die  Geltung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈɡɛltʊŋ/

🧐 What does 'die Geltung' mean?

The noun die Geltung describes several related concepts centered around recognition, effectiveness, and importance:

• Validity / Effectiveness: Especially in legal or formal contexts. Refers to whether something (e.g., a law, a ticket, a rule) is valid or in effect. German: Gültigkeit / Wirksamkeit.
• Standing / Importance / Influence: Describes the degree of recognition, importance, or influence that a person, idea, or thing has in a specific field or in society. German: Ansehen / Bedeutung / Einfluss.
• Zur Geltung kommen: A common phrase meaning that something (e.g., a skill, a feature, a piece of art) is shown to its best advantage, becomes visible, or can unfold properly.

It is a feminine noun, so it always uses the article die.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar of Geltung in Detail

Die Geltung is a feminine noun. It is mostly used in the singular. The plural (die Geltungen) is very rare and only used when referring to different types or instances of validity or importance.

💡 Example Sentences

1. Die Geltung dieses Gesetzes beginnt am ersten Januar. (This law's validity begins on January first.)
2. Seine Argumente verloren an Geltung. (His arguments lost importance/standing.)
3. Sie brachte ihre Fähigkeiten voll zur Geltung. (She showed her skills to their full advantage.)
4. Das Gemälde kommt in diesem Licht erst richtig zur Geltung. (The painting really comes into its own / shows to its best advantage in this light.)
5. Er verschaffte seinen Ideen Geltung. (He gained recognition/acceptance for his ideas.)

🗣️ How to use 'Geltung'?

The term die Geltung is often found in more formal contexts, especially in law, politics, philosophy, and administration.

• Legal Context: Here, it refers to the Gültigkeit (validity) or the coming into effect (Inkrafttreten) of laws, contracts, rules, or documents. Example: Die Geltung der neuen Verordnung ist unbestritten. (The validity of the new regulation is undisputed.)
• Social/Personal Context: Here, Geltung relates to the Ansehen (standing), Einfluss (influence), or Wichtigkeit (importance) of a person or thing. Example: Er genoss hohe Geltung in Fachkreisen. (He enjoyed high standing/recognition among experts.)
• Aesthetic Context: The phrase zur Geltung kommen is used to describe how something (e.g., colors, shapes, talents) is shown to its best advantage or displayed optimally. Example: Das Kleid bringt ihre Figur gut zur Geltung. (The dress highlights her figure well / shows her figure to good advantage.)

Important phrases:

• zur Geltung kommen: to come into one's own, to be shown to advantage, to become apparent
• zur Geltung bringen: to highlight, to show sth. to advantage
• Geltung haben: to be valid, to be recognized
• Geltung erlangen/finden: to gain recognition/importance
• etw./jmdm. Geltung verschaffen: to gain recognition/acceptance for sth./sb.
• etw. zur Geltung machen: (less common for 'Geltung', more common as 'geltend machen') to assert, to claim (e.g., a right)

⚠️ Don't confuse it with "Geld" (money), even though they sound somewhat similar!

🧠 Mnemonics for 'Geltung'

Article Mnemonic: Think of related feminine German words like "die Gültigkeit" (the validity) or "die Wichtigkeit" (the importance). Remembering these helps recall that Geltung uses the article die.

Meaning Mnemonic: Geltung comes from the verb "gelten" (to be valid, to apply, to count). If something gilt (is valid/applies), it has Geltung (validity, importance, standing). Think: "It GILT, so it has GELTung."

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar Words (Caution!):

• Geltendmachung: The act of asserting or claiming (e.g., a right). From "geltend machen". Different noun form.
• Vergeltung: Retribution, retaliation, vengeance. Completely different meaning!

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat das neue Gesetz so viel Geltung?
(Why does the new law have so much Geltung / validity/standing?)
Weil es ständig zitiert wird und jeder darüber spricht – es ist quasi der Promi unter den Paragraphen! 😄
(Because it's constantly cited and everyone talks about it – it's practically the celebrity among the paragraphs!)

📜 A Poem about Geltung

Im Recht fest verankert,
(Firmly anchored in law,)
Ein Wort von Gewicht.
(A word of weight.)
Die Geltung, sie fordert,
(Geltung, it demands,)
Dass man ihr entspricht.
(That one complies with it.)

Ob Mensch, Idee, ob Kunst,
(Whether person, idea, or art,)
Sie streben danach,
(They strive for it,)
Nach Ansehen, Gunst,
(For standing, favour,)
Tag für Tag.
(Day after day.)

Was gut ist, soll strahlen,
(What is good should shine,)
Zur Geltung schön kommen,
(Come beautifully to advantage,)
Nicht in Schatten verfallen,
(Not fall into shadow,)
Sein Recht wird genommen.
(Its right is taken.)

🧩 Riddle Time

Ich kann ein Gesetz gültig machen,
(I can make a law valid,)
oder einer Person Ansehen bringen.
(or bring a person standing.)
Ich sorge dafür, dass Talente erwachen,
(I ensure that talents awaken,)
und schöne Dinge voll zur Wirkung schwingen.
(and beautiful things swing into full effect.)

Manchmal muss man mich verschaffen,
(Sometimes one must obtain me,)
damit eine Meinung zählt.
(so that an opinion counts.)
Ich bin feminin, von edlem Schaffen.
(I am feminine, of noble creation.)

Wer bin ich, in dieser Welt?
(Who am I, in this world?)

Solution: die Geltung

ℹ️ Additional Information

Word Formation:

The noun Geltung is derived from the verb gelten (to be valid, apply, count). The suffix -ung is frequently used in German to form nouns from verbs, often describing the process or result of the action (e.g., hoffen (to hope) -> die Hoffnung (the hope), warnen (to warn) -> die Warnung (the warning)).

Cultural Aspects:

The concept of 'Geltung' plays a significant role in German philosophy (e.g., with Kant or in Neo-Kantianism), particularly concerning the validity of judgments or norms.