die
Nachfrage
❓ What does "die Nachfrage" mean?
The word die Nachfrage (feminine) primarily has two meanings:
- Economic Demand 💹: This is the most common meaning. It describes the interest or desire of consumers or businesses to buy a specific product or service at a certain price. It's often discussed in the context of "Angebot und Nachfrage" (supply and demand).
- Inquiry or Query 🗣️: In a more general sense, "die Nachfrage" can also mean a question or a request for information, often more formal than a simple "Frage" (question). For example: "Auf Nachfrage teilte das Unternehmen mit, dass..." (Upon inquiry, the company announced that...)
🚨 Attention: Don't directly confuse it with "die Frage", which is simply a question being asked. "Die Nachfrage" often implies a deeper interest, a need, or a more formal context.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Nachfrage
"Nachfrage" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Nachfrage |
| Genitive | der | Nachfrage |
| Dative | der | Nachfrage |
| Accusative | die | Nachfrage |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Nachfragen |
| Genitive | der | Nachfragen |
| Dative | den | Nachfragen |
| Accusative | die | Nachfragen |
📝 Example Sentences
- Die Nachfrage nach Elektroautos steigt stetig.
(The demand for electric cars is constantly increasing.) - Auf wiederholte Nachfrage erhielten wir endlich eine Antwort.
(Upon repeated inquiry, we finally received an answer.) - Hohe Nachfrage treibt die Preise in die Höhe.
(High demand drives prices up.) - Wir haben viele Nachfragen zu unseren neuen Produkten erhalten.
(We received many inquiries about our new products.)
💡 How to use "die Nachfrage"?
Context is key:
- Economics & Trade: Here, "die Nachfrage" is a core concept. You talk about hohe/geringe Nachfrage (high/low demand), Nachfrageüberhang (excess demand), Nachfragekurve (demand curve), or the phrase "die Nachfrage nach etwas" (the demand for something), e.g., die Nachfrage nach Bioprodukten (the demand for organic products). The opposite is "das Angebot" (supply).
- Everyday Life & Communication: The meaning "inquiry" or "query" is more formal. You often find it in written communication or when referring to previous communication. Example: "Bezugnehmend auf Ihre Nachfrage vom..." (Referring to your inquiry of...). In spoken everyday language, people are more likely to say "Frage" (question) or "Anfrage" (request/inquiry).
Typical combinations:
- Nachfrage nach + Dative case (e.g., Nachfrage nach Arbeitskräften - demand for workers)
- Auf Nachfrage (e.g., Informationen sind auf Nachfrage erhältlich - Information is available upon request/inquiry)
- Angebot und Nachfrage (Supply and demand)
🧠 Mnemonics for "die Nachfrage"
Article Mnemonic: Think of related feminine words like "die Frage" (the question) or "die Anfrage" (the inquiry). If you ask nach (after/for) an answer, you make a Nachfrage. The word ends in -e, which is often (but not always!) a hint for feminine nouns in German. Imagine a lady (die Frau) energetically asking nach (for) a product in a store – she's creating die Nachfrage (the demand).
Meaning Mnemonic: Picture a market stall (Marktstand). Many people are standing in front, asking nach (for) specific goods (they fragen nach = Nachfrage / demand). The opposite is the seller offering something (das Angebot / supply). For the meaning "inquiry": You ask nach (meaning again or specifically) for information.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Bedarf (der): Very similar in the economic context (e.g., der Bedarf an Fachkräften - the need/demand for skilled workers).
- Interesse (das): Can sometimes be used as a synonym but is more general (e.g., das Interesse an Kursen - the interest in courses).
- Anfrage (die): Particularly relevant for the meaning "inquiry" (e.g., eine Anfrage stellen - to make an inquiry).
- Kaufinteresse (das): Specifically the interest in buying something.
- Begehrtheit (die): Expresses how much something is desired.
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Angebot (das): The economic opposite of demand (supply).
- Überschuss (der): Surplus (when supply exceeds demand).
- Antwort (die): The counterpart to an inquiry (answer).
⚠️ Similar words (potential confusion):
- Frage (die): A general question, not necessarily linked to need or formal inquiry.
- Anforderung (die): Refers more to a requirement or criterion that must be met.
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt der Lehrer: "Fritzchen, was ist der Unterschied zwischen Angebot und Nachfrage?"
Fritzchen: "Ganz einfach, Herr Lehrer! Wenn ich mir ein Eis wünsche, ist das die Nachfrage. Wenn Mama dann sagt 'Nein!', ist das das Angebot."
Translation:
The teacher asks: "Fritzchen, what's the difference between supply (Angebot) and demand (Nachfrage)?"
Fritzchen: "Easy, teacher! When I wish for ice cream, that's the demand. When Mom then says 'No!', that's the supply."
✍️ Poem about Nachfrage
Der Markt, er lebt, er pulst, er schwingt,
Wo die Nachfrage ihr Liedchen singt.
Mal laut, mal leis', nach Gut und Geld,
Was grad begehrt wird in der Welt.
Steigt sie empor, der Preis zieht an,
Fällt sie darnieder, schlecht für'n Kaufmann.
Ein stetes Spiel, seit alter Zeit,
Von Mangel und Begehrlichkeit.
Translation:
The market, it lives, it pulses, it swings,
Where the demand (die Nachfrage) sings its little song.
Sometimes loud, sometimes quiet, for goods and money,
Whatever is currently desired in the world.
If it rises high, the price follows suit,
If it falls low, bad for the merchant.
A constant game, since ancient times,
Of scarcity and desirability.
🧩 Little Riddle
Ich habe keinen Mund, doch stelle oft 'ne Bitt'.
Im Handel bin ich groß, mach Preise fit.
Bin ich sehr hoch, wird manches teuer,
Bin ich sehr tief, erlischt das Feuer (des Verkaufs).
Man fragt oft "nach" mir, implizit,
Mein Gegenteil macht das Angebot komplett.
Was bin ich?
Lösung: die Nachfrage
Translation:
I have no mouth, yet often make a plea.
In trade, I'm big, I make prices agree.
If I am very high, many things get dear,
If I am very low, the (sales) fire disappears.
People often ask "after" me, implicitly,
My opposite makes the supply complete.
What am I?
Answer: die Nachfrage (demand/inquiry)
ℹ️ Further Information
Word Composition:
The word "Nachfrage" is composed of:
- nach (preposition/adverb, here meaning 'after', 'again' or 'specifically')
- Frage (noun, from 'fragen' - to ask)
So, it literally describes the act of asking "after" or "specifically for" something.
Common Compound Nouns (Komposita):
- Nachfragekurve (demand curve)
- Nachfrageüberhang (excess demand)
- Nachfragesog (demand pull)
- Konsumnachfrage (consumer demand)
- Binnennachfrage (domestic demand)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Nachfrage?
The noun "Nachfrage" is feminine. The correct article is always die Nachfrage. There are no alternative articles for this word.