die
Mitteilung
ℹ️ What does "die Mitteilung" mean?
Die Mitteilung (noun, feminine) refers to a piece of information, a message, or a notification that is conveyed to someone. It involves sharing knowledge, a fact, or an instruction with one or more people.
It can be a formal or informal message, delivered either in writing (e.g., Brief - letter, E-Mail, Notiz - note) or orally.
Examples of contexts:
- Amtliche Mitteilung: An official communication from an authority.
- Persönliche Mitteilung: A personal message between friends or family members.
- Pressemitteilung: A press release (information for the media).
🚨 Important: Although often interchangeable with "Nachricht" (message), "Mitteilung" can have a slightly more formal or official tone, especially in the plural ("Mitteilungen").
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 in Detail: die Mitteilung
"Mitteilung" is a feminine noun. The article is "die". Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Mitteilung |
| Genitive | der | Mitteilung |
| Dative | der | Mitteilung |
| Accusative | die | Mitteilung |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Mitteilungen |
| Genitive | der | Mitteilungen |
| Dative | den | Mitteilungen |
| Accusative | die | Mitteilungen |
Example Sentences
- Ich habe eine wichtige Mitteilung für dich.
(I have an important message/piece of information for you.) - Der Eingang neuer Mitteilungen wird durch ein Symbol angezeigt.
(The receipt of new messages/notifications is indicated by an icon.) - Bitte beachten Sie die amtlichen Mitteilungen im Aushang.
(Please note the official notices/communications on the bulletin board.) - Er dankte mir für die schnelle Mitteilung.
(He thanked me for the quick notification/message.)
🗣️ Application and Context
"Die Mitteilung" is often used when information is specifically passed on. Here are some typical use cases:
- Formal Communication: In letters from authorities, companies, or institutions (e.g., "Mitteilung über Gebührenerhöhung" - Notification about fee increase).
- Workplace: Internal memos or announcements (e.g., "Mitteilung an alle Mitarbeiter" - Memo to all employees).
- Technical Context: System messages or notifications in software (e.g., "Fehlermitteilung" - Error message).
- Everyday Language: Also for less formal messages, although "Nachricht" often sounds more natural here (e.g., "Er hinterließ eine Mitteilung auf dem Küchentisch." - He left a message on the kitchen table.).
Distinction from similar words:
- Nachricht: Often more informal and broader than Mitteilung. Can also mean news or a message in general.
- Benachrichtigung: Very similar, often used in a technical context (app notification) or as formal information about a status (shipping notification).
- Bekanntmachung: More of a public announcement for a larger group.
- Information: A more general term for knowledge or data. A Mitteilung contains specific information.
🧠 Mnemonics & Memory Aids
For the article "die": Remember that many German nouns ending in "-ung" are feminine (die Endung - the ending, die Lösung - the solution). So, it's die Mitteilung. Picture a female messenger (die Botin) bringing the important message.
For the meaning: "Mitteilung" comes from "mit-teilen" – meaning "to share with" or "to inform". You are sharing (teilen) a piece (Teil) of information with (mit) someone.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Nachricht: (Often more informal) message, news.
- Benachrichtigung: (Often technical/formal) notification, advice.
- Information: information, data, details.
- Botschaft: message, key message (often important).
- Bescheid: answer, information (e.g., "Bescheid geben" - to let someone know).
- Ankündigung: announcement (of something future).
- Verlautbarung: official statement, public announcement.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)
- Verschweigen: concealment, keeping silent (the act of not communicating).
- Geheimhaltung: secrecy, confidentiality (deliberately withholding information).
- Rückfrage: query, question back (asking instead of giving information).
- Dementi: denial, retraction (official withdrawal of a previous statement/Mitteilung).
Potential Confusion
- Meinung: opinion. This is a personal view, not necessarily a factual Mitteilung.
😄 A Little Joke
DE: Warum hat die E-Mail Schluss gemacht? – Sie hatte zu viele Mitteilungen von anderen!
EN: Why did the email break up? – It had too many messages/notifications (Mitteilungen) from others! (Play on 'Mitteilungen' sounding like communication/messages in a relationship context).
📜 Poetry Corner
DE:
Ein Zettel klein, ein Schirm, der blinkt,
Eine Stimme, die leise klingt.
Ob froh, ob ernst, ob kurz, ob lang,
Die Mitteilung fängt den Tag an.
Sie reist per Post, durchs Netz geschwind,
Trägt Worte fort, wie schneller Wind.
Ein kleines Stück geteilte Welt,
Das uns verbindet und zusammenhält.
EN:
A little note, a screen that glows,
A voice that speaks in quiet flows.
Be it glad or stern, brief or long,
The message (Mitteilung) starts the day along.
It travels by post, through networks fast,
Carries words forth, like a swift wind's blast.
A little piece of a shared world's art,
That connects us and holds us close at heart.
❓ Fun Riddle
DE:
Ich komme schriftlich oder mündlich an,
bin mal privat, mal Amtspersonen dran.
Ich teile dir etwas Wichtiges mit,
manchmal nur kurz, Schritt für Schritt.
Was bin ich?
(Auflösung: die Mitteilung)
EN:
I arrive in writing or by spoken word,
Sometimes private, sometimes officially heard.
I share something important with you,
Sometimes just briefly, step-by-step through.
What am I?
(Answer: die Mitteilung / the message/notification)
💡 Good to Know
Word Composition:
The word "Mitteilung" is composed of:
- mit: preposition/prefix, here expressing participation or passing something on.
- Teil: noun, here in the sense of 'to give a share', 'to let participate'.
- -ung: suffix used to form nouns from verbs (from "mitteilen" - to inform, to share), usually indicating a feminine noun.
So, it literally describes the act of "sharing with" (Mit-Teilen) information.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Mitteilung?
The word "Mitteilung" is feminine. The correct article is die Mitteilung. The plural is die Mitteilungen.