die  Motivation

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/moˌtiːvaˈt͡si̯oːn/

🎯 What exactly is "die Motivation"?

Die Motivation (feminine) refers to the entirety of motives or influences that affect a decision, action, etc., encouraging a certain course of action. It's the inner drive or the reason why someone does something or pursues a specific goal. Motivation can come from within (intrinsisch, e.g., curiosity, fun) or be stimulated from the outside (extrinsisch, e.g., reward, recognition).

There is only one article for this word: die. It is always feminine.

📚 Grammar in Detail: Die Motivation

The noun "Motivation" is feminine. The plural is "die Motivationen", but it's used less frequently than the singular form.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

💡 Example Sentences

1. Seine Motivation für den Jobwechsel war das höhere Gehalt.
   (His motivation for changing jobs was the higher salary.)
2. Mir fehlt heute die Motivation, Sport zu treiben.
   (I lack the motivation to exercise today.)
3. Die intrinsische Motivation der Schüler ist für den Lernerfolg entscheidend.
   (The students' intrinsic motivation is crucial for learning success.)
4. Wir müssen die verschiedenen Motivationen der Teammitglieder verstehen.
   (We need to understand the different motivations of the team members.)

🗣️ How to Use "Motivation"?

"Motivation" is frequently used in contexts related to performance, goals, work, learning, and personal behavior.

• Workplace: Mitarbeitermotivation (employee motivation), Motivation for projects.
• Education: Lernmotivation (learning motivation), Motivation for exams.
• Sports: Trainingsmotivation (training motivation), Motivation for competitions.
• Personal Life: Motivation for hobbies, self-improvement, achieving personal goals.

People often speak of hohe (high) or niedrige Motivation (low motivation), of intrinsische (intrinsic) or extrinsische (extrinsic) motivation. One can also die Motivation finden (find the motivation), verlieren (lose), or steigern (increase).

Similar terms like Anreiz (incentive, often external), Beweggrund (motive, reason for an action), or Antrieb (drive, inner force) can be more specific depending on the context, but "Motivation" is the most comprehensive term for the entirety of driving forces.

🧠 Mnemonics & Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic: Think of "the Action". Motivation leads to action, and many German nouns ending in "-ion" are feminine (die Aktion, die Motivation). It's a common pattern.

Meaning Mnemonic: "Motivation" sounds like "Motor for the action". It's what drives you (the motor) to do something (action).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Caution: Although similar, these words have nuances. Anreiz is often external, while Antrieb is more internal. Motivation is the umbrella term.

😄 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Wecker keine Motivation aufzustehen?
Weil er schon auf dem Nachttisch liegt!

(Why does the alarm clock have no motivation to get up?
Because it's already lying on the nightstand! - A pun, as 'aufstehen' means 'to get up' and 'liegen' means 'to lie down')

📜 Poetry Corner: Die Motivation

Die Motivation, ein zartes Licht,
Entfacht im Herzen, gibt Gewicht.
Sie treibt uns an, bei Tag und Nacht,
Hat schon so manches Werk vollbracht. Mal stark, mal schwach, doch stets präsent,
Ein Funke, der im Innern brennt.

(Motivation, a tender light,
Ignited in the heart, gives might.
It drives us on, by day and night,
Has finished many works outright.
Sometimes strong, sometimes weak, yet always present,
A spark that burns inside, heaven-sent.)

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin der Grund, warum du startest,
Der Funke, auf den du oft wartest.
Ich wohne tief in dir, mal laut, mal leise,
Und schick dich auf die nächste Reise.
Ich ende auf "-ion" und bin feminin.

Was bin ich?

(I am the reason why you start,
The spark for which you often wait.
I live deep inside you, sometimes loud, sometimes quiet,
And send you on the next journey.
I end in "-ion" and am feminine.

What am I?)

(Answer: die Motivation)

🧩 Other Interesting Facts

Word Origin: The word "Motivation" comes from the Late Latin word "motivus", meaning "moving". The suffix "-ation" indicates a process or state.

Compound Words (Zusammensetzungen): There are many compound nouns involving "Motivation", e.g.:

• Selbstmotivation: Self-motivation
• Leistungsmotivation: Achievement motivation
• Motivationsschreiben: Letter of motivation (for applications)
• Motivationsloch: Motivational slump/low point (lit. 'motivation hole')

In psychology (Psychologie), the study of motivation (die Motivationsforschung) is a major field concerned with the causes and goals of human action.