die  Not

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/noːt/

😥 What does "die Not" mean?

Die Not (noun, feminine) describes a state of lack, hardship, distress, or serious difficulty. It can refer to material, emotional, or situational hardship.

• Lack/Neediness: An absence of something essential for life (e.g., food, money, shelter). Example: Viele Menschen leiden Not. (Many people suffer hardship/need.)
• Distress/Hardship: A difficult, often dangerous or painful situation. Example: Er half ihr in ihrer größten Not. (He helped her in her greatest hour of need.)
• Urgency/Predicament: A situation requiring immediate action (often in the sense of an emergency or last resort). Example: Zur Not können wir auch zu Fuß gehen. (If necessary / As a last resort, we can also walk.)

🚨 Attention: Although often used in the singular, the plural die Nöte exists, usually meaning “troubles”, “hardships” or “worries”.

🧐 Grammar of "die Not" in Detail

"Not" is a feminine noun. The article is die.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

The plural "die Nöte" is used less frequently and usually refers to various kinds of difficulties or worries.

Example Sentences 📝

1. In Zeiten der Not halten Freunde zusammen. (In times of need, friends stick together.)
2. Die wirtschaftliche Not im Land wächst. (The economic hardship in the country is growing.)
3. Er kannte die Nöte der armen Bevölkerung. (He knew the hardships/troubles of the poor population.)
4. Zur Not nehme ich den früheren Zug. (If need be / As a last resort, I'll take the earlier train.)
5. Sie rief in höchster Not um Hilfe. (She cried for help in dire need/distress.)

🗣️ How is "die Not" used?

"Die Not" is often used in contexts expressing lack, danger, or urgent need.

• Fixed Expressions: There are many fixed expressions like "Not leiden" (to suffer hardship/need), "in Not geraten/sein" (to get into/be in trouble/distress), "zur Not" (if necessary, as a last resort), "aus der Not eine Tugend machen" (to make a virtue of necessity), "Not am Mann sein" (help is urgently needed).
• Context: People talk about finanzielle Not (financial hardship), seelische Not (emotional distress), Wohnungsnot (housing shortage), etc.
• Distinction: "Die Not" is stronger than just a "Problem" (problem) or a "Schwierigkeit" (difficulty). It often implies an existential threat or a serious lack. A "Notfall" (emergency) is a specific, acute situation of Not requiring swift action.

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Not"

Article Mnemonic (die)

Imagine a damsel in distress (a female image helps remember die). She is in great Not (need/distress). Die damsel is in die Not.

Meaning Mnemonic (Need, Hardship)

Think of the English word "not". When you do "not" have something important, you are in Not. Not enough food? You're in Not. Not enough money? You're in Not.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words: Don't confuse "die Not" with "die Note" (grade in school, musical note).

😂 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Lehrer: "Was ist die höchste Form der Not?" Schüler: "Seenot, Herr Lehrer!"

English Translation: The teacher asks: "What is the highest form of distress/need (Not)?" Student: "Distress at sea (Seenot), Sir!" (This is a pun, as 'See' means 'sea' or 'lake', and 'Seenot' is the specific term for distress at sea, which sounds like a 'high' or severe form of 'Not'.)

📜 Poem about Need (Not)

German:
Wenn Schatten fallen, schwer und dicht,
Und Hoffnung schwindet, fehlt das Licht,
Wenn Mangel drückt und Sorge quält,
Die Not sich leise eingeschleicht.

Doch auch im Dunkel, tief und kalt,
Ein Funken Mut oft widerhallt.
Gemeinsam stark, Hand in Hand,
Besiegen wir den schweren Stand.

English Translation:
When shadows fall, heavy and dense,
And hope fades, the light is absent,
When lack presses and worry torments,
Need (die Not) quietly creeps in.

But even in darkness, deep and cold,
A spark of courage often echoes.
Strong together, hand in hand,
We overcome the difficult stand.

❓ Riddle

German:
Ich bin ein Zustand, oft beklagt,
Wo Mangel herrscht, das Herz verzagt.
Manchmal bin ich finanziell,
Manchmal seelisch, schnell, schnell!
Man sagt, ich mache erfinderisch,
Doch keiner wünscht mich auf den Tisch.

Was bin ich?

English Translation:
I am a state, often lamented,
Where lack prevails, the heart despairs.
Sometimes I am financial,
Sometimes emotional, quick, quick!
They say I make you inventive,
But nobody wants me on their table (wishes for me).

What am I?

💡 Other Information

• Word Compounds: "Not" is part of many important German words:
  • Notfall: Emergency (literally 'need-case').
  • Notausgang: Emergency exit.
  • Notbremse: Emergency brake.
  • Notlüge: White lie (literally 'need-lie').
  • Notwendig: Necessary, essential (literally 'turning away need').
  • Notschlafstelle: Emergency shelter (for homeless people).
• Saying: "Not kennt kein Gebot." translates to "Necessity knows no law." It means that in extreme situations of need, one might break rules or laws to survive or manage the situation.