die
Forderung
What exactly is a 'Forderung'?
Die Forderung (feminine, plural: die Forderungen) primarily refers to a demand or a claim that someone makes on another person, institution, or group. It often implies that something is owed or a specific action is expected.
Common contexts include:
- Legal/Financial: A claim for payment or performance (e.g., eine Geldforderung - a monetary claim, eine Schadensersatzforderung - a claim for damages). 💰
- Political/Social: An emphatic demand for specific measures or rights (e.g., die Forderung nach Lohnerhöhung - the demand for a wage increase, die Forderung nach Pressefreiheit - the demand for freedom of the press). 📢
- General: An emphatic request or claim in everyday life (e.g., die Forderung nach Ruhe - the demand for quiet).
🚨 Attention - Risk of Confusion: Do not confuse with die Förderung (support, subsidy, promotion).
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ung → always feminine.
There are many -ung words, we won't list them all. There are only a few exceptions.
Grammar of 'Forderung': A Look at Declension
The noun 'Forderung' is feminine. The article is die. Here are the declension tables:
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Forderung |
| Genitive | der | Forderung |
| Dative | der | Forderung |
| Accusative | die | Forderung |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Forderungen |
| Genitive | der | Forderungen |
| Dative | den | Forderungen |
| Accusative | die | Forderungen |
Example Sentences
- Die Forderung des Gläubigers war berechtigt. (The creditor's demand was justified. - Nominative Singular)
- Trotz der eindeutigen Forderung zahlte der Schuldner nicht. (Despite the clear demand, the debtor did not pay. - Genitive Singular)
- Wir müssen der Forderung nachkommen. (We must comply with the demand. - Dative Singular)
- Er erhob eine klare Forderung. (He made a clear demand. - Accusative Singular)
- Die Forderungen der Gewerkschaft wurden diskutiert. (The union's demands were discussed. - Nominative Plural)
- Die Erfüllung der Forderungen gestaltet sich schwierig. (Fulfilling the demands is proving difficult. - Genitive Plural)
- Die Firma kam den Forderungen der Mitarbeiter entgegen. (The company accommodated the employees' demands. - Dative Plural)
- Der Manager prüfte die eingegangenen Forderungen. (The manager checked the received demands. - Accusative Plural)
How to use 'die Forderung' correctly?
'Die Forderung' is mostly used in more formal contexts, especially when dealing with legal, financial, or political claims.
- In Business & Law: "Das Unternehmen hat eine offene Forderung gegen den Kunden." (The company has an outstanding claim against the customer.) This refers to an owed amount of money. ⚖️
- In Negotiations: "Die zentrale Forderung der Streikenden ist eine Lohnerhöhung um 5 Prozent." (The strikers' central demand is a 5 percent wage increase.) This expresses a strong demand. 🗣️
- In Everyday Life (less common, but possible): "Seine ständige Forderung nach Aufmerksamkeit nervt." (His constant demand for attention is annoying.) Here more like an insistent wish.
Distinguishing from similar words:
- Anspruch: Often synonymous, but 'Anspruch' can also mean a right or entitlement without active demanding (e.g., Anspruch auf Urlaub - entitlement to vacation).
- Verlangen: More of a strong wish or desire, not necessarily with a legal or formal basis.
- Bitte: A polite request, less insistent than a Forderung.
- Befehl: An order from an authority figure, stronger than a Forderung.
Common phrases are "eine Forderung stellen" (to make a demand), "eine Forderung erheben" (to raise a claim), "einer Forderung nachkommen" (to meet/comply with a demand), or "eine Forderung ablehnen" (to reject a demand).
Mnemonics for 'die Forderung'
Article Mnemonic
Many German nouns ending in "-ung" are feminine (die). Think of die Rechnung (the bill), die Meinung (the opinion), die Wohnung (the apartment)... and also die Forderung! The "-ung" ending strongly signals 'die'.
Meaning Mnemonic
Imagine someone demanding something right in FORnt of you, being quite forceful. They are making a claim, a demand – that's a Forderung! It comes from the verb 'fordern' (to demand).
Similar and Different: Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- Anspruch: Claim, entitlement, right. Often used interchangeably.
- Verlangen: Desire, craving, demand. Often more emotional.
- Anforderung: Requirement, prerequisite (e.g., job requirements).
- Begehren: Strong desire, demand. Often passionate.
- Mahnung: Reminder, dunning letter. Specifically a demand for payment of an overdue claim.
- Postulat: Postulate, basic demand. Often in philosophy or science.
⚠️ Watch out for similar-sounding words:
- Förderung: Means support, promotion, funding, extraction (e.g., Talentförderung - talent promotion, Ölförderung - oil extraction). Sounds similar but has a completely different meaning!
A little Joke
German: Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Haben Sie irgendwelche besonderen Forderungen an Ihren Arbeitsplatz?" Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: "Ja, ein Gehalt wäre nicht schlecht!" 😉
English: The boss asks the new employee: "Do you have any special demands regarding your workplace?" The employee replies: "Yes, a salary wouldn't be bad!" 😉
Poem about 'Forderung'
German:
Die Forderung, laut und klar,
Steht im Raum, ist einfach da.
Mal Geld, mal Recht, mal nur ein Wort,
Treibt sie uns von Ort zu Ort.
Ob leise oder mit viel Krach,
Oft hält sie uns're Welt in Schach.
Man stellt sie, prüft sie, gibt ihr statt,
Bis jeder seinen Frieden hat.
English Translation:
The demand, loud and clear,
Stands in the room, is simply there.
Sometimes money, sometimes right, sometimes just a word,
It drives us from place to place, unheard.
Whether quiet or with much noise,
Often it holds our world by its poise.
One makes it, checks it, gives it its due,
Until everyone finds peace anew.
Who or what am I? A Riddle
German:
Ich habe keinen Mund, doch stelle ich Verlangen.
Ich habe keine Hand, doch kann ich Geld empfangen.
Im Recht und im Geschäft bin ich oft präsent.
Manchmal bin ich klein, manchmal vehement.
Man kann mich stellen, erfüllen oder ignorieren.
Wer bin ich, kannst du es buchstabieren?
English Translation:
I have no mouth, yet I make demands.
I have no hand, yet I can receive funds.
In law and business, I am often present.
Sometimes I am small, sometimes vehement.
You can make me, fulfill me, or ignore my stance.
Who am I, can you spell me out, perchance?
Solution: Die Forderung (The demand/claim)
Other Interesting Details
Word Formation (Wortbildung)
The word "Forderung" is a noun derived from the verb "fordern". The verb "fordern" means "to demand," "to claim," "to require," or "to challenge."
The suffix "-ung" is commonly used in German to form nouns from verbs (nominalization). These nouns are almost always feminine (die). Examples: prüfen (to check) → die Prüfung (the exam/check), hoffen (to hope) → die Hoffnung (the hope), warnen (to warn) → die Warnung (the warning).
Cultural Context
In Germany, the concept of 'Forderung' often carries a formal and sometimes bureaucratic connotation, especially in legal and business environments. Punctuality in meeting demands (e.g., paying invoices) is generally expected.
Summary: is it der, die or das Forderung?
The German word Forderung is feminine. The correct article is die. So, it is always die Forderung (in singular) and die Forderungen (in plural).