die  Führung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈfyːʁʊŋ/

🗺️ What exactly does "die Führung" mean?

The word die Führung is a feminine noun and has several meanings, often related to the verb führen (to lead, to guide):

• Leadership / Management: Taking responsibility and guiding a group, organization, or company. Example: Die Führung des Unternehmens hat neue Ziele gesetzt. (The company's leadership has set new goals.)
• Guided Tour / Visit: An organized tour where a person (the guide, der Führer / die Führerin) provides information and shows the way. Example: Wir haben eine Führung durch das Schloss gemacht. (We took a guided tour through the castle.)
• Lead / Front Position: The position in first place, e.g., in a race or competition. Example: Die Mannschaft übernahm kurz vor Schluss die Führung. (The team took the lead shortly before the end.)
• Guidance / Handling / Control: The way something is handled or controlled (e.g., a tool, a vehicle, an investigation). Example: Die Führung des Messers erfordert Übung. (Handling the knife requires practice.)

⚠️ Pay attention to the context to understand the correct meaning.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Führung

"Führung" is a feminine noun. The article is always die. Nouns ending in -ung are almost always feminine in German.

Declension of "die Führung"

Here's how 'die Führung' changes in the different German cases (Fälle):

Application Examples

1. Die Führung des Teams war ausgezeichnet. (The leadership of the team was excellent. - Meaning: Management)
2. Möchten Sie an einer Führung durch die Altstadt teilnehmen? (Would you like to participate in a guided tour through the old town? - Meaning: Guided Tour)
3. Der Läufer verteidigte seine Führung bis ins Ziel. (The runner defended his lead until the finish line. - Meaning: Lead in a race)
4. Die präzise Führung des Stifts ist wichtig für die Kalligraphie. (The precise handling/guidance of the pen is important for calligraphy. - Meaning: Handling)

💡 How to use "die Führung"?

The term "Führung" is versatile:

• In professional contexts: People talk about Unternehmensführung (company management), Personalführung (personnel management), or Projektführung (project management). This refers to management and leadership.
• In tourism & culture: A Stadtführung (city tour), Museumsführung (museum tour), or Schlossführung (castle tour) is a guided visit.
• In sports: When someone or a team is ahead, you say they are in Führung liegen (to be in the lead) or they die Führung übernehmen/verteidigen/ausbauen (take/defend/extend the lead).
• Technically/Practically: You can also speak of the Führung eines Werkzeugs (handling/guidance of a tool), Kontoführung (account management at a bank), or Protokollführung (keeping the minutes).

Distinction from "Leitung": While Leitung is often used very similarly (e.g., Unternehmensleitung - company management), Führung can more strongly emphasize the aspect of guiding, inspiring, and vision (leadership). Leitung can sometimes also be more technical (e.g., Wasserleitung - water pipe), which is not the case with Führung.

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Führung"

Article Mnemonic: Words ending in -ung are almost always feminine (die). Think of the ending -> die Führung. Like die Leitung (the line/management), die Hoffnung (the hope), die Meinung (the opinion).

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine a female boss (die Frau - the woman) taking a group (Leitung - leadership) on a guided tour (Führung) through a museum, while running ahead in sports gear (in Führung - in the lead).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar-sounding/Confusing Words:

• Ausführung: The execution or design of something.
• Einführung: An introduction or launch.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Chef seine neue Sekretärin: "Haben Sie Führungsqualitäten?"
Sie: "Ja klar! Schauen Sie mal, alle meine früheren Chefs folgen mir jetzt auf Instagram!"

Translation:
The boss asks his new secretary: "Do you have leadership qualities?"
Her: "Yes, of course! Look, all my former bosses are following me on Instagram now!"

✍️ Poem about Führung

Die Führung weist den rechten Pfad,
Mal im Museum, mal im Staat.
Sie leitet an mit klarer Hand,
Mal durch die Firma, mal durchs Land.
Im Rennen liegt sie oft vorn,
Ein Ziel verfolgt, neu geboren.
Ob Tour, ob Amt, ob Sportgeschick,
Die Führung bringt oft Glück.

Translation:
The leadership shows the right path,
Sometimes in the museum, sometimes in the state.
It guides with a clear hand,
Sometimes through the company, sometimes through the land.
In the race, it's often ahead,
A goal pursued, newly bred.
Whether tour, office, or sporting skill,
Leadership often brings good will (luck).

❓ Riddle

Ich leite Firmen, groß und klein,
Zeig' dir im Schloss den Sonnenschein.
Im Sport bin ich der erste Platz,
Man braucht mich für den guten Satz.

Was bin ich?

Translation:
I lead companies, big and small,
Show you the sunshine in the castle hall.
In sports, I am the number one place,
You need me for good sentence pace (e.g., guiding a pen).

What am I?
(... Die Führung)

More to Know about "Führung"

Word Formation: The word "Führung" is formed by adding the suffix "-ung" to the verb "führen" (to lead/guide). This suffix typically creates feminine nouns that describe a process or result.

Compounds: There are many compound words (Komposita) with "Führung", e.g.:

• Personalführung (personnel management)
• Geschäftsführung (business management/executive management)
• Stadtführung (city tour)
• Tabellenführung (leading the league table)
• Führungszeugnis (certificate of good conduct/police clearance certificate – here, Führung refers to leading one's life)