die
Fehlanzeige
🤷♀️ What exactly does "die Fehlanzeige" mean?
Die Fehlanzeige (noun, feminine) signifies the absence or lack of something expected or searched for. It's a report indicating that something wasn't found, didn't occur, or is missing. You could think of it as a 'negative report', 'nil report', or 'nothing to report'.
Imagine searching for a specific document in an archive but not finding it – the result of your search is a Fehlanzeige. Or when an inquiry receives no suitable answer or yields no results.
⚠️ There are no different meanings based on different articles, as Fehlanzeige is always feminine (die Fehlanzeige).
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar under the Microscope: die Fehlanzeige
Fehlanzeige is a feminine noun. Here is its declension:
Declension Singular
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (who/what?) | die Fehlanzeige | eine Fehlanzeige |
| Genitive (whose?) | der Fehlanzeige | einer Fehlanzeige |
| Dative (to whom?) | der Fehlanzeige | einer Fehlanzeige |
| Accusative (whom/what?) | die Fehlanzeige | eine Fehlanzeige |
Declension Plural
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Fehlanzeigen | Fehlanzeigen |
| Genitive | der Fehlanzeigen | Fehlanzeigen |
| Dative | den Fehlanzeigen | Fehlanzeigen |
| Accusative | die Fehlanzeigen | Fehlanzeigen |
Example Sentences
- Die Suche nach dem vermissten Schlüssel endete mit einer Fehlanzeige.
(The search for the missing key ended with a nil report / nothing found.) - Auf unsere Anfrage erhielten wir leider nur eine Fehlanzeige.
(Unfortunately, we only received a negative response / nothing to report to our inquiry.) - Motivierte Mitarbeiter? In dieser Abteilung leider oft Fehlanzeige.
(Motivated employees? Unfortunately often absent / lacking in this department.) - Trotz intensiver Forschung gab es bei diesem Experiment bisher nur Fehlanzeigen.
(Despite intensive research, this experiment has so far only yielded negative results / nil returns.)
💡 When and how to use "Fehlanzeige"?
The term Fehlanzeige is typically used in contexts where a specific result, information, person, or object is expected or sought, but is not present.
- During searches: When a search (e.g., in databases, archives, physical locations) is unsuccessful. Example: „Die polizeiliche Fahndung blieb bisher eine Fehlanzeige.“ (The police search has so far drawn a blank.)
- For inquiries: When an inquiry (e.g., to an authority, a company) yields no (positive) response or result. Example: „Auf die Bitte um Fördermittel gab es eine Fehlanzeige.“ (The request for funding met with a negative response / was unsuccessful.)
- Describing a lack: To express that something desirable or necessary is missing. Example: „Gerechtigkeit war in diesem Fall Fehlanzeige.“ (Justice was lacking / absent in this case.)
- Colloquially: Also used more informally to describe the absence of something general. Example: „Gute Laune? Heute Fehlanzeige!“ (Good mood? None today! / Absent today!)
It often carries a neutral to negative connotation, as it describes the absence of an (usually desired) outcome.
🧠 Mnemonics for Fehlanzeige
Article Mnemonic (die): Think of 'die Anzeige' (the advertisement/notice). A 'Fehl-Anzeige' is a special kind of 'Anzeige' (one showing 'nothing') – and thus keeps the feminine article 'die'. Or imagine a female detective reporting: "Die Suche? Fehlanzeige!" (She, 'die', reports 'die Fehlanzeige').
Meaning Mnemonic: 'Fehl' sounds like 'fail' or relates to German 'fehlen' (to be missing). 'Anzeige' means 'report' or 'notice'. So, a 'Fehlanzeige' is a failing report, or a report about something missing – meaning 'nothing found' or 'lack thereof'.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Nichtvorhandensein: Non-existence, absence.
- Mangel: Lack, shortage, deficiency.
- Ausbleiben: Absence, non-occurrence.
- Negativmeldung / Nullmeldung: Negative report / nil report.
- Fehlschlag (context-dependent): Failure (when a search or attempt fails).
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Vorhandensein: Presence, existence.
- Fund: Find, discovery.
- Erfolg: Success.
- Positivmeldung: Positive report.
- Treffer: Hit (successful result in a search).
🚨 Watch out for confusion!
Sometimes Fehlanzeige is confused with Fehleranzeige. However, a Fehleranzeige is an 'error message' (e.g., on a computer), while a Fehlanzeige reports the 'absence' of something.
😂 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Chef den neuen Praktikanten: „Haben Sie die Akte XY gefunden?“ Praktikant: „Ich habe überall gesucht! Im Archiv, auf dem Server, sogar unter dem Schreibtisch!“ Chef: „Und das Ergebnis?“ Praktikant (stolz): „Eine lupenreine Fehlanzeige!“
English Translation: The boss asks the new intern: "Did you find file XY?" Intern: "I looked everywhere! In the archive, on the server, even under the desk!" Boss: "And the result?" Intern (proudly): "A perfect nil report!"
📜 Poem about Fehlanzeige
German:
Gesucht, gehofft, mit Plan und List,
Wo das ersehnte Wissen ist.
Die Stunden geh'n, die Mühe groß,
Doch unterm Strich? Was find' ich bloß?
Kein Treffer, nichts, was weiter weist,
Ein leeres Blatt, wie hingegeißt.
Das Fazit klar, es bleibt dabei:
Nur eine Fehlanzeige, ach herrje!
English Translation:
Searched and hoped, with plan and wit,
Where the desired knowledge sit.
Hours pass by, the effort vast,
But bottom line? What's found at last?
No hit, no clue, no guiding light,
A blank page shown, devoid and white.
The outcome's clear, it has to be:
Just 'nothing found', oh dear me!
❓ Little Riddle
German:
Ich bin das Resultat, wenn du suchst und nichts findest.
Ich bin die Antwort, wenn das Erwartete ausbleibt.
Ich bin ein Bericht über Leere, wo Fülle sein sollte.
Was bin ich?
English Translation:
I am the result when you search and find nothing.
I am the answer when the expected doesn't arrive.
I am a report about emptiness where fullness should be.
What am I?
Solution: die Fehlanzeige (nil report / absence / negative result)
🧩 Word Components and Other Info
Word Composition
Fehlanzeige is a compound noun:
- Fehl-: This prefix comes from the verb fehlen (to be missing, to lack) or the adjective fehl (wrong, missing, failed). It indicates absence, lack, or failure.
- Anzeige: Here means 'report', 'notice', or 'indication'.
Together, the meaning is thus: A report about the absence of something.
Context
The term is often used in official or semi-official contexts (e.g., government, research, journalism), but has also entered everyday language.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Fehlanzeige?
The word "Fehlanzeige" is always feminine. The correct article is die Fehlanzeige. It means the absence or non-occurrence of something expected or searched for (a negative report or nil return).