die
Rundung
🔢 What does 'die Rundung' mean?
The word die Rundung primarily has two meanings:
Mathematics/Finance: The result of rounding a number to a specific place value (e.g., whole number, tenths). It simplifies a number to make it easier to handle or meet a certain precision requirement. Example: Die Rundung von 4,7 auf die nächste ganze Zahl ist 5. (The rounding of 4.7 to the nearest whole number is 5.)
Shape/Form: A curve, bend, or rounded shape. It describes something that isn't angular or sharp-edged. Example: Die sanften Rundungen der Hügellandschaft waren wunderschön. (The gentle curves/roundings of the hilly landscape were beautiful.)
🚨 Important: Although both meanings relate to 'rund' (round), the context is crucial to understand the correct meaning.
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 in Detail: Die Rundung
The noun die Rundung is feminine. Its declension follows the pattern for feminine nouns ending in '-ung'.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Rundung |
| Genitive | der | Rundung |
| Dative | der | Rundung |
| Accusative | die | Rundung |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Rundungen |
| Genitive | der | Rundungen |
| Dative | den | Rundungen |
| Accusative | die | Rundungen |
📝 Example Sentences
- Die Rundung des Betrags auf zwei Nachkommastellen ist üblich.
(Rounding the amount to two decimal places is common.) - Der Architekt betonte die eleganten Rundungen des Gebäudes.
(The architect emphasized the elegant curves of the building.) - Bei der Berechnung kam es zu einer kleinen Rundung.
(There was a small rounding in the calculation.) - Die weichen Rundungen des Körpers wurden vom Künstler hervorgehoben.
(The soft curves of the body were highlighted by the artist.)
💡 Application and Context
Die Rundung is used in different contexts depending on its meaning:
- Mathematics & Science: When simplifying numbers, in statistics, measurements. Often used with prepositions like 'auf' (Rundung auf ganze Zahlen - rounding to whole numbers) or 'von' (die Rundung von Pi - the rounding of Pi).
- Finance: For prices, invoices, tax calculations (e.g., Rundung auf den nächsten Cent - rounding to the nearest cent).
- Design & Architecture: To describe shapes, curves, edges of objects, buildings, or landscapes (e.g., harmonische Rundungen - harmonious curves).
- Everyday Language: Less technically, often to describe body shapes or smooth transitions.
Distinction: 'Die Abrundung' is often used synonymously for mathematical rounding but can also mean 'completion' (e.g., zur Abrundung des Programms - to round off the program). 'Die Kurve' (curve) or 'die Biegung' (bend) are more specific to physical shapes.
🧠 Mnemonics for 'Rundung'
Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -ung are almost always feminine, so it's die Rundung. Think: The ending (-ung) makes the word a 'she'!
Meaning Mnemonic: A Rundung makes something round – either a number (by cutting off the 'corners'/decimals) or a shape (it has no corners).
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Words)
- For mathematical rounding: die Abrundung (rounding off), die Glättung (smoothing, for data)
- For shape/curve: die Krümmung (curvature), die Biegung (bend), die Wölbung (bulge, arch), die Kurve (curve)
Antonyms (Opposites)
- For shape/curve: die Ecke (corner), die Kante (edge), die Spitze (point, tip), die Gerade (straight line)
- For mathematical rounding: die Genauigkeit (accuracy), die Exaktheit (exactness) (as concepts, no direct noun antonym)
⚠️ Be careful: 'Die Rundung' is not the same as 'der Kreis' (a specific geometric shape: circle) or 'die Kugel' (a three-dimensional object: sphere).
😄 A Little Joke
Warum sind Mathematiker schlecht im Lügen?
(Why are mathematicians bad at lying?)
Weil sie immer zur nächsten ganzen Wahrheit runden!
(Because they always round to the nearest whole truth!)
✍️ Poem about Rundung
Die Zahl, sie war krumm und lang,
(The number, it was crooked and long,)
mit vielen Stellen, oh welch ein Drang.
(with many digits, oh what an urge.)
Doch mit 'ner Rundung, fein und schlicht,
(But with a rounding, fine and simple,)
wird sie ganz einfach, welch ein Licht.
(it becomes quite easy, what a light.)
Auch Formen, sanft und ohne Eck,
(Also shapes, gentle and without corners,)
besitzen Rundung, ihren Zweck.
(possess roundness, their purpose.)
Ein Bogen, eine weiche Zier,
(An arch, a soft adornment,)
die Rundung schmückt das Blatt Papier.
(the curve adorns the sheet of paper.)
❓ Riddle
Ich mach' die Zahlen einfach glatt,
(I make the numbers simply smooth,)
und nehm' den Formen ihre Hatt' (Kantigkeit).
(and take away the shapes' harshness (angularity).)
Mal bin ich Kurve, mal nur Schein,
(Sometimes I'm a curve, sometimes just appearance,)
was kann ich wohl nur sein?
(what can I possibly be?)
Solution: die Rundung (rounding / curve)
🧩 Other Information
Word Composition:
The word 'Rundung' is derived from the adjective rund (round) and the suffix -ung. The suffix '-ung' is commonly used in German to form nouns from verbs or adjectives, often denoting a process, result, or state.
Common Combinations:
- Kaufmännische Rundung (Commercial rounding)
- Mathematische Rundung (Mathematical rounding)
- Rundung auf-/abrunden (To round up/down)
- Sanfte Rundungen (Gentle curves)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Rundung?
The correct article for the word Rundung is die. It is a feminine noun. There is only this one grammatical form: die Rundung.