die
Kondition
🤔 What does "die Kondition" mean?
The word die Kondition (feminine) has several meanings in German:
- Physical fitness/stamina: This is the most common meaning, especially in sports. It describes a person's endurance and physical capacity. Example: Seine Kondition ist nach dem Training viel besser. (His fitness/stamina is much better after the training.)
- Condition/term: Often used in the plural (die Konditionen), it refers to conditions, especially in contracts or business deals. Example: Die Konditionen des Kredits sind sehr günstig. (The conditions/terms of the loan are very favorable.)
- State/shape: Used less frequently, it can describe the general state or shape of something. Example: Die Ware war in guter Kondition. (The goods were in good condition/shape.)
🚨 Important: For the meaning 'condition' or 'term', the plural form die Konditionen is very common.
📊 Grammar of "die Kondition" in Detail
"Die Kondition" is a feminine noun. Here is its declension:
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Kondition | eine Kondition |
| Genitive | der Kondition | einer Kondition |
| Dative | der Kondition | einer Kondition |
| Accusative | die Kondition | eine Kondition |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Konditionen | Konditionen |
| Genitive | der Konditionen | Konditionen |
| Dative | den Konditionen | Konditionen |
| Accusative | die Konditionen | Konditionen |
Example Sentences for Clarity
- (Physical fitness) Die Läuferin hat eine ausgezeichnete Kondition.
(The runner has excellent stamina/fitness.) - (Condition/term, plural) Bitte lesen Sie die Konditionen sorgfältig durch.
(Please read the terms and conditions carefully.) - (Condition/term, singular) Unter welcher Kondition würden Sie zustimmen?
(Under what condition would you agree?) - (State/shape) Das alte Buch ist trotz seines Alters in guter Kondition.
(Despite its age, the old book is in good condition.)
💬 How to use "die Kondition"?
The usage of "die Kondition" heavily depends on the context:
- Sports and Health: Here, it almost always refers to physical fitness or stamina. People talk about "gute" or "schlechte Kondition" (good or bad fitness), "Kondition aufbauen" (to build up stamina) or "Konditionstraining" (fitness training).
- Business and Finance: In the plural ("die Konditionen"), it refers to contract terms, payment terms (Zahlungskonditionen), delivery terms (Lieferkonditionen), interest rates, etc. Example: "zu günstigen Konditionen einkaufen" (to buy on favorable terms).
- General: In the sense of 'condition' or 'state', it's used less frequently and often more formally.
⚠️ Potential confusion: Don't mix it up with "die Konfektion" (clothing size) or "die Kaution" (security deposit).
💡 Mnemonics for "die Kondition"
For the article: Words ending in -ion in German are almost always feminine (die). Think of other -ion words like die Nation, die Station, die Religion. So, it's die Kondition.
For the meanings: Imagine an athlete checking the condition (state) of their equipment before signing a contract with specific conditions (terms) that depend on their physical condition (fitness).
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (similar words):
- For physical fitness: die Fitness, die Verfassung (state/shape, also fitness), die Ausdauer (endurance), die Puste (breath/wind, coll.)
- For condition/term: die Bedingung (condition), die Voraussetzung (prerequisite), die Klausel (clause, in contracts), die Modalität (modality/term)
- For state/shape: der Zustand (state/condition), die Beschaffenheit (nature/condition), die Verfassung (state/shape)
Antonyms (opposite words):
- For physical fitness: die Schwäche (weakness), die Ermüdung (fatigue), die schlechte Verfassung (poor shape/condition), die mangelnde Ausdauer (lack of endurance)
- For condition/term: (Often context-dependent, e.g., Unbedingtheit - unconditional nature)
☝️ Remember to choose the appropriate synonym based on the context.
😄 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Arzt den Patienten: "Wie ist Ihre Kondition?" Patient: "Geht so. Morgens beim Aufstehen bin ich noch ganz steif." Arzt: "Das ist keine Kondition, das ist die Leichenstarre!" Patient: "Oh, dann ist meine Kondition ja wirklich schlecht!"
English Translation: The doctor asks the patient: "How is your condition/fitness?" Patient: "So-so. When I get up in the morning, I'm still quite stiff." Doctor: "That's not condition, that's rigor mortis!" Patient: "Oh, then my condition really is bad!"
📜 A Poem about Kondition
German:
Die Kondition, mal stark, mal schwach,
hält uns beim Laufen auf Trab.
Im Vertrag steht sie, klar und rein,
zu welchen Konditionen soll's sein?
Ob Sportlerherz, ob Handelspakt,
die Kondition gibt oft den Takt.
Drum pflege sie, halt sie in Ehr,
dann fällt dir vieles nicht so schwer.
English Translation:
The condition, sometimes strong, sometimes weak,
keeps us on our toes when we run.
In the contract it stands, clear and pure,
under which conditions shall it be done?
Whether athlete's heart or trade pact,
the condition often sets the tact.
So tend it well, hold it in esteem,
then many things won't seem so extreme.
🧩 Riddle Time
German:
Ich hab' kein' Körper, doch man spricht von meiner Kraft.
Ich steh' im Kleingedruckten, schaff' oft neue Last.
Beim Sportler bin ich wichtig, beim Kredit nicht minder.
Wer bin ich, mal Bedingung, mal des Läufers Zünder?
English Translation:
I have no body, yet people speak of my power.
I stand in the small print, often creating a new burden.
For athletes I am important, for loans no less so.
Who am I, sometimes a term, sometimes the runner's ignition?
Solution: die Kondition
🌐 Other Information
Word Origin: The word "Kondition" comes from the Latin word condicio (later also conditio), meaning "condition", "agreement", or "state".
Compound Words: There are several compound words, e.g.:
- Konditionstraining (fitness training)
- Zahlungskonditionen (payment terms)
- Arbeitskonditionen (working conditions - often synonymous with Arbeitsbedingungen)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Kondition?
The noun "Kondition" is always feminine. The correct article is die Kondition. It primarily describes physical fitness but can also mean conditions/terms (especially in plural: die Konditionen) or a state/shape.