die  Gutschrift

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈɡuːtʃʁɪft/

💰 What Exactly is a Gutschrift?

Die Gutschrift (plural: die Gutschriften) generally refers to an amount that is credited to an account, representing a positive booking or entry. It's the opposite of a Lastschrift (direct debit) or Belastung (debit/charge).

There are two main contexts:

• 📄 Accounting & Commerce: Here, the Gutschrift is often a document (also called a Kreditnota or credit note) that reduces or cancels a claim the issuer has against the recipient. This typically occurs with returned goods (Warenrücksendungen), complaints (Reklamationen), discounts, or price corrections. It effectively corrects a previous invoice (Rechnung).
• 🏦 Banking: A Gutschrift on a bank account (Bankgutschrift) means that money has been received (e.g., salary - Gehalt, transfer from others - Überweisung). It increases the account balance (Kontostand).

⚠️ Important: A Gutschrift always leads to an increase in credit/funds (for the recipient of the credit note in commerce, or on the bank account). It signals a positive cash flow or a reduction of debt.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📚 Grammar Corner: Declining die Gutschrift

'Gutschrift' is a feminine noun, so it uses the article 'die'. Nouns ending in '-schrift' (writing, script, document) are almost always feminine (e.g., die Zeitschrift - magazine, die Unterschrift - signature). This makes the article easy to remember!

It follows the regular declension pattern for feminine nouns:

Example Sentences (Beispielsätze)

1. Nach der Reklamation erhielt ich umgehend eine Gutschrift über den vollen Betrag.
   (After the complaint, I immediately received a credit note for the full amount.)
2. Prüfen Sie bitte Ihr Konto, die Gutschrift des Gehalts sollte bereits erfolgt sein.
   (Please check your account, the salary credit entry should have already been made.)
3. Der Händler verrechnete die Rechnung mit der Gutschrift für die zurückgegebene Ware.
   (The merchant offset the invoice with the credit note for the returned goods.)
4. Die Summe aller Gutschriften auf dem Kontoauszug ist beachtlich.
   (The sum of all credit entries on the account statement is considerable.)

💡 Usage in Daily Life and Business

The term 'Gutschrift' is very common, especially in commercial contexts, accounting (Rechnungswesen), and banking (Bankverkehr).

• Typical Use Cases: Refunds (Rückerstattungen), cancellations (Stornierungen), correcting incorrect invoices, granting discounts after invoicing, salary payments, incoming bank transfers.
• Context: You talk about a Gutschrift when money flows in (banking) or a liability is reduced (commerce). It's always positive for the recipient.
• Distinction from other terms:
  • Rechnung (Invoice): A demand for payment for goods or services delivered.
  • Lastschrift (Direct Debit): A debit from an account (the opposite of a Bankgutschrift).
  • Belastung / Abbuchung (Debit / Charge): General terms for a reduction in account balance.

In everyday language, 'Gutschrift' is often used synonymously with 'refund' or 'money back', especially regarding returns in online shopping.

🧠 Mnemonics for die Gutschrift

Article Mnemonic: Remember the ending "-schrift". Many German nouns ending in -schrift are feminine: die Unterschrift (signature), die Zeitschrift (magazine), die Anschrift (address)... and therefore, die Gutschrift. Think of a female secretary handling the 'script' or document.

Meaning Mnemonic: Think "Good Script". Imagine it's a "good writing" on your bank statement or a "good document" from a seller – something positive that brings you money or cancels a debt. Like receiving good news in written form (Schrift).

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

🚨 Watch out for confusion: Don't confuse Gutschrift with Guthaben (the positive balance in an account) or Gutschein (a voucher).

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Chef den Buchhalter: "Warum lächeln Sie denn so über den Kontoauszug?"

Antwortet der Buchhalter: "Ich liebe es einfach, wenn Zahlen auf der richtigen Seite stehen – besonders wenn es eine fette Gutschrift ist!"

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Translation:

The boss asks the accountant: "Why are you smiling so much at the bank statement?"

The accountant replies: "I just love it when numbers are on the right side – especially when it's a big credit entry!"

📜 A Little Poem

Die Rechnung kam, oh Schreck, oh Graus,
Doch dann, welch Glück, kam Post ins Haus.
Ein Brief, ganz schlicht, mit gutem Sinn:
Die Gutschrift, ja, die stand darin!
Statt zahlen müssen, Geld zurück,
Das nenn' ich kaufmännisches Glück!

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Translation:

The bill arrived, oh dread, oh fright,
But then, what luck, mail came to light.
A letter, simple, with good sense within:
The credit note, yes, it was therein!
Instead of paying, money back,
That's what I call commercial luck!

🧩 Riddle Time

Ich bin das Gegenteil von Last,
mach' dein Konto froh, ganz ohne Hast.
Bei Retouren bring' ich Geld zurück aufs Papier,
im Banking zeig' ich: „Plus!“ bei dir.

Was bin ich?

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Translation:

I am the opposite of debit's strain,
I make your account happy, again and again.
With returns, I bring money back on the sheet,
In banking, I show "Plus!" – oh so sweet.

What am I?

Solution: die Gutschrift

More Facts about die Gutschrift

Word Composition

The word "Gutschrift" is a compound noun, formed from:

• gut: Adjective meaning 'good', here in the sense of positive, advantageous.
• die Schrift: Noun meaning 'writing', 'document', 'record', 'entry'.

So, it literally means a "positive record" or a "good document".

Related Terms

• Gutschriftsverfahren (Self-billing procedure): An invoicing procedure where the service recipient (customer) issues a credit note for the service received, instead of the supplier issuing an invoice.
• Bankgutschrift (Bank credit): A credit entry specifically in the context of a bank account.