die
Kurzfassung
📖 Meaning of 'die Kurzfassung'
Die Kurzfassung is a feminine noun (*die* Kurzfassung) and refers to a shortened, summarizing presentation of a longer text, speech, film, or situation. It conveys the essential content and information in a condensed form.
- Meaning 1: A summary, abstract, synopsis, or abridged version (e.g., of a book, report, film).
- Meaning 2: Less commonly, a brief wording or expression.
The word only takes the article die, which makes it easier to remember! 😌
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.
📊 Grammar Insights for 'die Kurzfassung'
The word "Kurzfassung" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die Kurzfassung | eine Kurzfassung |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der Kurzfassung | einer Kurzfassung |
| Dative (To whom?) | der Kurzfassung | einer Kurzfassung |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die Kurzfassung | eine Kurzfassung |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Kurzfassungen | Kurzfassungen |
| Genitive | der Kurzfassungen | Kurzfassungen |
| Dative | den Kurzfassungen | Kurzfassungen |
| Accusative | die Kurzfassungen | Kurzfassungen |
Example Sentences
- Der Professor bat um eine Kurzfassung der Studie.
(The professor asked for a summary of the study.) - Ich habe nur die Kurzfassung des Films gesehen.
(I only saw the short version/summary of the movie.) - Kannst du mir bitte eine Kurzfassung des Meetings geben?
(Can you please give me a summary of the meeting?) - Die Kurzfassungen der Vorträge finden Sie im Programmheft.
(You can find the abstracts/summaries of the presentations in the program booklet.)
💡 Everyday Use
"Die Kurzfassung" is often used when complex or lengthy information needs to be reduced to its essentials.
- Context: In school, university, at work, in meetings, in the media (e.g., film or book summaries).
- How it's used: You might ask for (um eine Kurzfassung bitten), create (eine Kurzfassung erstellen), or read (eine Kurzfassung lesen) a summary.
- Distinction from similar words:
- Zusammenfassung: Often used synonymously, perhaps slightly more general term for summary.
- Abstract: Primarily used in academic/scientific contexts for a brief summary of a research paper.
- Resümee: Often used verbally at the end of a presentation or discussion, drawing a conclusion.
- Inhaltsangabe: Usually focuses on the plot or content (e.g., of a book).
You can also say "um es kurz zu fassen" or "kurz gesagt" (to put it briefly, in short) when introducing a verbal summary.
🧠 Mnemonics & Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -ung are almost always feminine. Think of Fassung -> die Fassung -> die Kurzfassung. Imagine a woman (*feminine*) reading a short version (*Kurzfassung*) of a very long novel.
Meaning Mnemonic: Picture having to 'grasp' (fassen) a long story and make it 'short' (kurz). What you get is the essential 'grasp' in a short form – the Kurzfassung (summary).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Zusammenfassung: (Summary) - Very common synonym.
- Abriss: (Outline, sketch) - A brief, perhaps less detailed summary.
- Resümee: (Résumé, summary) - Often verbal, like a conclusion.
- Inhaltsangabe: (Synopsis, summary of content) - Often focusing on plot.
- Abstract: (Abstract) - Mainly in academic contexts.
- Exzerpt: (Excerpt) - An extract from a longer text.
- Überblick: (Overview) - A general, often brief presentation.
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Langfassung: (Long version, full version) - The detailed, complete version.
- Volltext: (Full text) - The entire, unabridged text.
- Ausführliche Darstellung: (Detailed account/presentation).
- Gesamtwerk: (Complete works) - e.g., of an author.
⚠️ Note: Words like "Auszug" (excerpt) or "Fragment" (fragment) aren't direct synonyms, as they represent only a part, not necessarily a summary of the whole.
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt der Chef den Praktikanten: "Können Sie mir bitte eine Kurzfassung des 500-Seiten-Berichts geben?"
Antwortet der Praktikant: "Ja, Chef: Lang."
(The boss asks the intern: "Could you please give me a summary of the 500-page report?"
The intern replies: "Yes, boss: Long.")
📜 Poem about the Summary
So viel gesagt, so viel geschrieben, (So much said, so much written,)
die Zeit ist knapp, was ist geblieben? (Time is short, what has remained?)
Man braucht Struktur, 'nen klaren Kern, (One needs structure, a clear core,)
die Kurzfassung, die hat man gern. (The summary, that one likes to have.)
Sie fasst das Wichtige geschwind, (It captures the important things quickly,)
damit man schnell im Bilde sind. (So that one is quickly in the picture.)
Kein langes Suchen, kein Verdruss, (No long searching, no annoyance,)
ein klarer, prägnanter Schluss. (A clear, concise conclusion.)
🧩 Riddle
Ich bin nicht lang, doch sag dir viel, (I am not long, yet tell you much,)
bin eines langen Textes Ziel. (Am the goal of a long text.)
Ich spare Zeit und Nervenkraft, (I save time and energy,)
hab' das Wichtigste geschafft. (Have managed the most important part.)
Wer bin ich? / Who am I?
Lösung / Solution: die Kurzfassung
📌 Other Notes
Word Composition:
The word "Kurzfassung" is a compound noun, composed of:
- kurz: Adjective meaning "short" (of small length or duration).
- Fassung: Noun (die), which has several meanings including "version", "frame", "wording", or also "composure/countenance". In this context, "version" or "wording" is meant.
Related Verb: kurzfassen (sich kurzfassen) - means to be brief, to keep it short, to summarize. Example: "Bitte fass dich kurz!" (Please keep it brief!)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Kurzfassung?
The noun "Kurzfassung" is always feminine. Therefore, the correct article is always die Kurzfassung. The plural form is die Kurzfassungen.