die
Fälligkeit
🎯 What does 'die Fälligkeit' mean?
Die Fälligkeit (noun, feminine) refers to the point in time when a performance (e.g., a Zahlung / payment, submission of Arbeit / work, repayment of a Kredit / loan) must be rendered or a right becomes effective. It is the Stichtag (deadline or key date) by which an obligation must be fulfilled.
- In finance (im Finanzwesen): The day a Rechnung (invoice) must be paid or a loan repaid.
- In law (im Recht): The point in time from which a claim can be asserted.
- Generally (Allgemein): The due date, deadline, or key date for a task or obligation.
⚠️ Don't confuse 'Fälligkeit' (due date) with 'Fällung' (the felling of trees).
Article rules for der, die, and das
-keit → always feminine.
📚 Grammar of Fälligkeit in Detail
The word „Fälligkeit“ is a feminine noun. The article is die. It is mostly used in the singular because it often refers to a specific point in time. The plural „die Fälligkeiten“ is used when referring to several different due dates.
Feminine nouns ending in -keit are very common in German!
Declension Singular
| Case (Kasus) | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Fälligkeit | eine Fälligkeit |
| Genitive | der Fälligkeit | einer Fälligkeit |
| Dative | der Fälligkeit | einer Fälligkeit |
| Accusative | die Fälligkeit | eine Fälligkeit |
Declension Plural
| Case (Kasus) | Definite Article |
|---|---|
| Nominative | die Fälligkeiten |
| Genitive | der Fälligkeiten |
| Dative | den Fälligkeiten |
| Accusative | die Fälligkeiten |
Example Sentences
- Bitte beachten Sie die Fälligkeit der Rechnung am 15. des Monats.
(Please note the due date of the invoice on the 15th of the month.) - Die Fälligkeit des Kredits rückt näher.
(The maturity date of the loan is approaching.) - Wir müssen die verschiedenen Fälligkeiten unserer Projekte im Auge behalten.
(We need to keep an eye on the various due dates of our projects.)
💬 How to use 'die Fälligkeit'?
„Die Fälligkeit“ is mainly used in formal contexts, especially in business (Geschäftsleben), banking (Bankwesen), and law (Rechtswesen). It always refers to a Stichtag (deadline) or a date by which something must be completed.
- Contexts: Rechnungen (invoices), Verträge (contracts), Kredite (loans), Anleihen (bonds), Abgabetermine (submission deadlines), Steuern (taxes).
- Typical Phrases:
- bei Fälligkeit: at maturity / upon the due date (e.g., „Der Betrag ist bei Fälligkeit zu zahlen.“ - The amount is payable upon maturity.)
- vor Fälligkeit: before the due date (e.g., „Die Zahlung erfolgte vor Fälligkeit.“ - The payment was made before the due date.)
- nach Fälligkeit: after the due date (e.g., „Zinsen werden nach Fälligkeit berechnet.“ - Interest will be charged after the due date.)
- die Fälligkeit hinausschieben: to postpone the due date (grant a deferral)
- Comparison:
- Termin (der): General term for a fixed point in time, can also be a meeting. Fälligkeit is more specific to obligations.
- Frist (die): Period of time within which something must happen. Fälligkeit is the endpoint of this period.
- Stichtag (der): Similar to Fälligkeit, often used synonymously, emphasizes the exact day.
🧠 Mnemonics for Fälligkeit
Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -keit (like Möglichkeit - possibility, Sauberkeit - cleanliness) are almost always feminine in German. Think: "The possibility (-keit) of payment has a due date (Fälligkeit)." -> Therefore, it's die Fälligkeit.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a bill (Rechnung) that 'falls' (German: fällt) onto your desk on the deadline day. It is then 'due' (German: fällig). The moment it 'falls' due is the Fälligkeit (due date).
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Words with similar meaning):
- Fälligkeitstermin (der): Very direct, emphasizes the 'date' aspect. (Due date)
- Stichtag (der): Emphasizes the exact day as the decisive point in time. (Deadline, key date)
- Verfallstag (der): Often used for options, vouchers, or food; the day something becomes invalid. (Expiry date)
- Zahlungsziel (das): Specifically, the target date by which a payment should be made (can coincide with Fälligkeit). (Payment term/target)
- Ablaufdatum (das): Similar to Verfallstag. (Expiry date)
Antonyms (Opposite concepts):
- Aufschub (der): Postponement of the due date. (Deferral, postponement)
- Stundung (die): Official deferral of payment, usually for loans or taxes. (Deferment, respite)
- Fristverlängerung (die): Extension of the period until the due date. (Extension of deadline)
- Vorauszahlung (die): Payment *before* the due date. (Prepayment, advance payment)
🚨 Similar but different words:
- Fällung (die): The felling of trees. Nothing to do with deadlines.
- Fall (der): Case (event, grammatical case), fall/drop. Only distantly related via 'fällig' from 'fallen'.
😂 A little Joke
Warum sind Rechnungen so ungeduldig?
Weil sie ständig auf ihre Fälligkeit warten! 😄
(Why are invoices so impatient?
Because they are constantly waiting for their due date!)
📜 Poem about Fälligkeit
Die Rechnung kommt, ein weißes Blatt,
mit Zahlen drauf, die machen platt.
Ein Datum steht dort, klar und rein,
das muss die Fälligkeit wohl sein.
Der Tag rückt näher, Schritt für Schritt,
bezahl sie schnell, das ist der Hit!
Sonst kommt die Mahnung, oh wie trist,
weil du die Fälligkeit vergisst.
(The invoice arrives, a sheet of white,
With numbers on it, causing fright.
A date stands there, so clear and clean,
That must be the due date, it would seem.)
(The day draws nearer, step by step,
Pay it quickly, that's the best prep!
Else comes the reminder, oh so drear,
Because the due date you don't hold dear.)
❓ Little Riddle
Ich habe einen festen Tag,
an dem man leisten soll und mag.
Ob Geld, ob Arbeit, groß ob klein,
zu diesem Zeitpunkt muss es sein.
Bin ich vorbei und nichts geschah,
ist oft die Mahnung plötzlich da.
Wer bin ich, streng und terminiert?
(I have a fixed day,
When one should perform, come what may.
Whether money or work, big or small,
By this point in time, it must befall.)
(If I'm past and nothing's occurred,
Often a reminder is suddenly spurred.
Who am I, strict and date-defined?)
(Answer: Die Fälligkeit - The due date)
🧩 Other Information
Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung):
The word „Fälligkeit“ is derived from the adjective fällig (due) with the suffix -keit. The suffix -keit is used to form nouns from adjectives, describing a quality or state (e.g., fröhlich / cheerful -> Fröhlichkeit / cheerfulness; sauber / clean -> Sauberkeit / cleanliness).
The adjective fällig, in turn, derives from the verb fallen (to fall). Originally, it referred to fruit that was ripe and 'falling' from the tree, thus 'ready for harvest' or 'ready for payment'. This meaning was transferred to the point in time when an obligation 'falls due' or needs to be met.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Fälligkeit?
The noun Fälligkeit is feminine. The correct article is die. So, it is always die Fälligkeit (in the nominative singular).