die  Gültigkeit

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈɡʏltɪçkaɪ̯t/

📜 What exactly does "die Gültigkeit" mean?

Die Gültigkeit (feminine) describes the state of being legally or factually effective, binding, or applicable. It concerns whether something (e.g., a Vertrag (contract), a Ticket, a Gesetz (law), an Argument) is recognized and can fulfill its intended function, often within a specific timeframe.

• Rechtliche/Formale Gültigkeit (Legal/Formal Validity): Recognition according to laws or rules (e.g., the Gültigkeit of a passport).
• Faktische Gültigkeit/Wirksamkeit (Factual Validity/Effectiveness): Whether something works or holds true in practice (e.g., the Gültigkeit of a theory).
• Zeitliche Gültigkeit (Temporal Validity): The period during which something is effective (e.g., the Gültigkeit of a train ticket).

There's only one article for this word: die Gültigkeit. ⚠️ Don't confuse it with the adjective gültig (valid).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Gültigkeit

"Gültigkeit" is a feminine noun. It's mostly used in the singular because it describes an abstract state. The plural ("Gültigkeiten") is very rare and would refer to specific instances or types of validity.

Declension of die Gültigkeit (Validity)

(Plural rarely used)

💡 Example Sentences

1. Die Gültigkeit des Dokuments wird überprüft. (The validity of the document is being checked. - Nominative)
2. Das Ende der Gültigkeit naht. (The end of the validity period is approaching. - Genitive)
3. Wir vertrauen auf die Gültigkeit seiner Aussage. (We trust in the validity of his statement. - Accusative with preposition 'auf')
4. Dem Antrag wurde wegen fehlender Gültigkeit nicht stattgegeben. (The application was denied due to lack of validity. - Dative with 'wegen', which formally requires Genitive but is often used with Dative colloquially)

🚀 When and how to use "Gültigkeit"?

"Gültigkeit" is a key term in many areas:

• Recht & Verwaltung (Law & Administration): The Gültigkeit of laws, contracts, passports, visas, driver's licenses.
• Transport & Tickets: The Gültigkeit of train tickets, plane tickets, admission tickets. The Gültigkeitsdauer (period of validity) is often important here.
• Wissenschaft & Logik (Science & Logic): The Gültigkeit of arguments, theories, proofs.
• Technik & IT (Technology & IT): The Gültigkeit of certificates, licenses, passwords.

Typical Phrases:

• etwas hat Gültigkeit / ist von Gültigkeit (something has validity / is valid)
• seine Gültigkeit behalten / verlieren / überprüfen (to retain / lose / check its validity)
• die Gültigkeit anerkennen / bestreiten (to acknowledge / dispute the validity)
• die Gültigkeitsdauer / der Gültigkeitszeitraum (the period of validity)
• bis zum Ablauf der Gültigkeit (until the expiry of validity)

Comparison:

• Gültigkeit vs. Wirksamkeit: "Gültigkeit" often refers to formal or legal correctness, while "Wirksamkeit" (effectiveness) relates to actual functioning or achieving a result. A contract can be gültig (valid) but not yet wirksam (effective).
• Gültigkeit vs. Relevanz: Something can be gültig (e.g., an old contract) but no longer have practical Relevanz (relevance).

🧠 Memory Aids for "die Gültigkeit"

For the article 'die': Many abstract German nouns ending in "-keit" are feminine (die). Think of others like die Fähigkeit (ability), die Möglichkeit (possibility). Thus: die Gültigkeit.

For the meaning 'Validity': Imagine a gültig (valid) ticket. The quality it possesses is die Gültigkeit. It's like a seal of approval 📜 saying: "Yes, this counts / applies!"

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Gültigkeit

⚠️ Related Terms:

• gültig (adjective): valid, in effect.
• Gültigkeitsdauer / Gültigkeitszeitraum (noun): period of validity.
• gelten (verb): to be valid, to apply.

😄 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Kontrolleur den Fahrgast: "Ihre Fahrkarte bitte!"
Der Fahrgast kramt und kramt. "Tut mir leid, ich finde sie nicht."
Kontrolleur: "Kein Problem. Ohne Fahrkarte hat Ihre Suche sowieso keine Gültigkeit mehr!"

English: The conductor asks the passenger: "Your ticket, please!"
The passenger rummages and rummages. "I'm sorry, I can't find it."
Conductor: "No problem. Without a ticket, your search has no validity anymore anyway!"

✒️ Poem about Gültigkeit

German:
Ein Stempel, eine Frist, ein Recht,
Die Gültigkeit, mal gut, mal schlecht.
Ein Ticket, das die Reise weist,
Ein Pass, der fern die Welt umkreist.

Ein Wort, gegeben und verbrieft,
Ein Schwur, der in die Seele schnieft.
Doch Zeit verrinnt, was gestern galt,
Verliert vielleicht schon morgen Halt.
So prüfe stets mit klugem Sinn,
Was heute noch hat Gültigkeit drin.

English Translation:
A stamp, a deadline, or a right,
Validity, dark or bright.
A ticket showing where to roam,
A passport far away from home.

A word, once given and confirmed,
An oath within the soul affirmed.
But time flows on, what held its sway,
Might lose its standing the next day.
So always check with prudent mind,
What validity today you find.

🧩 Riddle Time

German:
Ich habe kein Verfallsdatum, aber oft eine Dauer.
Ich mache Verträge stark wie eine Mauer.
Ohne mich ist dein Pass nur Papier,
Und dein Ticket bringt dich nicht von hier.

Was bin ich?

English:
I have no expiry date, but often a duration.
I make contracts strong like a fortification.
Without me, your passport is just paper, it's true,
And your ticket won't get you through.

What am I?

Solution: die Gültigkeit (validity)

💡 More Tidbits

Word Formation (Wortbildung):

The word "Gültigkeit" is derived from the adjective "gültig".

• Stem: gültig (valid)
• Suffix: -keit (a common suffix used to form feminine nouns denoting a quality or state)

Interesting Fact: The concept plays a central role in formal logic, where the Gültigkeit (validity) of an inference means that the conclusion necessarily follows from the premises, regardless of the actual truth value of the premises themselves.