die
Erteilung
📜 What exactly does 'die Erteilung' mean?
Die Erteilung (feminine) describes the act of granting, issuing, conferring, or giving something, often in a formal or official context. It's a noun derived from the verb erteilen (to grant, issue, give).
Typical examples include the *Erteilung einer Genehmigung* (granting of a permit), *eines Auftrags* (issuance of an order), *einer Auskunft* (provision of information), or *eines Rats* (giving of advice).
It refers to the process of granting/issuing itself, not necessarily the result (although it's often implied).
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ung → always feminine.
There are many -ung words, we won't list them all. There are only a few exceptions.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Erteilung
The word 'Erteilung' is a feminine noun. The article is die.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die | Erteilung |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der | Erteilung |
| Dative (To whom?) | der | Erteilung |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die | Erteilung |
Declension Plural
The plural 'die Erteilungen' is used less frequently but is possible when referring to multiple individual acts of granting/issuing.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Erteilungen |
| Genitive | der | Erteilungen |
| Dative | den | Erteilungen |
| Accusative | die | Erteilungen |
Example Sentences
- Die Erteilung der Baugenehmigung dauerte mehrere Wochen. (The granting of the building permit took several weeks.)
- Wir warten auf die Erteilung des Auftrags durch den Kunden. (We are waiting for the issuance of the order by the client.)
- Die Erteilung von Ratschlägen sollte wohlüberlegt sein. (The giving of advice should be well-considered.)
- Nach Erteilung der Vollmacht konnte er handeln. (After the granting of the power of attorney, he could act.)
🗣️ How to use 'Erteilung'?
'Erteilung' is primarily used in formal, administrative, or legal contexts. It emphasizes the act of officially giving or granting something.
- Typical Collocations: *die Erteilung einer Genehmigung* (granting of a permit), *eines Zeugnisses* (issuance of a certificate), *einer Prokura* (granting of power of attorney), *einer Auskunft* (provision of information), *eines Auftrags* (issuance of an order), *eines Mandats* (granting of a mandate), *eines Ratschlags* (giving of advice), *einer Absage* (issuance of a refusal/rejection).
- Context: You often find the word in official letters (*amtliche Schreiben*), contracts (*Verträge*), business correspondence (*Geschäftskorrespondenz*), and legal texts (*juristische Texte*).
- Differentiation: While 'die Genehmigung' is the permission itself, 'die Erteilung der Genehmigung' describes the process of how this permission is given. Similarly for 'der Auftrag' (the order/task) vs. 'die Erteilung des Auftrags' (the act of commissioning).
🚨 In everyday language, you would more likely say 'einen Rat geben' (to give advice) instead of the formal 'Erteilung eines Ratschlags'.
🧠 Mnemonics for Erteilung
Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -ung are almost always feminine in German. Think of *die Rechnung* (the bill), *die Wohnung* (the apartment), *die Meinung* (the opinion)... and therefore, die Erteilung!
Meaning Mnemonic: During an Erteilung, an authority officially gives you a Teil (part or share) of something – like permission, information, or an order. It's being 'par**teil**y' given to you (though 'erteilen' means to bestow/grant).
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Verleihung: conferral, bestowal (often for titles, awards)
- Ausstellung: issuance (often for documents like certificates, passports)
- Gewährung: granting (often for loans, rights, deadlines)
- Zuteilung: allocation, assignment (often for resources, places, tasks)
- Übertragung: transfer, assignment (often for rights, duties, property)
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Verweigerung: refusal, denial (active rejection)
- Entzug / Widerruf: revocation, withdrawal (taking back something already granted)
- Ablehnung: rejection, refusal (negative response to an application)
- Versagung: denial, refusal (formal non-granting)
⚠️ Similar Sounding Words:
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Haben Sie schon die Erteilung bekommen, Kaffee zu kochen?"
Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: "Nein, aber ich habe mir die Freiheit genommen!" 😉
Translation:
The boss asks the new employee: "Have you received the authorization (Erteilung) to make coffee yet?"
The employee replies: "No, but I took the liberty!" 😉
✒️ A Poem about Erteilung
Der Stempel drückt, das Siegel klebt,
ein Akt, der offiziell nun lebt.
Die Erteilung, schwarz auf weiß,
beendet Bangen, heiß.
Ob Auftrag, Recht, ob die Lizenz,
sie schafft nun klare Evidenz.
Translation:
The stamp impresses, the seal adheres,
an act that now officially lives.
The granting (Erteilung), black on white,
ends anxiousness, burning bright.
Be it order, right, or the license,
it now creates clear evidence.
❓ Little Riddle
Ich bin ein Akt, oft sehr formal,
bring Rechte manchmal, manchmal Qual.
Von Ämtern werd' ich oft vollbracht,
hab' über Genehmigungen Macht.
Vom Verb 'erteilen' komm ich her,
was bin ich, sag es mir doch sehr!
Translation:
I am an act, often quite formal,
bring rights sometimes, sometimes turmoil.
By offices, I'm often done,
over permits, power I've won.
From the verb 'erteilen' I derive,
what am I, tell me now, alive!
Solution: die Erteilung
🧩 Further Details
Word Composition
The word 'Erteilung' is composed of:
- er-: A prefix often indicating the beginning, completion, or achievement of something (as in *erreichen* - to reach, *eröffnen* - to open).
- teilen: The root verb, used here in the sense of 'to allot', 'to give', 'to grant'.
- -ung: A suffix that turns verbs into feminine nouns, usually describing a process, state, or result.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Erteilung?
The noun 'Erteilung' describes the formal act of giving or granting (e.g., a permit). It is always feminine, so the correct article is die Erteilung.