die
Fehlgeburt
🤰 What does 'die Fehlgeburt' mean?
The term die Fehlgeburt (medically also Abort or Spontanabort) refers to the premature end of a pregnancy through the death or loss of the fetus or embryo before viability (in Germany, typically before the 24th week of gestation or under 500 grams birth weight). It translates to miscarriage or spontaneous abortion in English.
It is a medical term but is also used in general language and is associated with significant emotional distress. ⚠️ The term is very sensitive and should be used with compassion.
📚 Grammar of 'die Fehlgeburt'
The word 'Fehlgeburt' is feminine and uses the article die.
Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Fehlgeburt |
| Genitive | der | Fehlgeburt |
| Dative | der | Fehlgeburt |
| Accusative | die | Fehlgeburt |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Fehlgeburten |
| Genitive | der | Fehlgeburten |
| Dative | den | Fehlgeburten |
| Accusative | die | Fehlgeburten |
Example Sentences
- Sie erlitt leider eine Fehlgeburt im dritten Monat.
(Unfortunately, she suffered a miscarriage in the third month.) - Das Risiko einer Fehlgeburt nimmt mit dem Alter der Mutter zu.
(The risk of a miscarriage increases with the mother's age.) - Nach mehreren Fehlgeburten suchte das Paar medizinische Hilfe.
(After several miscarriages, the couple sought medical help.)
🗣️ Context and Usage
The term die Fehlgeburt is primarily used in medical and personal contexts to describe the unintended end of a pregnancy.
- Medical Context: Doctors and medical staff use the term for diagnosis and documentation (e.g., Spontanabort).
- Personal Context: Affected women, couples, and their social circle use the word to talk about the event. Extreme sensitivity is required here.
- Distinction: A Fehlgeburt (miscarriage) is a spontaneous event, unlike a Schwangerschaftsabbruch (abortion), which is intentionally induced. A Totgeburt (stillbirth) refers to the birth of a baby showing no signs of life after the threshold of viability.
🚨 Due to the emotional gravity of the topic, the word should be used thoughtfully and empathetically. Avoid casual or insensitive use.
🧠 Mnemonics
Article Mnemonic: Think of die Geburt (the birth) – a feminine noun. Even though it's a 'Fehl-' (failed/wrong) birth, the article 'die' remains, like for 'die Mutter' (the mother).
Meaning Mnemonic: The word combines 'Fehl-' (indicating something wrong, failed, or amiss) and 'Geburt' (birth). So, it describes a birth that 'went wrong' or failed, meaning it didn't result in a living baby before viability.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms
- Abort (medical term, from Latin)
- Spontanabort (medical term, emphasizing spontaneity)
- Colloquially (use sensitively): Verlust des Kindes (loss of the child)
Antonyms (in a broader sense)
- Lebendgeburt: live birth
- Erfolgreiche Schwangerschaft: successful pregnancy
Note: Direct antonyms are difficult as 'Fehlgeburt' describes a specific event.
Similar but distinct terms
- Totgeburt: stillbirth (birth without signs of life after reaching viability).
- Schwangerschaftsabbruch/Abtreibung: abortion/termination of pregnancy (intentionally induced).
😔 A Note on Jokes
Das Thema 'Fehlgeburt' ist sehr ernst und emotional belastend. Witze darüber sind in der Regel unangebracht und können sehr verletzend sein. Aus Respekt vor den Betroffenen verzichten wir hier auf einen Witz.
(The topic of 'miscarriage' is very serious and emotionally distressing. Jokes about it are generally inappropriate and can be very hurtful. Out of respect for those affected, we refrain from including a joke here.)
📜 A Silent Moment
Ein Traum zerbricht, eh er begann,
Ein leises Weh, ein leerer Bann.
Die Hoffnung schwand, die Freude wich,
Ein kleiner Stern, erlosch für sich.
Die Fehlgeburt, ein stiller Schmerz,
Ein tiefes Loch im Mutterherz.
(A dream breaks ere it began,
A quiet ache, an empty ban.
Hope faded, joy withdrew,
A little star, extinguished too.
The miscarriage, a silent pain,
A deep void in the mother's heart again.)
🧩 Riddle
Ich bin ein Ende, bevor es begann,
Ein Verlust, den man schwer tragen kann.
Medizinisch nüchtern, menschlich tief,
Ein Traum, der niemals wirklich schlief.
Was bin ich?
(I am an end, before it began,
A loss that's hard to bear for man.
Medically sober, humanly deep,
A dream that never truly went to sleep.
What am I?)
Solution: die Fehlgeburt (miscarriage)
🧬 Word Origin
The word Fehlgeburt is a compound of:
- Fehl-: Prefix indicating a lack, error, or failure (as in 'Fehler' - error, 'Fehlschlag' - failure).
- Geburt: Noun meaning the act of giving birth or being born.
It literally describes a 'faulty' or 'failed' birth in the sense of not resulting in a live baby before viability.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Fehlgeburt?
The noun Fehlgeburt is feminine. The correct article is die. So, it's die Fehlgeburt (singular) and die Fehlgeburten (plural).