die
Kürze
📖 What does "die Kürze" mean?
Die Kürze is a feminine noun meaning shortness or brevity. It can refer to several aspects:
- Temporal shortness: A short duration or period of time. Example: Die Kürze des Sommers (The shortness of the summer).
- Spatial shortness: A small length or extent (less common for the noun itself; the adjective 'kurz' is usually used here).
- Brevity in expression: Conciseness, succinctness in language or presentation. Example: Die Kürze seiner Antwort überraschte (The brevity of his answer was surprising).
A famous German proverb is: "In der Kürze liegt die Würze." (Literally: In brevity lies the spice.) This means that short and concise statements are often the most effective, similar to the English "Brevity is the soul of wit."
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar of "Kürze" in Detail
The word "Kürze" is a feminine noun. It is mostly used in the singular. The plural ("die Kürzen") is very rare and usually refers to short periods or concise formulations.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Kürze |
| Genitive | der | Kürze |
| Dative | der | Kürze |
| Accusative | die | Kürze |
(The plural "die Kürzen" is uncommon and not tabulated here.)
💬 Example Sentences
- Die Präsentation überzeugte durch ihre Kürze und Klarheit.
(The presentation was convincing due to its brevity and clarity.) - Ich bitte um Kürze, wir haben nicht viel Zeit.
(I ask for brevity, we don't have much time.) - In der Kürze der Zeit konnte nicht alles besprochen werden.
(In the short time available, not everything could be discussed.) - Manchmal liegt die Stärke in der Kürze.
(Sometimes strength lies in brevity.)
💡 How to use "Kürze"?
"Die Kürze" is often used to express efficiency, conciseness, or a limited duration.
- Regarding time: "die Kürze des Augenblicks" (the brevity of the moment), "die Kürze der Frist" (the shortness of the deadline).
- Regarding communication: When something should be concise or succinct. "In aller Kürze zusammenfassen." (To summarize briefly / in a nutshell.)
- As an abstract noun: The quality of being short.
Common phrases:
- in aller Kürze: briefly, in a nutshell
- in der Kürze liegt die Würze: brevity is the soul of wit
- der Kürze halber: for the sake of brevity, to keep it short
Distinction: While "Kürze" often implies positively valued conciseness or a neutral duration, "Kurzheit" (shortness) can be neutral or sometimes negative (e.g., too short) and refers more often to spatial dimensions than "Kürze".
🧠 Mnemonics for "Kürze"
Article Mnemonic: Think of the related German word for spice: "die Würze". Both "Kürze" and "Würze" end in "-ze" and are feminine (die). Remember the phrase: "In der Kürze liegt die Würze." (using 'der' because it's dative case there).
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine someone giving a speech and being told to "Keep it short, please!" (Bitte kurz!). The state of being 'kurz' is 'die Kürze'. The '-e' ending often makes adjectives into feminine nouns expressing a quality.
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms of Kürze
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Prägnanz: Conciseness, precision.
- Knappheit: Scarcity, shortness, conciseness.
- Bündigkeit: Conciseness, succinctness.
- Gedrängtheit: Compactness, density (more stylistic).
- Kurzgefasstheit: Brevity, state of being concise.
⚠️ Note: "Kurzheit" (shortness) is similar but sometimes used more neutrally or also for spatial aspects.
😄 A Little Joke
Warum mögen Redner die Kürze?
Damit das Publikum nicht vor dem Ende der Rede das Ende der Geduld erreicht!
Why do speakers like brevity?
So the audience doesn't reach the end of their patience before the end of the speech!
📜 Poem about Brevity
Die Zeit verrinnt, ein flücht'ger Hauch,
Die Kürze mahnt, nutz' deinen Bauch -
Nein, Kopf und Herz, sei schnell und klar,
Denn Langeweile ist fürwahr
Der Feind von dem, was wirklich zählt.
Die Kürze sei dein Leitbild gewählt!
Time flows by, a fleeting breath,
Brevity warns, use your gut -
No, head and heart, be quick and clear,
For boredom is truly
The enemy of what really counts.
Let brevity be your chosen guide!
❓ Riddle
Ich bin das Gegenteil von lang und breit,
Im Reden schätzt man mich zur rechten Zeit.
Ein Sprichwort sagt, in mir liegt Würze drin.
Was bin ich wohl? Errate meinen Sinn!
I am the opposite of long and wide,
In speech, I'm valued at the proper tide.
A proverb says that spice resides in me.
What am I then? Guess my identity!
Solution: die Kürze (brevity)
✨ Other Information about Kürze
Word Formation: "Kürze" is a nominalization of the adjective "kurz" (short). The suffix "-e" is often used in German to form feminine nouns from adjectives, denoting a quality or state (like Wärme from warm, Nähe from nah).
Cultural Note: The proverb "In der Kürze liegt die Würze" (similar to Shakespeare's "Brevity is the soul of wit") highlights a cultural value appreciated in many contexts (presentations, writing, speeches) in German-speaking countries.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Kürze?
The word "Kürze" is always feminine. The correct article is die Kürze.