die
Freilassung
📖 What does 'die Freilassung' mean?
Die Freilassung (noun, feminine) refers to the act or state of releasing someone or something from captivity, custody, constraint, or obligation. It's the opposite of capture (Gefangennahme) or imprisonment (Inhaftierung).
Common contexts include:
- Legal: The release of a person from prison or pre-trial detention (e.g., Freilassung auf Kaution - release on bail).
- Political/Historical: The liberation of political prisoners or hostages.
- Animal Welfare: Releasing animals back into the wild after care or captivity.
⚠️ It always signifies the end of a state of unfreedom.
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 'Freilassung' in Detail
The word 'Freilassung' is a feminine noun. The article is 'die'.
Declension (Singular):
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Freilassung |
| Genitive | der | Freilassung |
| Dative | der | Freilassung |
| Accusative | die | Freilassung |
Declension (Plural):
The plural 'die Freilassungen' is used less frequently and usually refers to multiple individual acts of release.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Freilassungen |
| Genitive | der | Freilassungen |
| Dative | den | Freilassungen |
| Accusative | die | Freilassungen |
📝 Example Sentences
- Die Freilassung des Gefangenen wurde von vielen gefeiert.
(The release of the prisoner was celebrated by many.) - Nach langen Verhandlungen stimmten die Entführer der Freilassung der Geiseln zu.
(After long negotiations, the kidnappers agreed to the release of the hostages.) - Die Tierschützer bereiteten die Freilassung des rehabilitierten Adlers vor.
(The animal rights activists prepared the release of the rehabilitated eagle.) - Er kämpfte jahrelang für die Freilassung seines Bruders.
(He fought for years for his brother's release.)
🗣️ How to use 'Freilassung'?
The term 'Freilassung' is mostly used in formal or official contexts, especially in legal, political, or media fields.
- Legal/Police: "Die Freilassung erfolgte gegen Zahlung einer Kaution." (The release occurred upon payment of bail.) Here, the term is precise and part of the technical language.
- Political: "Die Organisation forderte die sofortige Freilassung aller politischen Gefangenen." (The organization demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners.) Here, the word often carries a strong moral or ethical component.
- Animal Welfare: "Die Freilassung der Schildkröten ins Meer war ein bewegender Moment." (The release of the turtles into the sea was a moving moment.)
- Everyday Language: In everyday conversation, people might more commonly say 'Entlassung' (discharge/release from hospital or a job) or 'Befreiung' (liberation/rescue). 'Freilassung' often sounds more formal and usually refers to a prior state of captivity or unfreedom.
There is little risk of confusion, as the context is usually clear. It's important to distinguish it from 'Entlassung', which is broader (e.g., also from employment).
🧠 Mnemonics for 'Freilassung'
Article 'die': Think of die Freiheit (the freedom) that is granted by die Freilassung. Most German nouns ending in '-ung' are feminine ('die').
Meaning: Imagine someone is 'frei gelassen' (let free/released) – that's the core of Freilassung (release). Frei -> Freilassung.
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Entlassung: Often broader (e.g., from custody, but also job, hospital), but can be synonymous.
- Befreiung: Liberation; often sounds more active, combative; emphasizes overcoming an obstacle.
- Freigabe: Release/clearance; more for things or information, rarely for people in the sense of captivity.
- Amnestie: Amnesty; a pardon that can lead to release.
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Gefangennahme: Capture; the act of seizing.
- Inhaftierung / Verhaftung: Imprisonment / Arrest; the act of taking into custody.
- Festnahme: Arrest; the act of apprehending by police.
- Gefangenschaft / Haft: Captivity / Custody; the state of being unfree.
- Verschleppung / Entführung: Abduction / Kidnapping; illegal deprivation of liberty.
😄 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Luftballon seine Freilassung gefeiert?
Weil er endlich mal loslassen konnte!
(Why did the balloon celebrate its release?
Because it could finally let go!)
✍️ Poem about Release
Die Tür geht auf, das Licht fällt ein,
Vorbei die Zeit im engen Sein.
Ein Schritt nach vorn, die Luft so klar,
Die Freilassung, endlich wahr.
Kein Schloss, kein Riegel hält mehr fest,
Ein neues Leben beginnt als Test.
(The door opens, light streams in,
Gone is the time in narrow confines.
A step forward, the air so clear,
The release, finally here.
No lock, no bolt holds fast anymore,
A new life begins, an open door.)
🧩 Riddle
Ich beende die Haft, öffne das Tor,
Bringe Freiheit zurück, wie nie zuvor.
Manchmal durch Gnade, manchmal durch Recht,
Mal für den Vogel, mal für den Knecht.
Was bin ich?
(I end the custody, open the gate,
Bring back freedom, sealing its fate.
Sometimes through mercy, sometimes by right,
For the bird sometimes, or the servant's plight.
What am I?)
Solution: die Freilassung (the release)
ℹ️ Other Information
Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung):
The word 'Freilassung' is a compound noun (Kompositum), composed of:
- frei: adjective (free, independent, unbound)
- Lassung: Nominalization of the verb stem 'lassen' (in the sense of to let, allow, permit, release) with the suffix '-ung'. The suffix '-ung' typically forms feminine nouns denoting a process or its result.
Therefore, 'Freilassung' literally describes the process or result of 'letting free' or releasing.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Freilassung?
The noun 'Freilassung' is feminine, so its article is 'die'. It means 'release' or 'liberation', referring to the act of setting someone free from captivity or confinement (e.g., die Freilassung eines Gefangenen - the release of a prisoner). The plural form is 'die Freilassungen'.