die
Organspende
🧬 What does "die Organspende" mean?
Die Organspende refers to the voluntary donation (Spende) of one or more organs (Organe) or tissues after death (post-mortem donation) or, for certain organs like a kidney or part of the liver, during one's lifetime (living donation). The goal is to save the life of a critically ill person or significantly improve their quality of life by replacing a malfunctioning organ with a healthy donor organ.
It is a medical process subject to strict legal and ethical guidelines. In Germany, consent for organ donation is required (e.g., via an organ donor card - Organspendeausweis - or a living will - Patientenverfügung).
🚨 Important: The word only has one article: die. It is always feminine.
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 of "die Organspende"
The noun "Organspende" is feminine. The article is always "die".
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Organspende |
| Genitive | der | Organspende |
| Dative | der | Organspende |
| Accusative | die | Organspende |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Organspenden |
| Genitive | der | Organspenden |
| Dative | den | Organspenden |
| Accusative | die | Organspenden |
Example Sentences
- Die Organspende kann Leben retten. (Organ donation can save lives.)
- Er trug immer seinen Ausweis für die Organspende bei sich. (He always carried his organ donor card with him.)
- Die Ethikkommission diskutierte über die Richtlinien der Organspende. (The ethics committee discussed the guidelines for organ donation.)
- Viele Patienten warten dringend auf eine Organspende. (Many patients are urgently waiting for an organ donation.)
🗣️ Usage in Context
"Die Organspende" is primarily used in medical, ethical, and socio-political contexts.
- Medicine: Discussion of transplantation medicine, compatibility, surgical procedures.
- Ethics & Society: Debates about consent models (opt-in vs. opt-out systems), brain death diagnosis, donor dignity, and fairness in organ allocation.
- Personal Decision: In connection with organ donor cards (Organspendeausweise), living wills (Patientenverfügungen), and family discussions.
It's a formal term but also appears in everyday conversations about health and preventative care. Confusion is rare as the term is very specific.
🧠 Mnemonic Aids
Article Mnemonic: Die Spende (donation) is feminine, just like die Gabe (gift) or die Hilfe (help). Since "Organspende" ends in "-spende", it's also die Organspende.
Meaning Mnemonic: Think of Organ + spenden (to donate). It's the giving (donating) of organs. An act of generosity that sustains life.
🔄 Synonyms & Contrasting Concepts
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Organübertragung: Refers more to the medical act of transplantation.
- Transplantation: The surgical procedure itself.
- (Organ-)Verpflanzung: A somewhat older or more figurative term for transplantation.
Antonyms/Related Concepts (contrasting ideas):
- Organentnahme: The process of removing the organ from the donor (part of organ donation).
- Organmangel: Describes the shortage of available donor organs.
- Ablehnung der Organspende: The conscious decision against donation.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Computer eine Organspende abgelehnt?
Er hatte nicht genug Arbeitsspeicher für eine neue Festplatte! 😉
(Why did the computer refuse an organ donation?
It didn't have enough RAM for a new hard drive! 😉)
(Please note: Organ donation is a serious topic; this joke is purely linguistic.)
📜 A Thought in Verse
Ein Teil von mir, wenn ich nicht mehr bin,
gibt neuem Leben einen Sinn.
Die Organspende, ein Geschenk,
an das man dankbar stets gedenkt.
Ein zweites Leben kann beginnen,
wenn Herzen neu zusammenrinnen.
(A part of me, when I am no more,
Gives new life meaning to explore.
Organ donation, a precious gift,
For which one gratefully gives thanks, swift.
A second life can start anew,
When hearts together freshly grew.)
🧩 Little Riddle
Ich bin ein Geschenk, doch kauft man mich nicht.
Ich rette Leben, bin Pflicht und doch nicht Pflicht.
Man trägt mich im Ausweis, oder im Herzen tief.
Was bin ich, das über den Tod hinaus noch Gutes rief?
(I am a gift, but you don't buy me.
I save lives, I am duty yet not compulsory.
You carry me on a card, or deep in your heart.
What am I, that called forth good even after death's dart?)
Solution: Die Organspende (Organ donation)
💡 Other Interesting Facts
Word Composition:
The word "Organspende" is a compound noun, composed of:
- Organ: (from Greek organon = tool, instrument, sensory organ) - A part of the body with a specific function.
- Spende: (from Latin spondere = to vow, promise) - A voluntary gift, often for a good cause.
The combination emphasizes the voluntary nature of donating body organs. The article "die" is taken from the base word "Spende" (die Spende -> die Organspende).
Legal Regulation in Germany: Germany operates under an opt-in system (Zustimmungslösung), meaning individuals must actively consent to organ donation during their lifetime. Other countries (e.g., Austria, Spain) use an opt-out system (Widerspruchslösung).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Organspende?
The word "Organspende" is always feminine. The correct article is die Organspende (singular) and die Organspenden (plural). There are no other articles for this word.