die  Ermäßigung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɛɐ̯ˈmɛsɪɡʊŋ/

📉 What Does die Ermäßigung Mean?

Die Ermäßigung (noun, feminine) means a reduction, discount, or abatement, usually referring to a price, fee, or penalty. It's the amount by which something becomes cheaper.

Examples:

• Eine Ermäßigung für Studenten. (A discount for students.)
• Eine Ermäßigung auf den Eintrittspreis. (A reduction on the admission price.)
• Eine deutliche Ermäßigung während des Schlussverkaufs. (A significant discount during the final sale.)

🚨 Since the word ends in -ung, it's definitively feminine (die).

Article rules for der, die, and das

📐 Grammar Corner: Declining Ermäßigung

The noun die Ermäßigung is feminine. Here are the declension tables for singular and plural:

Example Sentences:

1. Der Student fragte nach einer Ermäßigung.
   The student asked for a discount. (Dative singular after preposition 'nach')
2. Die Ermäßigungen für Senioren sind sehr beliebt.
   The discounts for seniors are very popular. (Nominative plural)
3. Wir gewähren Ihnen die Ermäßigung von 10%.
   We grant you the discount of 10%. (Accusative singular)
4. Dank der Ermäßigung konnte ich mir das Ticket leisten.
   Thanks to the discount, I could afford the ticket. (Genitive singular after preposition 'dank'; dative is also common)

💡 How to Use Ermäßigung Correctly

Die Ermäßigung is commonly used in the context of prices, fees, and fares. It describes an officially granted reduction for specific groups of people or under certain conditions.

• Typical Contexts: Admission prices (museum, cinema, swimming pool), tickets (train, bus), course fees, membership fees, sometimes penalties (reduction of sentence - Strafmaßermäßigung).
• Target Groups: Often for students, pupils, children, seniors, people with disabilities, groups, early bookers, or members.
• Difference to Rabatt: While Rabatt (discount) is often used in retail for volume, loyalty, or promotional discounts on goods, Ermäßigung is more common for services, fees, or admissions and is often tied to conditions (e.g., presenting a student ID). Nachlass is a more general term for any kind of price reduction.

Example: "Gibt es eine Ermäßigung für Rentner?" (Is there a discount/reduction for pensioners?) vs. "Ich habe 20% Rabatt auf die Hose bekommen." (I got a 20% discount on the trousers.)

🧠 Mnemonics for die Ermäßigung

1. Remembering the Article:

   Almost all German nouns ending in -ung are feminine (die). Think of die Zeitung (newspaper), die Meinung (opinion), die Hoffnung (hope)... and, of course, die Ermäßigung! The ending -ung is your signal for die. 💪

2. Remembering the Meaning:

   An Ermäßigung makes the price more mäßig (moderate, reduced). Imagine the price coming down from a high level to a more 'moderate' level – that's the Er-mäßig-ung (reduction). 📉

↔️ Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Note: Not every synonym fits every context. Ermäßigung is more specific than Nachlass and often linked to specific conditions.

😂 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Kunde an der Kinokasse: "Gibt es eine Ermäßigung für Leute, die den Film schon mal gesehen haben, aber eingeschlafen sind?" Antwortet der Kassierer: "Nur, wenn Sie versprechen, diesmal nicht zu schnarchen!"

English: A customer asks at the cinema box office: "Is there a discount for people who have seen the movie before but fell asleep?" The cashier replies: "Only if you promise not to snore this time!" 😄

📜 Poetry of Saving

German:
Der Preis, er stand so hoch und stolz,
mein Portemonnaie, es knirschte wie Holz.
Doch dann ein Schild, welch' eine Wonne,
eine Ermäßigung, hell wie die Sonne!
Für Studenten, Senioren, für dich und mich,
so wird das Teure plötzlich WIRKLICH günstig!

English Translation:
The price, it stood so high and proud,
My wallet groaned, almost cried aloud.
But then a sign, what sheer delight,
A discount (Ermäßigung), like sunshine bright!
For students, seniors, for you and me,
The expensive thing becomes truly cheap, you see!

❓ What Am I? A Riddle

German:
Ich mache Teures etwas billiger,
für manchen wird der Kauf dann williger.
Studenten lieben mich gar sehr,
ich nehm' dem Preis die Last, so schwer.
Ich ende auf "-ung" und bin feminin,
wer clever ist, der sucht nach mir – na, wer bin ich denn?

English Translation:
I make expensive things a bit cheaper,
For some, the purchase then seems keener.
Students love me very much,
I take the burden from the price, as such.
I end in "-ung" and am feminine,
Who is clever looks for me – so, who am I then?

Answer: die Ermäßigung

🧩 Word Building and More

Word Formation:

Die Ermäßigung is a noun derived from the verb ermäßigen. The verb itself means "to make more moderate," i.e., to reduce or lower.

• er- (Prefix, often intensifying or indicating a change)
• mäßig (Adjective: moderate, temperate)
• -en (Verb ending)
• -ung (Suffix used to form feminine nouns from verbs, often denoting a process or its result)

Thus, die Ermäßigung describes the result of the action of ermäßigen (reducing).

Interesting Note: The term can also be used figuratively, e.g., Ermäßigung einer Strafe (reduction of a sentence/penalty).