die  Lebenserwartung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈleːbənsfɛɐ̯ˌvaʁtʊŋ/

📖 What does "die Lebenserwartung" mean?

Die Lebenserwartung is a feminine noun meaning life expectancy. It refers to the average period that an individual or a group of individuals is expected to live. It's usually determined statistically based on current mortality rates and other demographic factors. It represents an average value that heavily depends on factors like place of birth, gender, lifestyle, and access to healthcare.

Since it relates to an expectation (die Erwartung - the expectation, which is feminine), the word is feminine: die Lebenserwartung.

Example: Die Lebenserwartung in Deutschland ist in den letzten Jahrzehnten gestiegen. (Life expectancy in Germany has increased in recent decades.)

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Declension

"Die Lebenserwartung" is a feminine noun. It is primarily used in the singular as it often refers to a single statistical average. The plural ("die Lebenserwartungen") is possible but less common, typically referring to different life expectancy values (e.g., for different countries or time periods).

Singular Declension

Plural Declension

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die durchschnittliche Lebenserwartung bei Geburt ist ein wichtiger Indikator für den Gesundheitszustand einer Bevölkerung.
   (Average life expectancy at birth is an important indicator of a population's health status.)
2. Der Bericht analysiert die Entwicklung der Lebenserwartung über die letzten 50 Jahre.
   (The report analyzes the development of life expectancy over the last 50 years.)
3. Mit steigender Lebenserwartung wächst auch die Bedeutung der Altersvorsorge.
   (With increasing life expectancy, the importance of retirement planning also grows.)
4. Forscher untersuchen Faktoren, die die Lebenserwartung beeinflussen.
   (Researchers are investigating factors that influence life expectancy.)
5. Vergleicht man die Lebenserwartungen verschiedener Länder, zeigen sich deutliche Unterschiede.
   (Comparing the life expectancies of different countries reveals clear differences.) (Plural)

💡 How to use "Lebenserwartung"?

"Lebenserwartung" is primarily used in contexts related to health, demography, statistics, and social studies. It is a rather formal term.

• Statistical data: "Die Lebenserwartung für Frauen liegt bei X Jahren." (Life expectancy for women is X years.)
• Comparison: "Die Lebenserwartung in Industrieländern ist höher als in Entwicklungsländern." (Life expectancy in developed countries is higher than in developing countries.)
• Discussion of influencing factors: "Lebensstil, Ernährung und medizinische Versorgung beeinflussen die Lebenserwartung." (Lifestyle, nutrition, and medical care influence life expectancy.)
• Distinction: Don't confuse it with an individual's lifespan, which can vary greatly. Die Lebenserwartung is always an average value for a group.

One often speaks of the "durchschnittliche Lebenserwartung" (average life expectancy) or the "Lebenserwartung bei Geburt" (life expectancy at birth).

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic: Think of "die Erwartung" (the expectation). What expectation do we have for life? Die (long) Lebenserwartung! Since "Erwartung" is feminine (die Erwartung), "die Lebenserwartung" is also feminine.

Meaning Mnemonic: The word is composed of "Leben" (life) and "Erwartung" (expectation). So, it's about the expectation of how long a life lasts.

↔️ Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Note: There isn't a single direct antonym word. The terms listed describe related, often contrasting concepts in demography and health.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum haben Statistiker so eine hohe Lebenserwartung?
(Why do statisticians have such a high life expectancy?)

Weil sie immer mit den Durchschnittswerten rechnen! 😉
(Because they always count on the averages!)

✍️ Poem about Lebenserwartung

Die Zahl, die sagt, wie lang wir bleiben,
(The number that tells how long we stay,)
Die Lebenserwartung, schwer zu beschreiben.
(Life expectancy, hard to portray.)
Ein Schnitt durchs Leben, kalt und klar,
(An average through life, cold and clear,)
Beeinflusst durch Ort und jedes Jahr.
(Influenced by place and every year.)

Mal steigt sie an, mal sinkt sie sacht,
(Sometimes it rises, sometimes sinks slow,)
Von Fortschritt und von Not entfacht.
(Ignited by progress and by woe.)
Doch individuell, das ist gewiss,
(But individually, that is sure,)
Ist jedes Leben, süß und biss.
(Is every life, sweet and demure / with a bite.)

❓ Little Riddle

Ich bin eine Zahl, doch fühl' ich nichts.
(I am a number, yet I feel nothing.)
Ich mess' die Zeit des Lebenslichts.
(I measure the time of life's light.)
Für Gruppen gelt' ich, nicht für dich allein,
(I apply to groups, not just to you alone,)
Statistisch werd' ich meistens sein.
(Statistically, I will mostly be known.)
Gesundheit, Land und Zeit, sie formen mich.
(Health, country, and time, they shape me.)

Wie heiß' ich? Na, wer weiß es? Ich bin...
(What's my name? Well, who knows? I am...)
Die L _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ g

Solution: Die Lebenserwartung (Life expectancy)

➕ Other Information

Word Composition

The word "Lebenserwartung" is a compound noun, composed of:

• Leben (das Leben - life)
• -s- (Fugen-s - a linking element, like an 's' often used between compound noun parts)
• Erwartung (die Erwartung - expectation)

So it literally means the "expectation of life" or its duration.

Interesting Facts

• Global life expectancy has increased dramatically over the past centuries, primarily due to improvements in sanitation, medicine, and nutrition.
• There are often significant differences in life expectancy between men and women within the same population.