die
Nachlässigkeit
🤔 What does "die Nachlässigkeit" mean?
Die Nachlässigkeit (noun, feminine) describes a lack of care, accuracy, or attention in carrying out a task or in behavior. It refers to an attitude or action where duties, rules, or expected standards are not treated with the necessary diligence.
It can relate to various areas:
- At work: Fehlerhafte Arbeit (flawed work), verpasste Fristen (missed deadlines), unordentlicher Arbeitsplatz (messy workplace).
- In personal life: Ungepflegtes Äußeres (unkempt appearance), unordentliche Wohnung (messy apartment), Vergessen von Verabredungen (forgetting appointments).
- In a legal context: Fahrlässigkeit (negligence) that causes harm (e.g., grobe Nachlässigkeit - gross negligence).
⚠️ Attention: Nachlässigkeit can have negative consequences, ranging from minor inconveniences to serious problems or damages.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-keit → always feminine.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Nachlässigkeit
The word "Nachlässigkeit" is a feminine noun. The article is die.
Declension
"Nachlässigkeit" is primarily used in the singular. The plural ("Nachlässigkeiten") is possible but less common, usually referring to specific instances or types of carelessness.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Nachlässigkeit |
| Genitive | der | Nachlässigkeit |
| Dative | der | Nachlässigkeit |
| Accusative | die | Nachlässigkeit |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Nachlässigkeiten |
| Genitive | der | Nachlässigkeiten |
| Dative | den | Nachlässigkeiten |
| Accusative | die | Nachlässigkeiten |
Example Sentences
- Seine Nachlässigkeit bei der Arbeit führte zu vielen Fehlern.
(His carelessness at work led to many mistakes.) - Man warf ihr grobe Nachlässigkeit vor.
(She was accused of gross negligence.) - Die ständigen kleinen Nachlässigkeiten summierten sich zu einem großen Problem.
(The constant small acts of carelessness added up to a big problem.) - Wegen seiner Nachlässigkeit verpasste er den wichtigen Termin.
(Because of his negligence, he missed the important appointment.)
💡 How to use "Nachlässigkeit"?
"Nachlässigkeit" is used to describe a lack of necessary care or attention. The tone is usually negative and critical.
- Typical Contexts: Workplace criticism (Arbeitsplatzkritik), describing misconduct (Fehlverhalten), legal assessments (Fahrlässigkeit - negligence), personal relationships (e.g., neglecting duties - Vernachlässigung von Pflichten).
- Formal vs. Informal: The word can be used in both formal (e.g., reports, legal documents) and informal contexts (e.g., reprimands, personal criticism).
- Gradations: One often speaks of "leichte Nachlässigkeit" (slight negligence) or "grobe Nachlässigkeit" (gross negligence) to indicate the degree of fault.
- Risk of Confusion: Don't confuse it with Gelassenheit (calmness, composure) or Lässigkeit (casualness, coolness), although Lässigkeit can sometimes carry a negative connotation of insufficient seriousness, bordering on Nachlässigkeit.
🧠 Mnemonics for Nachlässigkeit
For the article (die): Think of the suffix "-keit". Nouns ending in "-keit", "-heit", "-ung", "-schaft" are almost always feminine (die). Imagine die consequence of carelessness.
For the meaning: "Nach-lässig-keit" sounds a bit like "knack-less-kite". If you build a kite without 'knack' (skill/care), it's flimsy and reflects carelessness (Nachlässigkeit). Or think of 'letting' (lassen) something for 'after' (nach) – putting things off or not doing them properly shows Nachlässigkeit.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Nachlässigkeit
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Schlampigkeit: (Sloppiness) Often related to disorder or inaccurate work.
- Unachtsamkeit: (Inattention, carelessness) Lack of attention in the moment.
- Sorglosigkeit: (Carelessness, lack of concern) Lack of worry about consequences or details.
- Fahrlässigkeit: (Negligence) Especially in a legal context for culpable disregard of care.
- Pflichtvergessenheit: (Forgetfulness of duty) Specifically related to ignoring duties.
- Laxheit: (Laxity) Too loose handling of rules or duties.
Antonyms (opposites):
- Sorgfalt: (Carefulness, diligence) Great accuracy and attention.
- Genauigkeit: (Accuracy, precision) Precision and absence of errors.
- Gewissenhaftigkeit: (Conscientiousness) Acting according to one's conscience, very dutiful.
- Aufmerksamkeit: (Attention) High concentration on something.
- Akribie: (Meticulousness) Extreme thoroughness and accuracy.
- Pflichtbewusstsein: (Sense of duty) Strong orientation towards one's duties.
😄 A little Joke
DE: Warum hat der nachlässige Gärtner keinen grünen Daumen mehr?
Weil er vergessen hat, ihn zu gießen!
EN: Why doesn't the careless gardener have a green thumb anymore?
Because he forgot to water it!
📜 Poem about Nachlässigkeit
DE:
Ein kleiner Fehler, kaum bedacht,
hat oft schon großen Schmerz gebracht.
Ein Zettel hier, ein Akt dort,
die Nachlässigkeit ist ein schlimmer Hort.
Sie schleicht sich ein, ganz leis und sacht,
und hat schon manches Werk zunichtgemacht.
Drum sei stets wachsam, gib gut Acht,
damit die Sorgfalt stets die Oberhand hat.
EN:
A little error, barely thought,
Has often brought much pain.
A note left here, a file forgot,
Carelessness, a wicked domain.
It sneaks in softly, quiet, slow,
And many works has brought to naught.
So always watch, attention show,
That diligence may hold the fort.
🧩 Riddle
DE:
Ich bin die Schwester der Unachtsamkeit,
und mache mich bei Faulheit breit.
Ich führe zu Fehlern, klein und groß,
wer mich besitzt, hat selten ein gutes Los.
Im Job und Alltag bin ich unbeliebt,
weil durch mich oft Ärger geschieht.
Wer bin ich?
EN:
I am the sister of inattention,
And thrive where laziness finds mention.
I lead to errors, big and small,
Who harbors me, risks a fall.
At work and home, I'm disliked much,
Because trouble follows in my touch.
Who am I?
(Solution: die Nachlässigkeit / negligence, carelessness)
✨ Other Interesting Details
Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung):
The word "Nachlässigkeit" is derived from the adjective "nachlässig" (careless, negligent). This, in turn, comes from "nachlassen" meaning "to slacken, to lessen intensity". The suffix "-keit" is frequently used to form abstract nouns from adjectives, usually creating feminine nouns (like Sauberkeit - cleanliness, Freundlichkeit - friendliness, etc.).
Cultural Aspects (Kulturelle Aspekte):
In German culture, virtues like Sorgfalt (diligence), Pünktlichkeit (punctuality), and Genauigkeit (accuracy) are often highly valued. Therefore, Nachlässigkeit is frequently viewed particularly negatively, especially in professional settings.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Nachlässigkeit?
The word "Nachlässigkeit" is a feminine noun, so the correct article is die Nachlässigkeit. It means carelessness, negligence, or lack of attention.