die
Genehmigung
📜 What does "die Genehmigung" mean?
Die Genehmigung (noun, feminine) means permission, approval, authorization, or permit. It typically refers to formal or official consent, confirming that a project, action, or application is allowed.
- Official Permission: The most common meaning. For example, you need a Genehmigung to build a house (Baugenehmigung - building permit).
- Approval: A positive decision or consent to a proposal or plan.
- Authorization/Permit: Often used in the context of applications or financial resources.
⚠️ Note: Genehmigung is more formal than Erlaubnis (permission). An Erlaubnis can also be given informally (e.g., parents' permission), while a Genehmigung usually has an official character.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ung → always feminine.
There are many -ung words, we won't list them all. There are only a few exceptions.
📊 Grammar of "die Genehmigung" in Detail
Genehmigung is a feminine noun. The article is "die". Here is its declension:
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun | (English Case Equivalent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Genehmigung | (Subject) |
| Genitive | der | Genehmigung | (Possessive) |
| Dative | der | Genehmigung | (Indirect Object) |
| Akkusative | die | Genehmigung | (Direct Object) |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun | (English Case Equivalent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Genehmigungen | (Subject) |
| Genitive | der | Genehmigungen | (Possessive) |
| Dative | den | Genehmigungen | (Indirect Object) |
| Akkusative | die | Genehmigungen | (Direct Object) |
📝 Example Sentences
- Nominativ: Die Genehmigung wurde endlich erteilt.
(The approval was finally granted.) - Genitiv: Die Erteilung der Genehmigung dauerte lange.
(The granting of the approval took a long time.) - Dativ: Wir warten auf die Zustellung der Genehmigung.
(We are waiting for the delivery of the approval.) - Akkusativ: Haben Sie die Genehmigung bereits erhalten?
(Have you already received the approval?) - Plural: Das Amt stellte mehrere Genehmigungen aus.
(The office issued several permits.)
💡 How to use "die Genehmigung"?
Genehmigung is primarily used in formal, official, or business contexts. Here are some typical use cases:
- Administrative Procedures: Baugenehmigung (building permit), Betriebsgenehmigung (operating permit), Einreisegenehmigung (entry permit).
- Business Processes: Projektgenehmigung (project approval), Budgetgenehmigung (budget approval), approval of vacation requests (Genehmigung von Urlaubsanträgen).
- Legal Context: Approval of an agreement (Genehmigung einer Vereinbarung), court approval (gerichtliche Genehmigung).
Difference from "Erlaubnis": While die Erlaubnis (permission) can often be given verbally or informally (e.g., "Du hast meine Erlaubnis, das Auto zu nehmen" - You have my permission to take the car), die Genehmigung is almost always written and official. It's often based on specific criteria or laws.
Typical Verbs: eine Genehmigung erteilen (to grant), bekommen/erhalten (to get/receive), einholen (to obtain/seek), beantragen (to apply for), verweigern (to refuse), widerrufen (to revoke).
Compound Words (Komposita): Sondergenehmigung (special permit), Ausnahmegenehmigung (exemption permit), Baugenehmigung (building permit), Genehmigungsverfahren (approval procedure), genehmigungspflichtig (requiring approval).
🧠 Mnemonics for "die Genehmigung"
Mnemonic for the article "die":
Nouns ending in "-ung" in German are almost always feminine (die). Think of other common words: die Rechnung (bill), die Übung (exercise), die Wohnung (apartment)... and die Genehmigung. The "-ung" ending strongly signals "die"!
Mnemonic for the meaning:
The verb "genehmigen" means to approve or to permit. Think of something being "angenehm" (pleasant, agreeable) - you are more likely to approve it. The Genehmigung is the official approval you need to make things proceed agreeably and according to plan.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for "die Genehmigung"
Synonyms (Words with similar meaning):
- Die Zustimmung: Agreement, consent. (General agreement)
- Die Erlaubnis: Permission. (Often less formal than Genehmigung)
- Die Bewilligung: Grant, approval. (Especially for applications, e.g., funding)
- Die Freigabe: Release, clearance. (Permission to use or start something, e.g., software release)
- Die Autorisierung / Autorisierung: Authorization. (Authority or empowerment)
- Die Lizenz: License. (A specific type of permit, often for usage or operation)
Antonyms (Opposites):
- Die Ablehnung: Rejection, refusal. (Negative decision on an application or proposal)
- Die Verweigerung: Denial, refusal. (Active non-granting of permission)
- Das Verbot: Prohibition, ban. (Official forbidding of an action)
- Der Widerruf: Revocation. (Withdrawal of a previously granted approval)
⚠️ Similar Words (Potential Confusion!):
- Die Neigung / Geneigtheit: Inclination, tendency, disposition. (This refers to a preference, not official permission.)
😄 A Little Joke
DE: Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Haben Sie schon die Genehmigung für Projekt X eingeholt?" Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: "Nein, Chef, aber ich habe schon drei verschiedene Antragsformulare dafür gefunden! Ist das nicht schon die halbe Miete?"
EN: The boss asks the new employee: "Have you already obtained the approval for Project X?" The employee replies: "No, boss, but I've already found three different application forms for it! Isn't that half the battle?"
📜 Poem about the Genehmigung
DE:
Ein Plan im Kopf, so kühn und groß,
Doch ohne Stempel geht nichts los.
Man braucht Papier, mit Siegel drauf,
So nimmt das Schicksal seinen Lauf.
Man füllt den Antrag sorgsam aus,
Bringt ihn persönlich hin ins Haus.
Dann heißt es warten, Tag für Tag,
Bis man die Antwort hören mag.
Ist sie positiv, welch ein Glück!
Man hat das wichtige Papier-Stück:
Die Genehmigung – nun kann's geschehen,
Das große Projekt wird man bald sehen!
EN Translation:
A plan in mind, so bold and grand,
But without a stamp, nothing's planned.
You need paper, with a seal applied,
So fate can finally decide.
You fill the form with utmost care,
Deliver it in person there.
Then you must wait, day after day,
Until you hear what they will say.
If positive, oh what delight!
You hold the paper, sealed so tight:
The approval – now it can proceed,
The major project will succeed!
🧩 Riddle Time
DE:
Ich bin ein Dokument, oft sehr begehrt,
Ohne mich ist mancher Plan nichts wert.
Vom Amt oder Chef werd' ich erteilt,
Damit dein Vorhaben nicht länger weilt.
Ich trage Stempel, manchmal auch Gebühr,
Bin die offizielle Erlaubnis-Tür.
Was bin ich?
EN:
I am a document, often highly sought,
Without me, many plans come to naught.
From the office or boss, I am conferred,
So your project is no longer deferred.
I bear stamps, sometimes a fee is due,
I am the official permission door for you.
What am I?
(Solution: die Genehmigung / the approval, permit)
ℹ️ Additional Information
Word Formation:
The word Genehmigung is a noun derived from the verb genehmigen. The verb means to approve, to permit, or to authorize.
The suffix -ung is commonly used in German to form nouns from verbs (nominalization). These nouns are almost always feminine (taking the article die).
Summary: is it der, die or das Genehmigung?
The noun "Genehmigung" is feminine. The correct article is "die". So, it's "die Genehmigung" (the approval/permit). The plural is "die Genehmigungen" (the approvals/permits).