die  Erwartung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɛʁˈvaʁtʊŋ/

🤔 What does "die Erwartung" mean?

Die Erwartung (feminine) describes the feeling or state of waiting for something in the future, often associated with a specific idea or hope about what will happen. It can refer to positive anticipation, a neutral assumption, or even apprehension.

• Main meaning: The act of waiting for or assuming something future; an idea of what should or will come. (Similar to expectation or anticipation in English).
• Context-dependent: Can relate to personal hopes, social norms (soziale Normen), economic forecasts (wirtschaftliche Prognosen), or scientific hypotheses (wissenschaftliche Hypothesen).

⚠️ There is only this one article (die) and this main meaning for "Erwartung".

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Erwartung

The noun "Erwartung" is feminine. The article is die.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Nominative: Die Erwartung steigt mit jedem Tag. (The anticipation grows every day.)
2. Genitive: Trotz der Erwartung vieler Experten blieb der Erfolg aus. (Despite the expectation of many experts, success did not materialize.)
3. Dative: Sie entspricht nicht ganz der Erwartung ihrer Eltern. (She doesn't quite meet her parents' expectations.)
4. Akkusativ: Wir teilen die Erwartung, dass sich die Lage verbessert. (We share the expectation that the situation will improve.)
5. Plural: Seine Erwartungen wurden übertroffen. (His expectations were exceeded.)

💡 How to use "die Erwartung"?

"Erwartung" is commonly used to talk about hopes, forecasts, or requirements.

• Hohe/Geringe Erwartungen haben: To have high/low expectations. Example: Sie hat hohe Erwartungen an das Projekt. (She has high expectations for the project.)
• Erwartungen erfüllen/enttäuschen: To meet/disappoint expectations. Example: Das Ergebnis erfüllte unsere kühnsten Erwartungen. (The result met our wildest expectations.) / Leider wurden die Erwartungen enttäuscht. (Unfortunately, the expectations were disappointed.)
• Entgegen aller Erwartungen: Against all expectations. Example: Entgegen aller Erwartungen gewann der Außenseiter das Rennen. (Against all expectations, the underdog won the race.)
• In freudiger Erwartung sein: Literally 'to be in joyful expectation', often a euphemism for being pregnant. Example: Sie ist in freudiger Erwartung. (She is expecting [a baby].)
• Die Erwartungshaltung: This compound noun refers to the general attitude or set of expectations of a person or group. Example: Die Erwartungshaltung der Kunden ist sehr hoch. (The customers' level of expectation is very high.)

Compared to "Hoffnung" (hope), "Erwartung" is often more neutral or based more strongly on assumptions or evidence, whereas "Hoffnung" is usually positive and more emotional. "Annahme" (assumption) is even more neutral and rational.

🧠 Mnemonics for "Erwartung"

Article Mnemonic: Many German nouns ending in -ung are feminine (die). Think of: die Hoffnung (hope), die Meinung (opinion), die Leitung (management/pipe)... and, of course, die Erwartung! The "-ung" ending is like a feminine signature.

Meaning Mnemonic: Think of the related verb "warten" (to wait). When you wait for something, you have an Er-wart-ung. Imagine you are awaiting something, which implies an expectation. The "Er-" prefix often intensifies or indicates achieving something through the action (here: waiting leads to the state of expectation).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Potential Confusion: Sometimes "Erwartung" might be confused with "Forderung" (demand). A Forderung is an explicit claim, while an Erwartung is more of an (often unspoken) assumption.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Skelette keine Erwartungen mit zur Party?
Weil sie niemanden haben, auf den sie warten können (no body)! 😉

(Why don't skeletons take expectations to the party? Because they have no body to wait for!)

📜 Poem about Erwartung

Im Herzen keimt, mal still, mal laut,
Die Erwartung, fest vertraut.
Auf Glück, auf Antwort, auf ein Zeichen,
Lässt sie die Stunden sanft verstreichen.
Mal wird sie süß, mal bittre Kost,
Ein ungewisser Lebenspost.

(In the heart it sprouts, sometimes quiet, sometimes loud,
The expectation, firmly trusted.
For happiness, for answers, for a sign,
It lets the hours gently pass by.
Sometimes it becomes sweet, sometimes bitter fare,
An uncertain message of life.)

🧩 Riddle

Ich blicke stets nach vorn, nie zurück,
Bin mal ein Bangen, mal ein Glück.
Man hofft auf mich, man fürchtet mich,
Bevor die Zukunft zeigt ihr wahres Gesicht.

Was bin ich?

(I always look forward, never back,
Sometimes I'm anxiety, sometimes good luck.
People hope for me, people fear me,
Before the future shows its true face clearly.

What am I?)

Solution: die Erwartung (expectation)

Feed for the Curious

• Word Origin (Wortherkunft): The word "Erwartung" derives from the verb "erwarten", which means 'to await', 'to wait for'. It's composed of the prefix "er-" (which often indicates a beginning or achievement) and "warten" (to wait).
• Compounds (Zusammensetzungen): There are many compound words with "Erwartung", e.g.:
  • Erwartungshaltung: The general attitude of expectation.
  • Erwartungswert: Expected value (a term from statistics and probability theory).
  • Erwartungsdruck: The pressure created by others' expectations.