die  Kreditwürdigkeit

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/kʁeˈdɪtvʏʁdɪçkaɪ̯t/

🧐 What exactly does "die Kreditwürdigkeit" mean?

Die Kreditwürdigkeit describes the ability and willingness of a person or company to repay borrowed debts (Kredite - loans) according to the contract. It is a measure of financial reliability and solvency (Bonität).

High Kreditwürdigkeit is crucial for obtaining loans, entering into contracts (e.g., rental agreements, mobile phone contracts), or buying goods on account. Banks and other creditors check Kreditwürdigkeit to assess their risk of payment default.

The word is almost exclusively used with the article "die" because it is an abstract noun ending in "-keit", which are generally feminine in German.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📝 Grammar Check: Declension of Kreditwürdigkeit

"Kreditwürdigkeit" is a feminine noun. It is mostly used in the singular.

A plural form ("die Kreditwürdigkeiten") is grammatically possible but very rarely used. It might be used to describe different types or ratings of creditworthiness, but it's uncommon in everyday language.

Example Sentences for Illustration

• Die Bank prüft vor der Kreditvergabe sorgfältig die Kreditwürdigkeit des Antragstellers. (The bank carefully checks the applicant's creditworthiness before granting the loan.)
• Eine gute Schufa-Auskunft ist ein wichtiger Indikator für die Kreditwürdigkeit. (A good SCHUFA report is an important indicator of creditworthiness.)
• Wegen seiner schlechten Kreditwürdigkeit bekam er keinen Handyvertrag mehr. (Because of his poor creditworthiness, he couldn't get a mobile phone contract anymore.)
• Die Verbesserung der Kreditwürdigkeit erfordert oft Zeit und Disziplin. (Improving creditworthiness often requires time and discipline.)

🏦 When and how is "Kreditwürdigkeit" used?

The term "Kreditwürdigkeit" is central to finance and business. Here are typical contexts:

• Kreditvergabe (Lending): Banks and credit institutions check Kreditwürdigkeit before granting loans or mortgages.
• Vertragsabschlüsse (Contracts): Landlords, mobile operators, or energy suppliers often check the Kreditwürdigkeit of potential customers.
• Wirtschaftsauskunfteien (Credit Bureaus): Companies like SCHUFA collect data to assess the Kreditwürdigkeit of individuals and companies.
• Unternehmensbewertung (Company Valuation): A company's Kreditwürdigkeit affects its financing costs and market reputation.

One often talks about prüfen (checking), verbessern (improving), bewerten (assessing), or verlieren (losing) one's Kreditwürdigkeit.

A very similar term is Bonität, often used synonymously. "Kreditwürdigkeit" perhaps emphasizes suitability specifically for loans slightly more, while "Bonität" refers more generally to financial reliability.

🧠 Mnemonics for Kreditwürdigkeit

Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in "-keit" in German are almost always feminine (die Fähigkeit - ability, die Möglichkeit - possibility). So, it's die Kreditwürdigkeit.

Meaning Mnemonic: Think of being "worthy" (würdig) of "credit" (Kredit). Is someone worthy of receiving credit? That's the question of Kreditwürdigkeit.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar, but Different Terms

• Liquidität: Liquidity. Refers to the availability of liquid assets, not necessarily the long-term ability to repay debt.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Banker den Kunden: "Wie steht es um Ihre Kreditwürdigkeit?"
Antwortet der Kunde: "Ausgezeichnet! Niemand ist bereit, mir Kredit zu geben – also bin ich absolut würdig, keinen zu haben!" 😉

Translation:
The banker asks the customer: "How is your creditworthiness?"
The customer replies: "Excellent! Nobody is willing to give me credit – so I'm absolutely worthy of having none!" 😉

📜 Poem about Creditworthiness

Die Bank schaut genau,
bevor sie dir traut.
Ist dein Konto im Lot,
droht dir keine Not?

Hast du Schulden bezahlt,
niemals gemahnt, nie geklagt?
Dann, so sagt man geschwind,
ist deine Bonität top, mein Kind.
Die Kreditwürdigkeit, fein und klar,
öffnet Türen, Jahr für Jahr.

Translation:
The bank looks closely,
before it trusts you.
Is your account in order,
are you facing no trouble?

Have you paid your debts,
never reminded, never complained?
Then, it's quickly said,
your credit standing is top-notch, my child.
Creditworthiness, fine and clear,
opens doors, year after year.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich habe keinen Körper, doch Banken prüfen mich genau.
Ich entscheide über Kredite, ob für Mann oder Frau.
Bin ich gut, fließt das Geld ohne Streit,
bin ich schlecht, herrscht finanzielle Schwierigkeit.

Was bin ich?

Translation:
I have no body, yet banks check me carefully.
I decide on loans, whether for man or woman.
If I am good, the money flows without dispute,
if I am bad, financial difficulty prevails.

What am I?
(Answer: Die Kreditwürdigkeit / Creditworthiness)

🧩 Word Building Blocks: How is "Kreditwürdigkeit" composed?

The word "Kreditwürdigkeit" is a compound noun made up of three parts:

• Kredit: Originating from Italian/Latin, it originally meant "belief", "trust" and today refers to borrowed money (credit/loan).
• -würdig: An adjective suffix meaning "worthy of", "deserving".
• -keit: A noun suffix that forms abstract nouns from adjectives (here from "kreditwürdig" - creditworthy). These nouns are usually feminine.

So, put together, it literally means the "quality of being worthy of credit".