die
Privatisierung
🏛️ What does 'die Privatisierung' mean?
Die Privatisierung is the German term for privatization. It refers to the process of transferring public property (e.g., state-owned enterprises, services, or assets) into private ownership or management.
It's a key concept in economic and social policy. Tasks or assets previously handled or owned by the state (der Staat) or a municipality (die Kommune) are sold or transferred to private companies or individuals.
The goal is often to increase efficiency, reduce bureaucracy, or generate revenue for the state budget.
🚨 There's only one article, 'die', for this word because it's a noun ending in '-ung', which are typically feminine in German.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ung → always feminine.
There are many -ung words, we won't list them all. There are only a few exceptions.
🧐 Grammar of 'Privatisierung' in Detail
The word 'Privatisierung' is a feminine noun. Therefore, the article is always 'die'.
It is mostly used in the singular as it describes a process or concept. The plural 'die Privatisierungen' is possible when referring to multiple specific instances of privatization.
Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Privatisierung |
| Genitive | der | Privatisierung |
| Dative | der | Privatisierung |
| Accusative | die | Privatisierung |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Privatisierungen |
| Genitive | der | Privatisierungen |
| Dative | den | Privatisierungen |
| Accusative | die | Privatisierungen |
📝 Example Sentences
- Die Privatisierung der Deutschen Bahn wird kontrovers diskutiert.
(The privatization of Deutsche Bahn is controversially discussed.) - Durch die Privatisierung erhofft sich die Regierung eine Entlastung des Haushalts.
(Through privatization, the government hopes for relief of the budget.) - Es gab in den letzten Jahrzehnten zahlreiche Privatisierungen ehemaliger Staatsbetriebe.
(There have been numerous privatizations of former state-owned enterprises in recent decades.)
💡 How is 'Privatisierung' used?
'Privatisierung' is a technical term from economics (Wirtschaft) and politics (Politik). It's frequently used in discussions about economic reforms, state budgets, and the role of the state in the economy.
- Contexts: Economic news, political debates, academic analyses, company reports.
- Typical Collocations: Often used with specific sectors (e.g., 'Privatisierung des Gesundheitswesens' - privatization of the healthcare system, 'Privatisierung der Wasserversorgung' - privatization of the water supply) or companies ('Privatisierung der Telekom' - privatization of Telekom).
- Differentiation: Don't confuse it with 'Liberalisierung' (liberalization), which means opening a market to competition, even without transferring ownership. A Privatisierung *can* be part of a Liberalisierung, but doesn't have to be.
🧠 Mnemonics for Privatisierung
Remembering the Article: Nouns ending in "-ung" are almost always feminine (feminin). Think of other "-ung" words like "die Rechnung" (the bill), "die Meinung" (the opinion), "die Wohnung" (the apartment) – and also "die Privatisierung". The "-ung" ending strongly signals 'die'!
Remembering the Meaning: "Privatisierung" comes from "privat" (private). It's about making something state-owned private. Imagine the 'P' in Privatisierung stands for 'Private Property', moving away from the state.
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Entstaatlichung: Emphasizes the end of state control/ownership (literally 'de-state-ification').
- Veräußerung (von Staatsvermögen): Focuses on the selling process (of state assets).
- Überführung in Privateigentum: Directly describes the process (transfer into private property).
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Verstaatlichung: Transfer of private property into state ownership (nationalization).
- Nationalisierung: Similar to Verstaatlichung, often on a larger scale.
- Kommunalisierung: Transferring tasks or property to municipal responsibility (communalization).
- Rekummunalisierung: Reversal of a previous privatization by a municipality (re-communalization).
⚠️ Note: 'Liberalisierung' (liberalization) is not a direct synonym but refers to opening markets to competition.
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt der Staat den Unternehmer: "Wollen Sie die Post kaufen?"
Sagt der Unternehmer: "Nur wenn das Porto inklusive ist!"
(The state asks the entrepreneur: "Do you want to buy the post office?"
The entrepreneur replies: "Only if the postage is included!")
📜 Poem about Privatisierung
Was einst des Staates Hand besaß,
Wird nun verkauft, ohn' Unterlass.
Effizienz soll steigen, heißt es laut,
Wenn man dem Markt die Macht vertraut.
Die Bahn, die Post, manch Energie,
Erfährt die Privatisierung, irgendwie.
Ob's besser wird, die Zeit es lehrt,
Wenn Staatsbesitz den Wert verkehrt.
(What once the state's hand possessed,
Is now sold off, without rest.
Efficiency shall rise, they say aloud,
When trust in the market is avowed.
The railway, the post, some energy,
Experiences privatization, somehow, you see.
If it gets better, time will tell,
When state ownership's value fell.)
❓ A Little Riddle
Ich nehme dem Staat, was ihm gehörte,
Und geb' es dem, der's privat begehrte.
Man hofft auf Geld und bess'ren Schwung,
Mein Name endet auf "-ung".
Was bin ich?
(Lösung: die Privatisierung)
(I take from the state what belonged to it,
And give it to those who privately covet it.
They hope for money and better momentum,
My name ends in "-ung".
What am I?
Answer: die Privatisierung)
🧩 Word Components & More
Word Formation: The word 'Privatisierung' is composed of:
- The adjective/adverb 'privat' (private)
- The suffix '-isieren', which forms a verb (privatisieren = to privatize)
- The suffix '-ung', which turns the verb into a noun, describing the process or result.
So, it literally describes the 'process of making private'.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Privatisierung?
The word 'Privatisierung' is always feminine. The correct article is die Privatisierung.