die  Lohnerhöhung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈloːnʔɛʁˌhøːʊŋ/

💰 What does 'die Lohnerhöhung' mean?

Die Lohnerhöhung (feminine noun) means a pay rise, salary increase, or wage increase. It refers to an increase in the remuneration, i.e., the wage (Lohn) or salary (Gehalt), that an employee receives for their work. It signifies a permanent increase in the basic pay, as opposed to one-off payments like bonuses (Prämien) or special allowances (Boni).

Since the word ends in -ung, the article is always die. There are no exceptions or different meanings associated with other articles here. 🥳

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar & Declension: 'Die Lohnerhöhung' in Detail

The noun die Lohnerhöhung is feminine. Here are the declension tables:

Singular

Plural

📝 Example Sentences

• Die Gewerkschaft fordert eine Lohnerhöhung von fünf Prozent.
  (The union is demanding a wage increase of five percent.)
• Nach langen Verhandlungen gab es endlich eine Einigung über die Lohnerhöhung.
  (After long negotiations, an agreement on the salary increase was finally reached.)
• Viele Mitarbeiter hoffen auf eine baldige Lohnerhöhung.
  (Many employees hope for a salary increase soon.)
• Die jährlichen Lohnerhöhungen sind im Tarifvertrag festgelegt.
  (The annual wage increases are stipulated in the collective agreement.)

💡 Everyday Usage

Die Lohnerhöhung is a key term in working life (Arbeitsleben) and collective bargaining (Tarifverhandlungen). It's often discussed in the context of economic performance (wirtschaftliche Leistung), inflation, or individual performance improvement (individuelle Leistungssteigerung).

• Typical Contexts: Collective bargaining, employee reviews (Mitarbeitergespräche), economic reports (Wirtschaftsberichte), discussions about purchasing power (Kaufkraft).
• Distinction: A Gehaltserhöhung specifically refers to a salary increase (usually for white-collar employees - Angestellte), while Lohnerhöhung can encompass both wage (Lohn - usually for blue-collar workers - Arbeiter) and salary increases, or is used more generally. A Prämie or Bonus is an additional, often one-time payment and not a permanent increase in basic pay.

🧠 Mnemonics for Lohnerhöhung

Article Mnemonic: Words ending in -ung in German are almost always feminine (feminin). Think of other -ung words like die Rechnung (the bill), die Wohnung (the apartment). So, it's die Lohnerhöhung.

Meaning Mnemonic: Break it down: Lohn sounds like loan (though it means wage/pay) and Erhöhung sounds a bit like a-HO-hoong - imagine shouting with joy A-HO! because your Lohn (pay) got an Erhöhung (increase). Your pay is higher - hoh (hoch) means high.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Caution: Don't confuse Lohnerhöhung with Bonuszahlung (bonus payment) or Prämie (premium/bonus) – these are usually one-off payments, not a permanent raise.

😂 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Chef den Mitarbeiter: Was würden Sie sagen, wenn ich Ihnen trotz der wirtschaftlich schwierigen Lage eine Lohnerhöhung gebe? Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: Ich wäre sprachlos! Chef: Sehr gut, dann bekommen Sie keine!

English Translation: The boss asks the employee: What would you say if I gave you a pay rise despite the difficult economic situation? The employee replies: I'd be speechless! Boss: Excellent, then you won't get one!

📜 Poem about a Pay Rise

German:
Monat für Monat, die Arbeit getan,
man hofft und man träumt, irgendwann
kommt der Brief, der das Herz höherschlagen lässt,
die Lohnerhöhung, das ist das Fest! Mehr Ziffern nun auf dem Gehaltszettel steh'n,
die Mühe hat sich gelohnt, wunderschön!

English Translation:
Month by month, the work is done,
one hopes and one dreams, that someday soon
the letter arrives, making the heart beat fast,
the salary increase, that's the feast at last!
More digits now stand on the payslip's face,
the effort paid off, beautiful grace!

🧩 Riddle

German:
Ich mache den Geldbeutel dicker, den Arbeiter froh,
bin das Ergebnis von Verhandlungen, sowieso.
Manchmal in Prozent, manchmal ein fester Betrag,
was bin ich, für das man sich plagt?

English Translation:
I make the wallet thicker, the worker glad,
I'm the result of negotiations, indeed.
Sometimes in percent, sometimes a fixed sum instead,
what am I, for which people strive and plead?

Solution: die Lohnerhöhung (the salary increase / pay rise)

ℹ️ Other Information

Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung):

The word Lohnerhöhung is a compound noun (Kompositum), composed of:

• der Lohn: The wage/pay for work performed (originally more common for blue-collar workers).
• die Erhöhung: The increase/rise (derived from the verb erhöhen - to increase/raise).

Together, the meaning is: an increase in pay.