die  Fraktion

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/fʁakˈt͡si̯oːn/

🏛️ What does "die Fraktion" mean?

The word die Fraktion (feminine) mainly has two meanings:

1. Politics: Eine Fraktion refers to a parliamentary group, an association of members of parliament (MPs) (e.g., in the German Bundestag or a state parliament) who belong to the same political party or share common political goals. They organize their parliamentary work together. Example: Die größte Fraktion im Bundestag stellt die Regierung. (The largest parliamentary group in the Bundestag forms the government.)
2. Chemistry/Physics: Eine Fraktion is a portion or component of a mixture that has been separated by a separation process (e.g., distillation, chromatography) and exhibits similar physical or chemical properties. Example: Bei der Destillation von Erdöl erhält man verschiedene Fraktionen wie Benzin oder Kerosin. (During the distillation of crude oil, various fractions such as gasoline or kerosene are obtained.)

⚠️ Although the meanings are different, the article is always die, because the word is grammatically feminine.

🧐 Grammar of "die Fraktion" in Detail

"Fraktion" is a feminine noun and therefore uses the article "die". It is declined regularly.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

📝 Example Sentences

• Politics: Die Fraktion der Grünen hat einen neuen Gesetzesentwurf eingebracht.
  (The Green parliamentary group has introduced a new draft law.)
• Politics: Die Vorsitzende sprach im Namen der Fraktion.
  (The chairwoman spoke on behalf of the parliamentary group.)
• Politics: Er gehört der Fraktion schon seit zehn Jahren an.
  (He has belonged to the parliamentary group for ten years.)
• Politics: Der Kanzler traf sich mit den Fraktionen der Koalition.
  (The Chancellor met with the parliamentary groups of the coalition.)
• Chemistry: Bei der Analyse wurde eine unbekannte Fraktion isoliert.
  (An unknown fraction was isolated during the analysis.)
• Chemistry: Die Eigenschaften der Fraktion wurden untersucht.
  (The properties of the fraction were investigated.)

🗣️ How to use "Fraktion"?

The term die Fraktion is predominantly used in a political context when discussing parliaments and parties. It is a key term in describing parliamentary work in Germany and other German-speaking countries.

• In Parliament: People speak of the SPD-Fraktion, CDU/CSU-Fraktion, Fraktion der Grünen, etc. Terms like Fraktionsvorsitzender (parliamentary group leader), Fraktionssitzung (parliamentary group meeting), or Fraktionszwang (party discipline within the group) are also common.
• Outside Politics: The meaning in the chemical/physical sense is more specific and typically used by experts. It refers to the result of a separation process.
• Figuratively: Less commonly, Fraktion can also refer to a group of people with similar interests or opinions within a larger organization (e.g., "die konservative Fraktion im Verein" - the conservative faction in the club).

⚠️ Don't confuse "Fraktion" with "Partei" (party). Eine Partei is a political organization that participates in elections. Eine Fraktion is the group of elected MPs from that party (or allied parties) within a parliament.

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Fraktion"

Article Mnemonic: Most German nouns ending in -tion are feminine (die), just like in English the suffix often relates to abstract concepts. Think of 'the action' of the political group -> die Fraktion.

Meaning Mnemonic (Politics): A political Fraktion is a 'fraction' of the whole parliament, acting as one unit.

Meaning Mnemonic (Chemistry): Just like in English, a chemical Fraktion is a 'fraction' separated from a mixture.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar but potentially confusing words:

• Partei: A political party as an organization, not just the group in parliament.
• Fraktur: A bone fracture (sounds similar but unrelated).

😄 A Little Joke

German: Fragt ein Abgeordneter den anderen: "Warum ist unsere Fraktionssitzung immer so lang?"
Antwortet der andere: "Damit wir hinterher auch wirklich alle der gleichen, falschen Meinung sind!" 😉

English Translation: One MP asks another: "Why are our parliamentary group meetings always so long?"
The other replies: "So that afterwards, we can all really be of the same wrong opinion!" 😉

✍️ Poem about die Fraktion

German:
Im Bundestag, da sitzen sie,
Vereint in ihrer Strategie.
Die Fraktion, mal groß, mal klein,
Will bei Beschlüssen vorne sein.

Sie debattieren, stimmen ab,
Mal geht’s bergauf, mal geht’s bergab.
Doch eines bleibt, das ist der Pakt,
Gemeinsam im politischen Akt.

English Translation:
In Parliament, there they sit,
United in their strategy.
The parliamentary group, sometimes big, sometimes small,
Wants to be at the forefront of decisions.

They debate, they vote,
Sometimes uphill, sometimes downhill it goes.
But one thing remains, that is the pact,
Together in the political act.

❓ Riddle

German:
Ich bin ein Teil vom Parlament,
Den jeder Abgeordnete kennt.
Ich bin auch Teil vom Stoffgemisch,
Getrennt am chemischen Labortisch.

Was bin ich? Lösung: die Fraktion

English Translation:
I am a part of the parliament,
That every member knows is meant.
I am also part of a mixture's stuff,
Separated at the chemist's lab, rough.

What am I? Solution: die Fraktion (the parliamentary group / the fraction)

ℹ️ More Tidbits

Word Origin (Etymology): The word "Fraktion" comes from the Latin word fractio, meaning "the breaking", "fragment", or "part". This fits both the political meaning (a part of the MPs) and the chemical meaning (a separated part of a mixture).

Fraktionszwang (Party Discipline): This is an often-debated topic in German politics. It describes the (usually informal) pressure on MPs within a Fraktion to vote uniformly according to the group line, even if it contradicts their personal convictions. Officially, MPs are only bound by their conscience (Art. 38 GG - German Basic Law).