die
Quote
📊 What does "die Quote" mean?
Die Quote (feminine) is a versatile German word with several meanings, mostly revolving around a share, a fixed value, or a ratio:
- Share / Proportion / Percentage: This is the most common meaning. It describes a defined share or percentage of something. Examples include the Frauenquote (a specific percentage of women in leadership positions) or the Arbeitslosenquote (the unemployment rate).
- Ratings (Media): Refers to the percentage share of viewers or listeners tuning into a specific TV or radio program (Einschaltquote).
- Odds (Betting): Indicates the ratio between the stake and potential winnings in a bet (Wettquote).
- Quotation (Stock Market, dated): The term was formerly used for stock market prices (Kurs), but "Kurs" is more common today.
⚠️ There are no other articles for "Quote"; it is always die Quote.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Numbers, calculations → almost always feminine.
Caution: When verbs are turned into nouns, the result is 'das Addieren', 'das Subtrahieren', 'das Multiplizieren', 'das Dividieren'.
-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 Quote" in Detail
"Quote" is a feminine noun. Here is its declension:
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Quote | eine Quote |
| Genitive | der Quote | einer Quote |
| Dative | der Quote | einer Quote |
| Accusative | die Quote | eine Quote |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Quoten | Quoten |
| Genitive | der Quoten | Quoten |
| Dative | den Quoten | Quoten |
| Accusative | die Quoten | Quoten |
Example Sentences
- Die Partei fordert eine höhere Quote für erneuerbare Energien. (The party demands a higher quota for renewable energy.)
- Die Einschaltquote der Nachrichtensendung war gestern Abend sehr hoch. (The ratings for the news program were very high last night.)
- Bei diesem Fußballspiel ist die Quote für einen Sieg der Heimmannschaft niedrig. (For this football match, the odds for a home team victory are low.)
- Die Frauenquote in Aufsichtsräten ist gesetzlich vorgeschrieben. (The gender quota for supervisory boards is legally mandated.)
🗣️ How to use "die Quote"?
"Die Quote" is often used in specific contexts:
- Politics & Society: Quota regulations are frequently discussed, e.g., Frauenquote (gender quota), Migrantenquote (migrant quota), to achieve a specific distribution.
- Economy & Finance: Terms like Exportquote (export ratio), Importquote (import ratio), or Arbeitslosenquote (unemployment rate) are common.
- Media: The Einschaltquote (ratings) is a key metric for measuring the success of broadcasts.
- Sports Betting: The Wettquote (odds) determines the potential winnings.
Distinction from similar words:
- Anteil (share): A more general term for a part of something. "Die Quote" is often a fixed or measured share.
- Prozentsatz (percentage): Expresses the ratio per hundred. A Quote can be, but doesn't have to be, expressed as a percentage (e.g., betting odds are often ratios).
- Rate (rate): Often used for frequencies or speeds (e.g., Geburtenrate - birth rate), whereas Quote typically describes a static proportion.
🧠 Mnemonics for Quote
Article Mnemonic: Think of dIE RatE or dIE QuotE – the "-e" ending is common for feminine nouns in German. Imagine important quotas often concern society ('die Gesellschaft', feminine). Or perhaps, 'ShE gets her quota'.
Meaning Mnemonic: Think of the English word "quota" - it's a direct cognate and means a fixed share. For betting odds, think 'The Quote tells you the loot!' (how much money you get).
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Anteil: (more general) share, portion
- Prozentsatz: percentage
- Rate: (in specific contexts, e.g., error rate) rate
- Verhältniszahl: (esp. for odds) ratio
- Kontingent: (fixed amount/number) contingent, quota
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
Direct antonyms are difficult as "Quote" describes a part. Arguably:
- Gesamtheit: entirety, whole (The quote is a part, the entirety is the whole).
- Nullquote / Kein Anteil: zero quota / no share
Similar but different words:
- das Zitat: This means 'quotation' or 'cite' (a direct excerpt of text). While it sounds like the English 'quote', its primary meaning in German is different from 'die Quote'.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum beschweren sich Statistiker nie über die Frauenquote?
– Weil sie wissen, dass es nur eine Frage der Verteilung ist!
(Why do statisticians never complain about the gender quota? – Because they know it's just a matter of distribution!)
📜 Poem about Quote
Die Quote, oft genannt,
Mal Pflicht, mal Ziel im Land.
Im Fernsehen wird gemessen,
Wer schaut, wer ist vergessen.
Beim Wetten lockt ihr Schein,
Bringt Glück? Bringt Müh und Pein?
Ein Anteil, klar bestimmt,
Die Quote, die gewinnt.
(The quota, often named,
Sometimes duty, sometimes aim in the land.
On TV it's measured,
Who watches, who is forgotten.
In betting, its allure tempts,
Brings luck? Brings toil and pains?
A share, clearly defined,
The quota, that wins.)
❓ Riddle
Ich bin ein Teil vom großen Ganzen,
Mal in Prozent, mal in harten Chancen.
Im Fernsehen mess ich, wer grad schaut,
In Politik werd ich oft laut.
Bei Wetten zeig ich, was man kriegt,
Wenn man aufs richtige Ergebnis fliegt.
Was bin ich?
(I am a part of the bigger picture,
Sometimes in percent, sometimes in hard chances (odds).
On TV, I measure who is watching right now,
In politics, I am often loud.
In betting, I show what you get,
If you bet on the right result.)
Solution: die Quote (the quota/rate/odds)
💡 Other Information
Word Origin: The word "Quote" comes from Middle Latin quota (pars), meaning "which part (in number)". It's related to the Latin interrogative pronoun quot? ("how many?").
Compound Nouns: "Quote" forms many compound nouns that specify its meaning, e.g.:
- Frauenquote (gender quota for women)
- Männerquote (gender quota for men)
- Einschaltquote (TV/radio ratings)
- Exportquote (export ratio/share)
- Erfolgsquote (success rate)
- Fehlerquote (error rate)
- Wahlquote (election quota)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Quote?
The German word "Quote" is always feminine. The correct article is die Quote. It usually refers to a share, proportion, percentage, rate, or odds (e.g., Frauenquote, Einschaltquote, Wettquote).