die  Hypothese

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/hypoˈteːzə/

🤔 What Exactly is a 'Hypothese'?

Die Hypothese (feminine, article: 'die') refers to an unproven assumption or proposition that serves as a basis for further investigation or argumentation. It's a preliminary explanation for a phenomenon or relationship that still needs to be tested.

In a scientific context, a `Hypothese` is a crucial step in the research process. One *stellt eine Hypothese auf* (proposes a hypothesis) to subsequently test it through experiments or observations (*verifizieren* - verify or *falsifizieren* - falsify).

In everyday language, `Hypothese` can also simply mean a guess or suggestion.

Examples:

• Scientific: `Die Hypothese lautet, dass Dünger X das Pflanzenwachstum beschleunigt.` (The hypothesis is that fertilizer X accelerates plant growth.)
• Everyday: `Meine Hypothese ist, dass der Schlüssel im Auto liegt.` (My hypothesis is that the key is in the car.)

🚨 Attention: A `Hypothese` is not a *fact* or a *theory* (a theory is an already well-substantiated explanation)!

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Die Hypothese

The word `Hypothese` is a feminine noun. The article is die.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

💡 Example Sentences

1. `Der Wissenschaftler formulierte eine kühne Hypothese.`
   (The scientist formulated a bold hypothesis.) (Accusative Singular)
2. `Die Überprüfung der Hypothese steht noch aus.`
   (The verification of the hypothesis is still pending.) (Genitive Singular)
3. `Wir müssen den Hypothesen mehr Aufmerksamkeit schenken.`
   (We need to pay more attention to the hypotheses.) (Dative Plural)
4. `Viele Hypothesen erwiesen sich als falsch.`
   (Many hypotheses turned out to be false.) (Nominative Plural)

🌐 When and How to Use 'die Hypothese'?

The term die Hypothese is primarily used in contexts related to research, science, logic, and argumentation. However, it can also be used in everyday life for more substantiated guesses.

Typical Uses:

• Science & Research: This is the core domain. People talk about *eine Hypothese aufstellen* (to propose), *formulieren* (to formulate), *überprüfen* (to test/check), *bestätigen* (to confirm/verify), or *widerlegen* (to refute/falsify) a hypothesis.
• Philosophy & Logic: As a starting point for lines of thought or chains of argument.
• Everyday Language: Less formal, often synonymous with `Vermutung` (assumption, guess) or `Annahme` (assumption), but usually implies a certain degree of reasoning. E.g.: `Meine Hypothese ist, dass er verschlafen hat, weil sein Wecker nicht geklingelt hat.` (My hypothesis is that he overslept because his alarm didn't go off.)

Comparison with Similar Words:

• `Annahme`/`Vermutung`: Often interchangeable in everyday use, but `Hypothese` sounds more formal and scientific. A `Hypothese` is usually formulated more specifically and testably.
• `Theorie` (Theory): In the scientific sense, a `Theorie` is an established system of statements supported by many confirmed hypotheses. A `Hypothese` is the starting point; a `Theorie` is a (preliminary) result.
• `These` (Thesis): A `These` is a claim to be defended or proven, often in a discussion or academic paper. It can be similar to a `Hypothese` but is often more focused on argumentation than empirical testing.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Mnemonic for the Article (die):

Most German nouns ending in -e are feminine, like die Hypothese. Think also of die Theoriese (theory) or die Analyse (analysis) – they all end in '-se' and are feminine!

Mnemonic for the Meaning:

A Hypothese is like a foundation (Greek hypo = under) upon which an idea (Greek thesis = statement, position) rests. It lies underneath the actual knowledge and needs proof first. Imagine you have an idea (These) and you put it 'hypo' = lower down for testing. It's a 'low-down' guess you need to check!

↔️ Opposites and Alternatives

⚠️ Similar, but Different Words:

• `Synthese` (Synthesis): The combination of different elements into a new whole (opposite of analysis).

😄 A Little Joke

Warum sind Hypothesen so schüchtern?
(Why are hypotheses so shy?)

Weil sie sich erst beweisen müssen, bevor sie sich sicher fühlen! 😉
(Because they have to prove themselves first before they feel confident!)

📜 A Poem about Hypotheses

Ein Gedanke, kühn und zart,
(A thought, both bold and delicate,)
Als Hypothese neu gestartet.
(As a hypothesis newly started.)
Noch unbewiesen, voller Fragen,
(Still unproven, full of questions,)
Muss sie Prüfung erst ertragen.
(It must first endure testing.)

Im Labor, im Geist, im Feld,
(In the lab, the mind, the field,)
Wird ihr Wahrheitswert erhellt.
(Its truth value is revealed.)
Manche fällt, wird schnell verworfen,
(Some fall, are quickly discarded,)
Andre wird zur Theorie entworfen.
(Others are drafted into theory.)

🕵️‍♀️ Little Riddle

Ich bin ein Satz, der fragend steht,
(I am a sentence that stands questioning,)
Bevor der Beweiswind weht.
(Before the wind of proof blows.)
Ich bin der Start, noch nicht das Ziel,
(I am the start, not yet the goal,)
Im Spiel der Forschung fühl ich viel.
(In the game of research, I feel a lot.)
Mal richtig, mal falsch, das wird sich zeigen,
(Sometimes right, sometimes wrong, that will show,)
Wie werd' ich wissenschaftlich heißen?
(What am I called scientifically?)

Solution: die Hypothese (the hypothesis)

💡 Other Information

Word Origin (Etymology):

The German word `Hypothese` comes from the Ancient Greek word ὑπόθεσις (hypóthesis). It is composed of:

• hypó (ὑπό): "under"
• thésis (θέσις): "placing", "position", "proposition"

Literally, it means "that which is placed under", "foundation" or "supposition", which fits well with the meaning of an unproven assumption underlying an investigation.