die
Genüge
🤔 What does "die Genüge" mean?
Die Genüge is a feminine noun meaning sufficiency, adequacy, or satisfaction. It describes the state where something is present in a sufficient amount or meets the requirements.
🚨 Nowadays, it's almost exclusively used in fixed phrases (feste Wendungen), especially with prepositions like "zur" (zur Genüge - meaning 'sufficiently', 'enough') or in connection with verbs like "genügen" (to suffice) or "Genüge tun/leisten" (to suffice, to satisfy).
You rarely encounter it with an article standing alone.
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 of "die Genüge" in Detail
"Genüge" is a feminine noun (feminines Substantiv). It's mostly used in the singular (Singular) and often without an article or in fixed phrases requiring the dative (Dativ) or genitive (Genitiv) case.
| Case | Article | Noun | (English equivalent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Genüge | (the sufficiency) |
| Genitive | der | Genüge | (of the sufficiency) |
| Dative | der | Genüge | (to/for the sufficiency) |
| Accusative | die | Genüge | (the sufficiency) |
A plural form ("die Genügen") theoretically exists but is extremely uncommon (extrem ungebräuchlich) and practically never used.
📝 Example Sentences
- Er hat das Thema zur Genüge diskutiert. (He discussed the topic sufficiently/enough. - Here used in a fixed dative phrase)
- Ihre Entschuldigung tat nicht Genüge. (Her apology did not suffice / wasn't sufficient. - Here as part of a verbal phrase)
- Wir haben Beweise zur Genüge. (We have evidence aplenty / more than enough evidence.)
- Seinen Pflichten Genüge tun ist wichtig. (To fulfill one's duties is important. - Meaning 'to meet a requirement')
💡 Usage: When to use "Genüge"?
You'll almost exclusively find "die Genüge" in fixed expressions (feste Redewendungen). The most important ones are:
- zur Genüge: means 'sufficiently', 'enough', often even 'more than enough' or 'in abundance'.
Example: Wir haben das Problem zur Genüge besprochen. (We have discussed the problem sufficiently/to exhaustion.) - Genüge tun/leisten: means 'to suffice', 'to be adequate', 'to meet a requirement'.
Example: Diese Erklärung tut nicht Genüge. (This explanation does not suffice.) Er muss seinen Verpflichtungen Genüge leisten. (He must fulfill his obligations.) - sich (Dativ) Genüge tun: (archaic) meaning 'to satisfy oneself'.
The usage is generally considered more formal or literary (gehoben or schriftsprachlich). In everyday conversation, people would rather use synonyms like "genug" (enough), "ausreichend" (sufficient) or rephrase.
⚠️ Don't confuse it with the verb genügen (to suffice) or the adjective/adverb genug (enough).
🧠 Mnemonics for Genüge
Article Mnemonic: Imagine a queen (feminine, therefore die) saying, "I have riches zur Genüge!" (I have riches aplenty!). This helps remember "die Genüge".
Meaning Mnemonic: "Genüge" sounds very similar to the common German word "genug" (enough). If something is available "zur Genüge", there is enough of it (or even more).
🔄 Opposites and Similarities: Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Ausreichen (das): the state of being enough (less common as a noun)
- Hinlänglichkeit: adequacy, sufficiency
- Sättigung: saturation, satiation (when a need is fully met)
- Befriedigung: satisfaction, gratification
- Genugtuung: satisfaction, gratification (often about achieving something or receiving amends)
Similar words: Pay attention to the verb genügen (to suffice) and the adverb/adjective genug (enough).
😄 A Little Joke
Lehrer: "Wer kann mir einen Satz mit 'zur Genüge' bilden?"
Fritzchen: "Wenn meine Oma Kuchen backt, habe ich nie zur Genüge!"
Teacher: "Who can form a sentence with 'zur Genüge' (enough/sufficiently)?"
Little Fritz: "When my grandma bakes cake, I never have zur Genüge!" (Meaning: I never have enough!)
📜 A Little Poem
Die Sorgen schwer, die Last war groß,
man hoffte auf ein bess'res Los.
Doch Wissen kam und half geschwind,
davon gab's nun zur Genüge, mein Kind.
The worries heavy, the burden great,
one hoped for a better fate.
But knowledge came and helped with speed,
of that there was sufficiency indeed, my child.
❓ A Little Riddle about Genüge
Ich bin kein Mangel, keine Not,
bin oft genug das täglich Brot.
In fester Wendung meist zu Haus,
ich drücke 'ausreichend' aus.
Was bin ich?
(... Die Genüge)
I am no lack, no state of need,
am often like the daily bread indeed.
In fixed phrases mostly found,
expressing 'sufficient' all around.
What am I?
(... Die Genüge / Sufficiency)
➕ Other Information
Etymology: The word "Genüge" derives from Old High German "ginuogi" and Middle High German "genüege", meaning 'sufficient quantity', 'abundance' or 'satisfaction'. It's closely related to the word "genug" (enough).
Cultural Significance: The concept of "Genüge" (sufficiency) also plays a philosophical role, for instance in discussions about modesty, minimalism, or the question of when 'enough is enough'.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Genüge?
The German noun Genüge is feminine: die Genüge. However, it is mostly used in fixed phrases like zur Genüge (sufficiently) or Genüge tun (to suffice), often without an article.