die
Kürzung
✂️ What does 'die Kürzung' actually mean?
Die Kürzung (noun, feminine) refers to the act or result of shortening, reducing, or cutting something. It can apply to various areas:
- Finance/Economy: A reduction in budgets, expenses, salaries, or subsidies (e.g., eine Budgetkürzung - a budget cut, eine Gehaltskürzung - a salary cut).
- Personnel: A reduction in the number of employees (e.g., eine Stellenkürzung - a job cut / staff reduction).
- Texts/Content: The shortening of a text, speech, or film.
- Benefits/Services: A reduction in entitlements or services (e.g., eine Leistungskürzung - a benefit cut).
In general, the word often carries a negative connotation, as it usually implies a loss or restriction.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ung → always feminine.
There are many -ung words, we won't list them all. There are only a few exceptions.
The Grammar of 'Kürzung': A Closer Look 🧐
The noun 'Kürzung' is feminine, so the article is die. It is declined like most feminine nouns ending in '-ung'.
Declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Kürzung |
| Genitive | der | Kürzung |
| Dative | der | Kürzung |
| Accusative | die | Kürzung |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Kürzungen |
| Genitive | der | Kürzungen |
| Dative | den | Kürzungen |
| Accusative | die | Kürzungen |
Example Sentences:
- Die Regierung kündigte eine Kürzung der Sozialausgaben an. (The government announced a cut in social spending.)
- Wegen der finanziellen Schwierigkeiten kam es zu Kürzungen beim Personal. (Due to financial difficulties, there were staff reductions.)
- Der Autor nahm einige Kürzungen am Manuskript vor. (The author made some cuts to the manuscript.)
- Viele Bürger protestierten gegen die Kürzung der Renten. (Many citizens protested against the pension cuts.)
When and How to Use 'Kürzung'? 🤔
'Die Kürzung' is frequently used in formal contexts, especially in news reports, political discussions, business reports, and official announcements. Here are some typical contexts:
- Budget debates: Discussions about government spending and savings (e.g., die Kürzung von Subventionen - the cutting of subsidies).
- Business news: Reports on restructuring or financial measures (e.g., die Kürzung von Arbeitsplätzen - the cutting of jobs).
- Wage negotiations: Discussions about salaries and wages (e.g., eine drohende Gehaltskürzung - a looming salary cut).
- Editorial work: When editing texts or media (e.g., die Kürzung eines Artikels aus Platzgründen - shortening an article due to space constraints).
Although 'Reduzierung' (reduction) or 'Einschränkung' (restriction) can sometimes be used synonymously, 'Kürzung' often emphasizes a targeted, sometimes abrupt act of decreasing something.
Memory Aids for 'die Kürzung' 🧠
Article Mnemonic: Many German nouns ending in -ung are feminine (die). Think of: die Meinung (opinion), die Hoffnung (hope), die Kürzung (cut). The ending -ung often indicates a process or result – here, the result of cutting/shortening. Imagine a woman (die Frau) making cuts with scissors – die Frau macht die Kürzung.
Meaning Mnemonic: 'Kürzung' comes from the verb 'kürzen', meaning 'to shorten'. Think of something getting 'curt' or shorter. If your budget gets cut short, that's a Kürzung. If a long text is cut short, that's also a Kürzung.
Related Terms: Synonyms & Antonyms 🔄
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Reduzierung: Reduction (general decrease).
- Einschränkung: Restriction, limitation (often of rights or possibilities).
- Streichung: Deletion, cancellation (complete removal, e.g., of a position).
- Verminderung: Decrease, diminution (in quantity or value).
- Einsparung: Saving (often in a financial context, focusing on money saved).
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Erhöhung: Increase, raise (e.g., Gehaltserhöhung - salary increase).
- Ausbau: Expansion, development (e.g., Ausbau von Leistungen - expansion of services).
- Erweiterung: Extension, enlargement.
- Aufstockung: Increase, reinforcement (e.g., Personalaufstockung - staff increase).
- Zuschuss / Zulage: Subsidy / Allowance, bonus (additional funds).
⚠️ Caution: Don't confuse 'Kürzung' (cut) with 'Würzung' (seasoning)!
A Little Joke 😂
Fragt der Chef den Buchhalter: "Haben Sie schon die neuesten Kürzungen umgesetzt?"
Antwortet der Buchhalter: "Ja, Chef! Ich habe alle langen Wörter in unseren Berichten gekürzt. Spart Tinte!"
Translation:
The boss asks the accountant: "Have you implemented the latest cuts yet?"
The accountant replies: "Yes, boss! I've shortened all the long words in our reports. Saves ink!"
Poem about 'Kürzung' 📜
Die Kürzung, oft ein Schreckenswort,
Nimmt hier was weg und auch noch dort.
Im Budget klafft ein tiefes Loch,
Man hofft, es reicht zum Leben doch.
Mal trifft's das Geld, mal eine Frist,
Manchmal ein Text, den man vermisst.
Doch jede Kürzung, schmerzlich, kühl,
Verfolgt am End' ein klares Ziel?
Translation:
The cut, often a dreadful word,
Takes something here, and there is heard.
In the budget, a deep hole gapes,
One hopes enough for life escapes.
Sometimes it hits the cash, sometimes a deadline's tight,
Sometimes a text is missed from sight.
But every cut, painful and cool,
Does it pursue, in the end, a clear rule/goal?
Little Riddle about 'Kürzung' ❓
Ich mache manches kleiner,
Bin oft ein Budget-Zerstäuber.
Manchmal treff' ich deinen Lohn,
Manchmal Text, das kennst du schon.
Was bin ich?
Translation:
I make some things smaller,
Am often a budget mauler.
Sometimes I affect your pay,
Sometimes text, you know the way.
What am I?
Answer: Die Kürzung (The cut/reduction)
Other Interesting Aspects 💡
Word Formation (Wortbildung):
'Die Kürzung' is a noun derived from the verb kürzen (to shorten, to cut). Adding the suffix -ung to the verb stem 'kürz-' creates the feminine noun, describing the process or result of shortening.
- kürzen (verb) + -ung (suffix) → die Kürzung (noun)
Common Compounds (Häufige Komposita):
- Budgetkürzung (budget cut)
- Gehaltskürzung (salary cut)
- Stellenkürzung (job cut / staff reduction)
- Leistungskürzung (benefit cut)
- Ausgabenkürzung (spending cut)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Kürzung?
The German word Kürzung is feminine. The correct article is die Kürzung. The plural form is die Kürzungen.