die  Fusion

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/fuˈzi̯oːn/

What exactly does "die Fusion" mean? 🤔

The word die Fusion (noun, feminine) generally describes the merging or joining of things. It has several specific meanings depending on the context:

• 🤝 Wirtschaft & Finanzen (Business & Finance): The merger of two or more companies into a new economic entity. Often referred to as a Firmenfusion (company merger) or Unternehmensfusion (corporate merger).
• ⚛️ Physik (Physics): Nuclear fusion (Kernfusion or Atomfusion), where atomic nuclei merge, releasing energy (e.g., in the sun).
• 🍲 Kochen & Gastronomie (Cooking & Gastronomy): The combination of cooking styles and ingredients from different countries or regions (Fusionküche or Fusion Cuisine).
• 🎶 Musik & Kunst (Music & Art): The combination of different musical styles or art forms (e.g., Jazz Fusion).

🚨 Important: The word is always feminine (die Fusion).

Grammar under the microscope: die Fusion

"Fusion" is a feminine noun. Here are the declension tables:

Example Sentences

1. Die Fusion der beiden Banken wurde gestern bekannt gegeben.
   (The merger of the two banks was announced yesterday.)
2. Kernfusion ist eine vielversprechende Energiequelle der Zukunft.
   (Nuclear fusion is a promising energy source for the future.)
3. Dieses Restaurant ist bekannt für seine kreative Fusion aus asiatischer und europäischer Küche.
   (This restaurant is known for its creative fusion of Asian and European cuisine.)
4. Nach langen Verhandlungen kam es zur Fusion der Abteilungen.
   (After long negotiations, the departments were merged.)

How to use "die Fusion"? 💡

The use of die Fusion strongly depends on the field:

• In a business context (Wirtschaft), people often talk about Fusion und Übernahme (Mergers & Acquisitions, M&A). It describes a rather equal merger compared to an Übernahme (takeover), where one company buys the other. Similar terms are Zusammenschluss (joining forces, consolidation) or Verschmelzung (merging, amalgamation).
• In physics (Physik), Kernfusion is the established technical term for the merging of atomic nuclei, as opposed to Kernspaltung (nuclear fission).
• In gastronomy (Gastronomie), Fusion stands for innovation and the creative combination of different culinary traditions (Fusionküche).
• Generally, Fusion can also simply describe a close connection or merging, e.g., the Fusion von Ideen (fusion of ideas).

⚠️ Don't confuse die Fusion with die Infusion (a medical term for introducing fluids into the body).

Memory Aids for "die Fusion" 🧠

Article Aid: Words ending in -ion in German are almost always feminine. Think of: die Aktion (action), die Station (station), die Passion (passion)... and therefore also die Fusion! Associate the -ion ending with the feminine article die.

Meaning Aid: Imagine two things 'fusing' together – like companies, ingredients, or atoms. The 'fus' sound in Fusion can remind you of 'fuse' in English.

Similar & Opposite: Around "die Fusion"

Similar sounding, but different meaning:

• Infusion: Medical term.
• Konfusion: Confusion.
• Diffusion: Physical/chemical process of particle distribution.

A Little Joke 😄

German: Fragt ein Manager den anderen: "Was ist der Unterschied zwischen einer Hochzeit und einer Firmenfusion?" Antwortet der andere: "Bei einer Hochzeit weiß man wenigstens, wer die Braut ist!"

English Translation: One manager asks another: "What's the difference between a wedding and a corporate merger?" The other replies: "At a wedding, at least you know who the bride is!"

Poem about Fusion 📜

German:
Zwei Firmen träumen, groß zu sein,
allein ist schwer, drum schließt euch ein!
Die Fusion, ein kühner Plan,
fängt nun als neue Einheit an.

Im Kern der Sonne, heiß und licht,
Atom verschmilzt, vergisst sein Ich.
Die Fusion, mit Kraft und Macht,
hat uns das Sternenfeuer gebracht.

English Translation:
Two firms dream of being great,
alone it's hard, so seal your fate!
The fusion, a bold design,
now starts as a new entity combined.

In the sun's core, hot and bright,
atom merges, forgets its 'I'.
The fusion, with force and might,
has brought us the starry light.

Little Riddle about Fusion

German:
Ich bringe Firmen oft zusammen,
lass Atomkerne neu entflammen.
Auch in der Küche misch ich Stile kunterbunt.
Ich bin feminin, sag, wer bin ich zur Stund'?

English Translation:
I often bring companies together,
let atomic nuclei ignite anew, whatever the weather.
In the kitchen too, I mix styles colourfully.
I am feminine, tell me, who might I be?

Solution: die Fusion

Interesting Trivia 🤓

The word Fusion comes from the Latin word fusio, meaning 'a pouring, melting, flowing'. The ending -io indicates a process or result. This Latin root is also found in words like konfus (poured together -> confused) or diffus (poured apart -> diffuse).

German Origin Note: Das Wort Fusion stammt vom lateinischen Wort fusio ab, was „das Gießen, Schmelzen, Strömen“ bedeutet.