die
Geburtsurkunde
📜 What Exactly is a Geburtsurkunde?
The Geburtsurkunde is an official, administrative document certifying a person's birth. It contains important details such as the child's name, date and place of birth, and the parents' names.
As a noun, 'Geburtsurkunde' is feminine, so the correct article is die Geburtsurkunde. There are no other articles for this word.
It's a fundamental document for many legal and administrative processes throughout life.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
📊 Grammar Check: Die Geburtsurkunde in Detail
'Geburtsurkunde' is a feminine noun. Here is its declension:
Singular
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die Geburtsurkunde | eine Geburtsurkunde |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der Geburtsurkunde | einer Geburtsurkunde |
| Dative (To whom?) | der Geburtsurkunde | einer Geburtsurkunde |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die Geburtsurkunde | eine Geburtsurkunde |
Plural
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Geburtsurkunden | Geburtsurkunden |
| Genitive | der Geburtsurkunden | Geburtsurkunden |
| Dative | den Geburtsurkunden | Geburtsurkunden |
| Accusative | die Geburtsurkunden | Geburtsurkunden |
Example Sentences
- Für die Anmeldung im Kindergarten benötigen wir die Geburtsurkunde Ihres Kindes.
(For kindergarten registration, we need your child's birth certificate.) - Der Name auf der Geburtsurkunde ist maßgeblich.
(The name on the birth certificate is decisive.) - Bitte legen Sie dem Antrag eine Geburtsurkunde bei.
(Please attach a birth certificate to the application.) - Ich habe alle wichtigen Dokumente, einschließlich der Geburtsurkunden meiner Kinder, in einem Ordner.
(I have all important documents, including my children's birth certificates, in a folder.)
💡 When is a Geburtsurkunde Needed?
The Geburtsurkunde is a central document and required in many situations:
- Applying for ID documents: Personalausweis (ID card), Reisepass (passport).
- Registration: School, Kindergarten (nursery/preschool).
- Marriage (Eheschließung): As proof of identity and parentage.
- Social benefits: Applying for Kindergeld (child benefit), Elterngeld (parental allowance), etc.
- Inheritance matters: Proof of family relationships.
- Citizenship issues: Proof of place of birth and parents.
It's important to keep the original document (Originalurkunde) safe and obtain certified copies (beglaubigte Kopien) when needed.
🧠 Mnemonics for Geburtsurkunde
Article Mnemonic: Many German nouns ending in '-e' that represent a document or certificate (like die Urkunde - the certificate, die Bescheinigung - the confirmation) are feminine. The Geburtsurkunde fits this pattern – it's die Urkunde (certificate) of the Geburt (birth).
Meaning Mnemonic: Think of the Geburt (birth) – often associated with a feminine life-giving act. The Urkunde (document) about it is therefore feminine: die Geburtsurkunde.
🔄 Similar Terms: Synonyms & Related Concepts
Synonyms
- Geburtsnachweis: (Proof of birth) Similar meaning, often used synonymously, but 'Geburtsurkunde' is the more precise, official term.
- Abstammungsurkunde (outdated): (Certificate of descent) Older term that contained partly similar information.
Antonyms
There isn't a direct antonym. A contrasting document could be the Sterbeurkunde (death certificate), which certifies the end of life.
Related Terms
😂 A Little Chuckle
Fragt der Beamte: "Haben Sie Ihre Geburtsurkunde dabei?"
Antwortet der Antragsteller: "Nein, aber ich kann Ihnen versichern, ich wurde geboren!" 😄
Translation:
The official asks: "Do you have your birth certificate with you?"
The applicant replies: "No, but I can assure you, I was born!" 😄
✍️ A Poem about the Certificate
Ein Blatt Papier, doch schwer von Sinn,
zeigt, wo das Leben nahm Beginn.
Die Geburtsurkunde, klar und rein,
schreibt Namen, Ort und Datum ein.
Ein erster Stempel, offiziell,
begleitet dich, mal leis, mal schnell.
Ein Dokument, das zählt im Leben,
wird dir als Nachweis stets gegeben.
Translation:
A sheet of paper, yet heavy with meaning,
shows where life took its beginning.
The birth certificate, clear and pure,
enters name, place, and date for sure.
A first stamp, official and true,
accompanies you, sometimes quiet, sometimes through.
A document that counts in life,
will always be given to you as proof.
❓ Little Riddle
Ich habe keinen Mund, doch sag dir, wer du bist.
Ich zeige deinen Start, den niemand je vergisst.
Bin amtlich und bezeugt, mit Stempel und mit Siegel.
Für Pass und Ehe brauchst du mich als Regel.
Was bin ich?
Translation:
I have no mouth, yet tell you who you are.
I show your start, which no one ever forgets afar.
I'm official and attested, with stamp and with seal.
For passport and marriage, you need me, that's the deal.
What am I?
(Solution: die Geburtsurkunde / the birth certificate)
🧩 Word Components & Trivia
Word Composition:
The word 'Geburtsurkunde' is a compound noun (Kompositum), made up of:
Together, the meaning is: Certificate concerning the birth.
Trivia: In Germany, the Geburtsurkunde is issued by the Standesamt (registry office) of the place of birth. It is based on the Geburtsanzeige (birth notification), which is usually filed by the hospital or midwife.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Geburtsurkunde?
The noun 'Geburtsurkunde' is feminine. The correct article is always die Geburtsurkunde (in the nominative singular).