die
Prävention
📖 What does 'die Prävention' mean?
Die Prävention is a feminine German noun that means prevention or prophylaxis. It refers to the act of taking proactive measures to avoid undesirable events, conditions, or outcomes. The core idea is to minimize risks or prevent harm from occurring in the first place.
Examples of areas where Prävention plays a significant role:
- Medicine: Vaccinations, healthy diet to prevent diseases (Krankheitsprävention - disease prevention).
- Crime: Measures to deter or stop criminal acts (Kriminalprävention - crime prevention).
- Accidents: Safety regulations in traffic or at the workplace (Unfallprävention - accident prevention).
- Social issues: Programs to avoid addiction or violence (Suchtprävention - addiction prevention, Gewaltprävention - violence prevention).
The article is always 'die' because Prävention is an abstract concept and the word ends in '-tion', which typically indicates feminine nouns in German.
🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Die Prävention
The noun 'Prävention' is feminine. The definite article is always 'die'. It is mostly used in the singular as it describes an abstract concept. The plural form ('die Präventionen') is rare and typically refers to different types or specific measures of prevention.
Declension
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Prävention | eine Prävention | Prävention |
| Genitive | der Prävention | einer Prävention | Prävention |
| Dative | der Prävention | einer Prävention | Prävention |
| Accusative | die Prävention | eine Prävention | Prävention |
| Case | Definite Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Präventionen | Präventionen |
| Genitive | der Präventionen | Präventionen |
| Dative | den Präventionen | Präventionen |
| Accusative | die Präventionen | Präventionen |
Example Sentences
- Die Prävention von Krankheiten ist ein wichtiges Ziel im Gesundheitswesen.
(The prevention of diseases is an important goal in the healthcare system.) - Der Fokus liegt auf der Prävention von Jugendkriminalität.
(The focus is on the prevention of youth crime.) - Durch gezielte Prävention konnten viele Unfälle vermieden werden.
(Through targeted prevention, many accidents could be avoided.) - Es gibt verschiedene Präventionen gegen Mobbing in Schulen. (Plural, rare)
(There are various prevention measures against bullying in schools.)
🗣️ How 'Prävention' is used
The term 'die Prävention' is frequently used in formal contexts, especially in fields like medicine, public health, safety, criminology, and social work. It's a key concept when discussing proactive actions to avoid negative consequences.
- Typical collocations: Prävention betreiben (to practice prevention), zur Prävention dienen (to serve as prevention), Maßnahmen zur Prävention (measures for prevention), medizinische Prävention (medical prevention), Kriminalprävention (crime prevention), Suchtprävention (addiction prevention), Unfallprävention (accident prevention).
- Comparison with 'Vorsorge': 'Vorsorge' (precaution, provision) is often a synonym but can be more specific, e.g., in a medical context (Vorsorgeuntersuchung - preventive check-up) or financial planning (Altersvorsorge - retirement provision). 'Prävention' is the broader term for preventing undesired outcomes.
- Comparison with 'Intervention': Prävention occurs before a problem arises, whereas Intervention (intervention) refers to stepping in once a problem already exists.
🧠 Mnemonics for Prävention
Article Mnemonic: Words ending in -tion in German are almost always feminine ('die'). Think of action (die Aktion), information (die Information), station (die Station)... and therefore, die Prävention!
Meaning Mnemonic: 'Prä-' sounds like 'pre-' (before). Think 'prevent'. Prävention is about acting pre-emptively, before something bad happens.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Vorbeugung: (Prevention) - The most common synonym.
- Verhütung: (Prevention, contraception) - Often used in medical contexts (contraception) or general prevention (accident prevention).
- Vorsorge: (Precaution, provision) - Similar, often more specific (see Usage).
- Prophylaxe: (Prophylaxis) - Technical term, especially in medicine.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Intervention: (Intervention) - Action taken when a problem already exists.
- Reaktion: (Reaction) - Acting in response to an event.
- Nachsorge: (Aftercare) - Care/treatment after an event/illness.
- Korrektur: (Correction) - Fixing a mistake/problem.
- Therapie/Behandlung: (Therapy/Treatment) - Measures to cure or alleviate an existing illness/problem.
⚠️ Caution: Don't confuse 'Prävention' (prevention) with 'Präferenz' (preference)!
😂 A Little Joke
German: Warum hat der Arzt dem Computer eine Impfung zur Prävention gegeben?
Damit er keinen Virus bekommt!
English: Why did the doctor give the computer a vaccination for prevention?
So it wouldn't get a virus!
📜 A Poem about Prevention
German:
Bevor das Unheil kann gescheh'n,
Bevor die Tränen bitter weh'n,
Ist kluges Handeln angesagt,
Das Böses von uns fern verjagt.
Die Prävention, ein weiser Schritt,
Nimmt künft'ges Leid schon vorher mit.
Ein Schutzwall, frühzeitig gebaut,
Dem man getrost sein Wohl vertraut.
English:
Before disaster can arise,
Before the tears sting in our eyes,
Wise action is the needed way,
To chase the coming ills away.
Prevention, a thoughtful stride,
Takes future sorrow in its guide.
A rampart built ahead of time,
In which we trust our well-being's climb.
🧩 Who or What Am I?
German:
Ich komme, bevor das Problem entsteht,
Damit der Schaden gar nicht erst weht.
In Medizin, bei Schutz und Recht,
Wirkt meine Vorsicht gut und echt.
Wer bin ich?
Lösung: Die Prävention
English:
I come before the problem starts,
So damage never plays its parts.
In medicine, in law, in health,
My foresight brings true well-being's wealth.
What am I?
Answer: Prevention (die Prävention)
🌐 Other Information
Etymology (Wortherkunft): The word 'Prävention' comes from the Latin verb praevenire, meaning 'to come before', 'to anticipate', 'to prevent' (prae = before, venire = to come).
Compounds (Zusammensetzungen): The word is often part of compound nouns specifying the area of prevention, e.g.: Drogenprävention (drug prevention), Gewaltprävention (violence prevention), Kariesprävention (cavity prevention), Brandschutzprävention (fire prevention).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Prävention?
The German word Prävention is feminine. The correct article is die Prävention. It is used to describe the act of preventing undesirable events or outcomes.