die  Gefährdung

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɡəˈfɛːɐ̯dʊŋ/

🎯 What exactly does 'Gefährdung' mean?

Die Gefährdung (noun, feminine) refers to the state or process by which something or someone is put in danger or is exposed to a hazard. It describes the potential for harm or a negative impact.

• It's an abstract noun derived from the verb gefährden (to endanger).
• The suffix '-ung' often signals a feminine noun in German, which is true here (die Gefährdung).
• ⚠️ It's important to distinguish Gefährdung (the state of being endangered or the act of endangering) from Gefahr (the concrete danger or risk itself), although the terms are closely related.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Die Gefährdung

The noun 'Gefährdung' is feminine. Here are the declension tables:

Example Sentences

1. Die Gefährdung der öffentlichen Sicherheit muss verhindert werden.
   (The endangerment of public safety must be prevented.)
2. Eine ständige Gefährdung durch Lärm kann krank machen.
   (Constant endangerment/exposure to noise can make you ill.)
3. Im Bericht werden verschiedene Gefährdungen für das Projekt analysiert.
   (Various risks/hazards for the project are analysed in the report.)
4. Der Richter sprach von einer erheblichen Gefährdung des Kindeswohls.
   (The judge spoke of a significant endangerment of the child's welfare.)

🗣️ How is 'Gefährdung' used?

The term 'Gefährdung' is often used in formal contexts, especially in legal, safety-related, and ecological fields.

• Law & Safety: People talk about the Gefährdung des Straßenverkehrs (endangerment of road traffic), Gefährdung der öffentlichen Ordnung (endangerment of public order), or Kindeswohlgefährdung (child endangerment). It refers to an action or state that could potentially harm a legally protected interest.
• Environment: In conservation, one speaks of the Gefährdung von Arten (endangerment of species) or the Gefährdung von Ökosystemen (endangerment of ecosystems).
• Occupational Safety: In the workplace, a Gefährdungsbeurteilung (risk assessment, literally 'endangerment assessment') is carried out to identify potential risks for employees.
• Difference from 'Gefahr': While 'Gefahr' (danger) often describes the immediate, concrete threat (e.g., "Achtung, Gefahr!" - "Attention, danger!"), 'Gefährdung' refers more to the process or state that can lead to danger or the exposure to danger. Example: Bad brakes are a Gefährdung (a hazard/state of endangerment) that leads to the Gefahr (danger/risk) of an accident.

🧠 Mnemonics for Gefährdung

Article Mnemonic: Many German nouns ending in -ung are feminine, including die Gefährdung. Think of a 'warning' (die Warnung - also ends in -ung and is feminine!) about the danger.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine someone 'faring' forth (fahren is related to geFÄHRdung) on a dangerous journey, putting themselves in peril. This act of undertaking something perilous is the Gefährdung (endangerment).

↔️ Opposites and Similar Words: About Gefährdung

Potential for Confusion: Be careful not to equate Gefährdung with Gefahr (danger) - see usage notes.

😄 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Sicherheitsbeauftragte immer einen Regenschirm dabei, auch wenn die Sonne scheint?
Er sagt, man wisse ja nie, wann eine plötzliche Gefährdung durch herabfallende Statistiken droht! 😉

(Why does the safety officer always carry an umbrella, even when the sun is shining?
He says you never know when there's a sudden risk/endangerment from falling statistics!)

📜 Poem about Gefährdung

Wo Leichtsinn herrscht und Vorsicht flieht,
Wo Unachtsamkeit Kreise zieht,
Da wächst sie still, oft ungesehn,
Die Gefährdung – kann schnell geschehn.

Ob Mensch, ob Tier, ob Wald, ob Flur,
Sie lauert auf der Lebensspur.
Drum Augen auf und Sinn bereit,
Für mehr Schutz und Sicherheit.

(Where carelessness reigns and caution flees,
Where inattention weaves its sprees,
There it grows silent, often unseen,
The Endangerment – can quickly convene.

Whether human, beast, or forest floor,
It lurks along life's corridor.
So eyes open and senses keen,
For more protection and a safer scene.)

❓ Little Riddle

Ich bin kein Schlag, doch kann verletzen.
Ich bin kein Dieb, doch kann Besitz entwerten.
Man beurteilt mich am Arbeitsplatz,
Und schützt das Kind vor meinem Satz.
Im Recht und Umwelt bin ich präsent,
Ein Risiko, das jeder kennt.

Wer oder was bin ich?
Lösung: die Gefährdung

(I am not a blow, yet I can injure.
I am not a thief, yet I can devalue property.
I am assessed in the workplace,
And the child is protected from my case.
In law and environment, I am present,
A risk that everyone has learnt.)

What or who am I?
Answer: die Gefährdung (endangerment/risk/hazard)

💡 Other Interesting Facts

Word Formation (Wortbildung):

• Prefix 'Ge-': A collective or intensifying prefix.
• Stem 'fährd': Derived from the verb gefährden (to endanger), which is related to fahren (to drive, travel, go). Originally, 'fahren' also meant 'to travel' or 'to get into a situation'. Thus, to endanger someone meant to expose them to a perilous journey or situation.
• Suffix '-ung': Forms feminine nouns from verbs, describing a process or state.

Context: The term gained particular importance during the industrial age and with the development of modern legal and safety systems.