die  Gründung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈɡʁʏndʊŋ/

💡 What does "die Gründung" mean?

Die Gründung (noun, feminine) means the act of founding, establishing, or setting up something new. It can refer to various contexts:

• Company formation: The process of creating a new business or organisation. (e.g., die Gründung einer GmbH - the founding of a limited liability company)
• Institutional establishment: The establishment of a new institution, foundation, or association. (e.g., die Gründung einer Universität - the founding of a university)
• State/City founding: The historical act of founding a state or city. (e.g., die Gründung Roms - the founding of Rome)
• Basis/Foundation: Figuratively, it can also mean creating a basis or foundation, although 'Grundlegung' is often used here.

It's a feminine noun, so it's always die Gründung.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📚 Grammar in Detail: die Gründung

"Die Gründung" is a feminine noun. The ending "-ung" often indicates feminine nouns in German.

Declension

Example Sentences

1. Die Gründung des Start-ups war ein mutiger Schritt. (The foundation of the start-up was a brave step.)
2. Wir feiern den Jahrestag der Gründung unserer Firma. (We are celebrating the anniversary of the foundation of our company.)
3. Nach der Gründung gab es viel zu tun. (After the foundation, there was a lot to do.)
4. Er plante die Gründung einer neuen Partei. (He planned the foundation of a new party.)
5. In den letzten Jahren gab es viele Neugründungen in der Tech-Branche. (In recent years, there have been many new foundations/start-ups in the tech industry.)

🚀 How to use "die Gründung"?

"Die Gründung" is primarily used to describe the beginning or establishment of something structured.

• In a business context: Very common for the founding of companies, branches, departments. Example: Die Gründungskosten waren höher als erwartet. (The start-up costs were higher than expected.)
• In a historical context: For cities, states, organizations. Example: Die Gründung der Bundesrepublik Deutschland erfolgte 1949. (The founding of the Federal Republic of Germany took place in 1949.)
• In an institutional context: For clubs, foundations, schools, etc. Example: Die Gründung des Fußballvereins liegt schon 50 Jahre zurück. (The founding of the football club was 50 years ago.)

Differentiation: While "die Gründung" refers to the act of founding, "das Fundament" means the physical or metaphorical base. "Die Eröffnung" (the opening) refers to the moment something (e.g., a shop) becomes accessible to the public, which happens after the Gründung.

🧠 How to remember "die Gründung"

Article Mnemonic (die)

Think of nouns ending in "-ung" in German – many are feminine (die), like die Rechnung (the bill), die Wohnung (the apartment), and thus die Gründung. Imagine the queen (feminine) establishing (gründen) her kingdom.

Meaning Mnemonic

"Gründung" sounds a bit like laying the 'ground' work. When you 'gründest' something (found something), you lay the groundwork for something new. Picture digging into the ground (Grund) to create a solid foundation (Gründung).

🔄 Similar and Opposite Words

⚠️ Watch out, don't confuse!

• Die Begründung: Reason, justification (e.g., eine gute Begründung liefern - to provide a good reason). Sounds similar but has a different meaning!
• Das Fundament: Foundation, base (often physical).

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Investor den Gründer: "Und was ist das Besondere an Ihrer Geschäftsidee?"
Antwortet der Gründer: "Dass wir nach der Gründung noch Geld übrig haben werden!"

(Investor asks the founder: "And what's special about your business idea?"
Founder replies: "That we'll still have money left after the founding!")

✍️ A Short Poem

Ein Plan, ein Traum, ein erster Schritt,
Die Gründung macht uns alle fit.
Mit Mut und Kraft und Energie,
entsteht die neue Kompanie.

(A plan, a dream, a first step,
The founding gets us all in shape.
With courage and strength and energy,
the new company comes to be.)

🕵️‍♀️ Little Riddle

Ich bin der Anfang, nicht das End'.
Man braucht mich für ein Unternehmen, einen Trend.
Mal klein, mal groß, mal Stadt, mal Land,
ich werde oft mit Plan und Hand
ins Leben neu gerufen.
Wie nennt man dieses Schaffen, dieses Stufen?

(I am the beginning, not the end.
You need me for a company, a trend.
Sometimes small, sometimes large, sometimes city, sometimes country,
I am often brought newly to life
with plan and hand.
What do you call this creation, these steps?) (Solution: die Gründung)

🧐 More Information

Word Composition:

"Die Gründung" is a noun derived from the verb "gründen" (to found, to establish). The suffix "-ung" is commonly used in German to form nouns from verbs, often denoting the process or result of the action.

• gründ(en) (verb) + -ung (suffix for nominalization) = die Gründung

Trivia: In Germany, there are specific funding programs (Förderprogramme) and advisory centers (Beratungsstellen) dedicated to business start-ups (Unternehmensgründungen).