg (als Schwelle).

Was bin ich?

--- Translation ---

I sometimes make prices more expensive,
and bring new fire to wages intensive.
In terrain, I am a little hill,
sometimes on the road a dwarf (as a bump), standing still.

What am I? (Solution: die Erhöhung)

💡 Other Information

Word Formation (Wortbildung):

• The word "Erhöhung" is a nominalization (making a noun) of the verb erhöhen (to increase, raise).
• Prefix er-: often indicates achieving a state or result.
• Stem höh: related to "hoch" (high) and "Höhe" (height).
• Suffix -ung: forms feminine nouns from verbs, often denoting the process or result of the action.

Interesting Fact: In a musical context, eine „Erhöhung“ eines Tons refers to raising a note's pitch using a sharp (♯), e.g., from F to F-sharp (Fis).