die
Petition
📜 What exactly is a Petition?
A Petition (feminine, article: die) is a formal written request, application, or complaint addressed to a competent authority, parliament, or other institution. Its purpose is to draw attention to a specific concern, bring about a change, or influence a decision.
Typically, a Petition is signed by one or more people to lend weight to the request.
⚠️ There is only the feminine form die Petition; there are no other articles or meanings for this word in German.
📊 Grammar: The Declension of 'die Petition'
The word "Petition" is a feminine noun. Here are the declension tables:
Singular
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die Petition | eine Petition |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der Petition | einer Petition |
| Dative (To whom?) | der Petition | einer Petition |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die Petition | eine Petition |
Plural
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite/Negative Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Petitionen | Petitionen / keine Petitionen |
| Genitive | der Petitionen | Petitionen / keiner Petitionen |
| Dative | den Petitionen | Petitionen / keinen Petitionen |
| Accusative | die Petitionen | Petitionen / keine Petitionen |
Example Sentences 📝
- Die Bürgerinitiative reichte eine Petition beim Bürgermeister ein.
The citizens' initiative submitted a petition to the mayor. - Der Erfolg der Petition hing von der Anzahl der Unterschriften ab.
The success of the petition depended on the number of signatures. - Mit der Petition fordern sie niedrigere Studiengebühren.
With the petition, they demand lower tuition fees. - Wir haben die Petition online gestellt.
We put the petition online. - Zahlreiche Petitionen wurden im Ausschuss besprochen.
Numerous petitions were discussed in the committee.
🗣️ How to use 'die Petition'?
The term die Petition is mainly used in political, legal, or administrative contexts.
Typical Uses:
- Eine Petition einreichen/starten: To submit/start a petition.
- Eine Petition unterschreiben/unterzeichnen: To sign a petition.
- Eine Petition behandeln/beraten: When an authority or committee deals with/discusses it.
- Online-Petition: An online petition organized and distributed via the internet.
Context:
Petitions are an important tool for citizen participation in democracies. They allow individuals or groups to bring their concerns directly to decision-makers.
Compared to a simple letter or email, a Petition often carries more formal weight, especially if it has many supporters.
🧠 Mnemonics for 'die Petition'
Article Mnemonic: Remember that a petition is often a formal request (die Bitte) or demand (die Forderung) – both are feminine words in German starting with die. So, it's also die Petition.
Meaning Mnemonic: The word sounds a bit like "petition action". A Petition is an action (often involving signatures) to pursue a request or demand.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- die Eingabe: Often used synonymously, sometimes more specific for submissions to authorities.
- der Antrag: A formal application, often aiming to receive a specific service or permit.
- das Gesuch: A polite, formal request.
- die Bittschrift: A somewhat archaic term for a written plea, often to a higher-ranking person or institution.
Similar but potentially misleading words:
- die Portion: A portion (e.g., of food), sounds similar but is unrelated.
😄 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Beamte die Petition zum schnelleren Internet abgelehnt?
Er meinte: "Das Formular hat zu lange zum Laden gebraucht!" 😉
Why did the official reject the petition for faster internet?
He said: "The form took too long to load!" 😉
✍️ Poem about a Petition
Ein Blatt Papier, ein klares Ziel,
Unterschriften, davon ganz viel.
Die Petition, sie macht sich breit,
Für Änderung ist es an der Zeit.
Gerichtet an die hohe Hand,
Ein Wunsch getragen durch das Land.
Ob online fix, ob alt auf Print,
Hoffnung, dass man sie ernst nimmt.
A sheet of paper, a clear goal,
Signatures, a mighty scroll.
The petition, it spreads around,
For change, the time is now profound.
Addressed to those in power high,
A wish carried across the sky.
Whether online quick, or old on print,
Hope that it's taken with serious tint.
❓ Little Riddle
Ich bin ein Schreiben, oft mit Listen lang,
Bring Wünsche vor, mit Nachdruck und Gesang (der Unterschriften).
An Rathaus, Amt und Parlament,
werd' ich gesendet, flott und vehement.
Ich fordre, bitte, mach bekannt,
was Bürger ärgert hier im Land.
Was bin ich? What am I?
I am a document, often with long lists,
Presenting wishes, with emphasis and twists (of signatures).
To city hall, office, and parliament sent,
I am dispatched, swift and vehement.
I demand, request, make it known,
What annoys citizens, seeds that are sown.
→ Die Petition (The Petition)
ℹ️ More Information
Word Origin: The word "Petition" comes from the Latin word petitio, which means "request", "plea", but also "attack", "claim".
Right to Petition (Petitionsrecht): Many constitutions, like the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz, Article 17), enshrine the right to address requests or complaints to representative bodies and authorities (Petitionsrecht).
Online Petitions: Nowadays, online petitions via platforms like change.org or openPetition are gaining increasing importance as they allow for rapid and broad mobilization of supporters.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Petition?
The German word Petition is feminine. The correct article is die Petition. The plural form is die Petitionen.