die  Intervention

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɪntɛʁvɛnˈt͡si̯oːn/

🎯 What Exactly is an 'Intervention'?

Die Intervention (feminine, plural: die Interventionen) generally describes an Eingreifen (intervention, interference), a Einmischung (meddling, interference), or a gezielte Maßnahme (targeted measure) aimed at influencing or changing an existing state, process, or development. The word is often used in specific contexts:

• Politik/Militär (Politics/Military): Interference by one state in the affairs of another state (e.g., militärische Intervention, humanitäre Intervention).
• Medizin (Medicine): A medical procedure or treatment measure (e.g., chirurgische Intervention, therapeutische Intervention).
• Psychologie/Sozialarbeit (Psychology/Social Work): Targeted measures to support or bring about change in individuals or groups (e.g., Krisenintervention, psychosoziale Intervention).
• Wirtschaft (Economy): Intervening in the market through state measures (e.g., Devisenmarktintervention - foreign exchange market intervention).

🚨 It's always important to consider the context to understand the precise meaning of die Intervention. The word often carries a formal connotation.

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Intervention

The noun "Intervention" is feminine. The article is die.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

Example Sentences 📝

1. Die Intervention der Zentralbank stabilisierte den Währungskurs.
   (The central bank's intervention stabilized the exchange rate.)
2. Nach der schnellen medizinischen Intervention ging es dem Patienten besser.
   (After the swift medical intervention, the patient felt better.)
3. Eine diplomatische Intervention konnte den Konflikt entschärfen.
   (A diplomatic intervention managed to de-escalate the conflict.)
4. Die psychologische Intervention half der Familie, mit der Krise umzugehen.
   (The psychological intervention helped the family cope with the crisis.)

🗣️ How to Use "Intervention"?

Die Intervention is mostly used in formal or technical contexts. It often implies an active and purposeful action of stepping in.

• Typical Collocations: militärische Intervention (military intervention), humanitäre Intervention (humanitarian intervention), diplomatische Intervention (diplomatic intervention), medizinische Intervention (medical intervention), chirurgische Intervention (surgical intervention), psychologische Intervention (psychological intervention), staatliche Intervention (state intervention), frühe Intervention (early intervention).
• Distinction from similar words:
  • Eingriff: Can be synonymous, but is often more concrete, especially in medical or technical fields (e.g., chirurgischer Eingriff - surgical procedure). Can also sound more negative (unwanted interference with privacy).
  • Einmischung: Often has a negative connotation, implying unwanted or unauthorized interference in others' affairs.
  • Maßnahme: Is a more general term for an action or regulation, not necessarily an intervention into an existing process.
• Context: One speaks of an Intervention when a situation needs to be actively changed, whether to solve a problem, avert danger, or provide support.

💡 Mnemonics for Intervention

Article Mnemonic: Many German nouns ending in -ion are feminine (die Aktion, die Nation, die Diskussion). The same applies here: die Intervention. Imagine a powerful female diplomat (die Frau) leading the intervention.

Meaning Mnemonic: "Inter-" means "between" (like in international) and "-vention" comes from the Latin "venire" (to come). So, an Inter-vention is a "coming-between", stepping in or interfering.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Caution: Not all synonyms are interchangeable in every context. Einmischung is usually negative, whereas Intervention can be neutral or positive (e.g., medizinische Intervention).

😂 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Chefarzt den jungen Assistenten: "War die Intervention erfolgreich?" Antwortet der Assistent: "Ja, Chef! Der Patient hat zwar nicht überlebt, aber die Diskussion mit den Angehörigen war sehr konstruktiv!"

English Translation: The chief physician asks the young assistant: "Was the intervention successful?" The assistant replies: "Yes, chief! The patient didn't survive, but the discussion with the relatives was very constructive!"

(Please don't take it too seriously!)

📜 A Poem about Intervention

German:
Wenn Not entsteht und Chaos droht,
Ein Ruf nach Hilfe, groß und rot.
Dann kommt sie oft, mit Plan und Sinn,
Die Intervention, mittendrin.

Mal sanft, mal stark, je nach dem Fall,
Sie greift hinein, mit lautem Schall
Oder ganz leis', bringt neue Sicht,
Verändert Bahnen, bricht ein Licht.

English Translation:
When need arises, chaos looms,
A call for help that fills the rooms.
Then often comes, with plan and sense,
The Intervention, quite intense.

Sometimes gentle, sometimes strong,
It steps right in, where things went wrong,
Or softly speaks, brings new insight,
Changes pathways, shines a light.

❓ A Little Riddle

German:
Ich komme oft, wenn's brenzlig wird,
Ob Staat, ob Arzt, ob Psychologe mir gebührt.
Ich greife ein, veränd're den Lauf der Zeit,
Mal bin ich Hilfe, mal umstritten weit.
Mit "die" steh ich im deutschen Land.
Wie werd' ich genannt?

English Translation:
I often come when things get tough,
For state, or doctor, or psych, it is enough.
I step right in, change time's own course,
Sometimes I'm help, sometimes a debated force.
With "die" I stand in German land.
What name is close at hand?

Answer: die Intervention

🌐 Other Information

Word Origin: The word "Intervention" comes from the Latin verb intervenire, which means "to come between," "to intervene," or "to interfere." It is composed of inter (between) and venire (to come).

Internationalism: The word is an internationalism, existing in similar forms in many other languages (e.g., English: intervention, French: intervention, Spanish: intervención, Italian: intervento).