die  Feststellung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈfɛstˌʃtɛlʊŋ/

🔍 What does "die Feststellung" mean?

Die Feststellung (noun, feminine) primarily refers to the process or the result of recognizing, determining, or stating a fact, circumstance, or condition. It's the noun derived from the verb feststellen (to determine, to establish, to state).

• Meaning 1: The act of determining or ascertaining a fact. (Example: Die Feststellung des Schadens dauerte mehrere Stunden. - The determination of the damage took several hours.)
• Meaning 2: A statement that reflects an established fact; an assertion or declaration based on observation. (Example: Seine Feststellung, dass das Projekt scheitern würde, erwies sich als richtig. - His statement that the project would fail proved correct.)
• Meaning 3 (less common): The act of fixing or locking something in place. (Example: Die Feststellung der Bremse war defekt. - The locking mechanism of the brake was defective.) This meaning is less common than the first two.

⚠️ Be careful not to confuse 'Feststellung' with a mere 'Meinung' (opinion). A 'Feststellung' is ideally based on observation or investigation and claims objectivity.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Feststellung

The word "Feststellung" is a feminine noun. The article is "die". The plural form is "die Feststellungen".

Declension Table

Like most feminine nouns in German, 'Feststellung' only changes its form in the dative plural (by adding an -n, which is already there in the nominative plural 'Feststellungen'). The article changes in each case and number.

Example Sentences

• Die Feststellung des Arztes war eindeutig. (The doctor's determination was clear.)
• Aufgrund der Feststellung neuer Beweise wurde der Fall wieder aufgenommen. (Due to the establishment of new evidence, the case was reopened.)
• Wir stimmen seiner Feststellung zu. (We agree with his statement/finding.)
• Der Bericht enthält eine wichtige Feststellung. (The report contains an important finding.)
• Die polizeilichen Feststellungen wurden protokolliert. (The police findings were recorded.)
• Die Richtigkeit der Feststellungen wird überprüft. (The accuracy of the findings is being checked.)
• Wir konnten den bisherigen Feststellungen nichts hinzufügen. (We could not add anything to the previous findings.)
• Er präsentierte seine Feststellungen dem Ausschuss. (He presented his findings to the committee.)

🗣️ When to use "Feststellung"?

'Feststellung' is often used in formal, official, scientific, or analytical contexts. It frequently implies a process of investigation, observation, or measurement leading to a result.

• Official/Legal: When documenting facts by authorities, courts, or experts. (e.g., die Feststellung der Identität - the establishment of identity, die Feststellung des Todeszeitpunkts - the determination of the time of death)
• Scientific: When describing research results or observations. (e.g., die Feststellung einer Korrelation - the determination of a correlation)
• Technical: In the context of diagnoses or descriptions of conditions. (e.g., die Feststellung eines Defekts - the identification of a defect)
• General: As an expression of an observation or statement presented as fact. (e.g., die Feststellung, dass es draußen regnet - the statement/observation that it is raining outside)

Distinction from similar words:

• Behauptung (claim, assertion): A 'Behauptung' can be made without evidence, whereas a 'Feststellung' ideally relies on facts.
• Meinung (opinion): A 'Meinung' is subjective; a 'Feststellung' aims for objectivity.
• Diagnose (diagnosis): More specific term in medical or technical contexts for identifying a disease or fault.
• Ermittlung (investigation, determination): Often emphasizes the process of finding out, while 'Feststellung' can be the result of this process.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic

Remember that many German nouns ending in -ung are feminine (die). This includes die Feststellung! Imagine a woman (feminine -> die) making a firm (fest) statement (Stellung). DIE states the facts!

Meaning Mnemonic

'Feststellung' sounds like "fest stellen" (to place firmly, to establish). Imagine you place (stellen) a fact so firmly (fest) on a table that it doesn't wobble – you've clearly identified and defined it. It's a firm statement (feste Stellungnahme) about the facts. It's a finding you can stand by firmly.

↔️ Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but Different Words

• Darstellung: Presentation, portrayal, description (can present facts or fiction).
• Erklärung: Explanation (makes something understandable, explains 'why'). A 'Feststellung' states 'what', an 'Erklärung' often explains 'why'.

😂 A Little Joke

Ein Physiker, ein Biologe und ein Mathematiker sitzen in einem Straßencafé und beobachten die Leute, die in ein Haus gegenüber hinein- und wieder herausgehen. Zuerst sehen sie zwei Personen hineingehen. Nach einer Weile sehen sie drei Personen herauskommen.

Der Physiker: "Die Messung war nicht genau."

Der Biologe: "Die haben sich offensichtlich vermehrt."

Der Mathematiker: "Also, meine Feststellung ist: Wenn jetzt genau eine Person wieder hineingeht, ist das Haus leer."

Translation:

A physicist, a biologist, and a mathematician are sitting at a street café, watching people go into and out of a house across the street. First, they see two people go in. After a while, they see three people come out.

The physicist: "The measurement wasn't accurate."

The biologist: "They must have reproduced."

The mathematician: "Well, my determination/finding (Feststellung) is: If exactly one person goes back into the house now, it will be empty."

📜 Poem about "Feststellung"

Ein Fakt wird klar, ans Licht gebracht,
Durch scharfen Sinn und gut bedacht.
Kein Zweifel mehr, kein Raten bloß,
Was vorher unklar, vage, groß.

Man prüft, man misst, man schaut genau,
Ist klug und wird aus Zeichen schlau.
Am Ende steht, ganz unumwunden,
Die Feststellung: Man hat's gefunden!

Translation:

A fact becomes clear, brought to light,
Through sharp sense and careful thought.
No more doubt, no mere guessing,
What was unclear before, vague, vast.

One checks, one measures, one looks closely,
Is clever and learns from the signs.
In the end stands, quite frankly,
The finding: It has been found!

🧩 A Little Riddle

Ich bin das Ergebnis, wenn man genau hinschaut,
Eine Tatsache, auf die man vertraut.
Oft steh' ich am Ende langer Suchen,
In Akten, Berichten und schlauen Büchern.

Ich bin keine Meinung, kein bloßer Schein,
Sondern das, was als wahr gilt, klar und rein.

Was bin ich?

Translation:

I am the result when one looks closely,
A fact that one trusts.
Often I stand at the end of long searches,
In files, reports, and clever books.

I am not an opinion, not a mere appearance,
But that which is held as true, clear and pure.

What am I?
(... Die Feststellung / The determination, finding, statement)

✨ Other Information

Word Composition

The word "Feststellung" is a compound noun:

• fest: adjective/adverb (firm, solid, fixed)
• stellen: verb (to place, position, set, adjust)
• -ung: suffix used to form nouns from verbs, typically indicating an action, process, or result, and usually feminine.

So, "feststellen" literally means to firmly place or position something (a fact), to fix it so it's clearly recognizable and defined. The noun form "Feststellung" describes the act or result of this process.

Related Terms

• feststellbar: adjective (determinable, ascertainable)
• Feststellungsbescheid: noun (der) Official notice or decision establishing something (e.g., a disability status).
• Feststellungsklage: noun (die) Declaratory action (in law), a lawsuit seeking to establish the existence or non-existence of a legal relationship.