die
Gültigkeitsdauer
⏳ What exactly does Gültigkeitsdauer mean?
The German word Gültigkeitsdauer refers to the period for which something is valid. It's the time span during which a document (e.g., a Pass (passport), a Vertrag (contract), a Fahrkarte (ticket)), an offer, a guarantee, or something similar retains its effectiveness or recognition.
The word is feminine, so it's always die Gültigkeitsdauer.
It is a compound noun:
- Gültigkeit: The state of being valid.
- Dauer: A duration, a period of time.
Together, it literally means the "duration of validity".
⚠️ Be careful: Don't confuse die Gültigkeitsdauer (the period) with the Ablaufdatum or Verfallsdatum (expiry date, the point in time when validity ends), although they are closely related.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Time → mostly feminine.
There are many exceptions, e.g. the entire category "Weekdays, months, seasons" (masculine/der).
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Gültigkeitsdauer
The word „Gültigkeitsdauer“ is a feminine noun. The article is „die“. It is mostly used in the singular form as it refers to a specific period.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Gültigkeitsdauer |
| Genitive | der | Gültigkeitsdauer |
| Dative | der | Gültigkeitsdauer |
| Accusative | die | Gültigkeitsdauer |
Plural: The plural form „die Gültigkeitsdauern“ is grammatically correct but rarely used. One usually speaks of the validity periods of different items.
📝 Example Sentences
- Bitte überprüfen Sie die Gültigkeitsdauer Ihres Reisepasses vor der Reise.
(Please check the validity period of your passport before the trip.) - Die Gültigkeitsdauer des Angebots beträgt 14 Tage.
(The validity period of the offer is 14 days.) - Nach Ablauf der Gültigkeitsdauer ist die Fahrkarte ungültig.
(After the validity period expires, the ticket is invalid.) - Die Garantie hat eine Gültigkeitsdauer von zwei Jahren.
(The warranty has a validity period of two years.)
🗣️ How to use Gültigkeitsdauer?
„Gültigkeitsdauer“ is mainly used in formal, official, or technical contexts. Typical areas of application include:
- Documents: Passports (Pässe), visas (Visa), driver's licenses (Führerscheine), ID cards (Ausweise)
- Contracts: Rental agreements (Mietverträge), employment contracts (Arbeitsverträge), subscriptions (Abonnements)
- Tickets & Cards: Transport tickets (Fahrkarten), admission tickets (Eintrittskarten), vouchers (Gutscheine), membership cards (Mitgliedskarten)
- Products & Offers: Warranties (Garantien), special offers (Sonderangebote), licenses (Lizenzen, e.g., software)
- Law & Administration: Permits (Genehmigungen), certificates (Bescheinigungen)
In everyday language, people might simply say „wie lange etwas gültig ist“ (how long something is valid) or use more specific terms like „Ablaufdatum“ (expiry date, especially for food) or „Frist“ (deadline).
Comparison:
- Gültigkeitsdauer: The entire period of validity (e.g., "Die Gültigkeitsdauer ist 5 Jahre." - The validity period is 5 years.)
- Ablaufdatum/Verfallsdatum: The specific date on which validity ends (e.g., "Das Ablaufdatum ist der 31.12.2025." - The expiry date is Dec 31, 2025.)
- Laufzeit: Often used synonymously, sometimes more related to contracts or terms.
- Frist: More like a period until a deadline, often for tasks or submissions.
💡 Mnemonics for Gültigkeitsdauer
Article Mnemonic: The base word is „die Dauer“ (the duration). Since „Dauer“ is feminine, the compound noun „die Gültigkeitsdauer“ also stays feminine.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you have something 'guilty' (sounds like gültig - valid) but only for a certain 'duration' (Dauer). The Gültigkeitsdauer is the duration for which its validity holds. Validity + Duration = Gültigkeitsdauer.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
Antonyms (opposites):
- Ungültigkeit: Invalidity (the state, not a period).
- Unbefristetheit: Unlimited duration, permanence (the state of having no time limit).
⚠️ Similar but different terms:
- Ablaufdatum / Verfallsdatum: Expiry date (the point in time when something expires, common for food or medicine). The Gültigkeitsdauer ends on the Ablaufdatum.
- Stichtag: A specific key date or deadline, often for starting or ending something.
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt der Kunde den Beamten: „Wie lange ist mein neuer Pass gültig?“ Sagt der Beamte: „Bis zur nächsten Gebührenerhöhung.“
(A customer asks the official: "How long is my new passport valid?" The official replies: "Until the next fee increase.")
📜 Poem about Validity
Die Zeit verrinnt, das Datum naht,
Ein Stempel zeigt, was bald geschah.
Die Gültigkeitsdauer, ach so klar,
Macht Dokumente wunderbar.
Doch ist sie um, die Frist vorbei,
Ist's mit der Gültigkeit einerlei.
Drum prüfe stets, vergiss es nicht,
Sonst stehst du da im falschen Licht.
(Time flows, the date draws near,
A stamp shows what soon happened here.
The validity period, oh so clear,
Makes documents wonderfully dear.)
(But when it's over, the deadline past,
The validity is gone at last.
So always check, forget it not,
Or you'll be caught in a tricky spot.)
🧩 Little Riddle
Ich habe einen Anfang und ein Ende,
doch bin ich keine Reise.
Ich steh' auf Pass und auch auf Spende,
begrenze ihre Kreise.
Auf Tickets bin ich oft zu sehen,
sag', wie lang sie noch bestehen.
Was bin ich?
(I have a beginning and an end,
but I am not a journey.
I'm on passports and donations you send,
limiting their tourney.
On tickets, I am often seen,
telling how long they convene.)
What am I?
Solution: Die Gültigkeitsdauer (The validity period)
📌 Other Information
Word Composition:
The word „Gültigkeitsdauer“ is a compound noun, composed of:
- Gültigkeit: Noun derived from the adjective „gültig“ (valid).
- Dauer: Noun meaning 'duration'.
Context: The term is essential in contract law (Vertragsrecht), administrative law (Verwaltungsrecht), and in everyday dealings with time-limited permissions or offers.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Gültigkeitsdauer?
The German word 'Gültigkeitsdauer' is feminine. The correct article is die. It refers to the period during which something is valid.