die
Sammlung
📚 What exactly is a 'Sammlung'?
The word die Sammlung (feminine) has several related meanings:
- A collection of objects: This is the most common meaning. It refers to a group of objects systematically gathered, often out of interest or as a hobby. Examples include a Briefmarkensammlung (stamp collection), an Kunstsammlung (art collection), or a Münzsammlung (coin collection).
- The act of collecting: It can also describe the process of gathering itself. Example: Die Sammlung von Spenden war erfolgreich. (The collection of donations was successful.)
- A gathering of people: A group of people assembled for a specific purpose (similar to Versammlung - assembly). Example: Eine kleine Sammlung von Experten diskutierte das Problem. (A small gathering of experts discussed the problem.)
- A compilation (e.g., texts): An anthology or collected volume. Example: eine Sammlung von Kurzgeschichten (a collection of short stories).
- Concentration / Composure: Figuratively, it can also mean mental concentration or regaining one's composure. Example: Er brauchte einen Moment zur Sammlung seiner Gedanken. (He needed a moment to collect his thoughts.)
🚨 Important: Die Sammlung is always feminine (die). There are no other articles for this noun.
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 'die Sammlung' in Detail
The noun die Sammlung is feminine. Like most feminine nouns ending in -ung, it forms the plural with -en.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Sammlung |
| Genitive | der | Sammlung |
| Dative | der | Sammlung |
| Accusative | die | Sammlung |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Sammlungen |
| Genitive | der | Sammlungen |
| Dative | den | Sammlungen |
| Accusative | die | Sammlungen |
Example Sentences
- Die Sammlung des Museums ist weltberühmt.
(The museum's collection is world-famous.) - Der Wert der Sammlung ist schwer zu schätzen.
(The value of the collection is hard to estimate.) - Er widmete der Sammlung viel Zeit.
(He dedicated a lot of time to the collection.) - Ich bewundere die Sammlung sehr.
(I admire the collection very much.) - Viele private Sammlungen sind der Öffentlichkeit nicht zugänglich.
(Many private collections are not accessible to the public.) - Der Katalog der Sammlungen wird gerade überarbeitet.
(The catalogue of the collections is currently being revised.) - Nach einer kurzen Sammlung konnte er antworten.
(After briefly collecting himself / his thoughts, he could answer.)
💬 How to Use 'die Sammlung'?
Die Sammlung is a versatile word appearing in various contexts:
- Hobbies & Culture: Very common in relation to collecting objects like stamps (Briefmarkensammlung), coins (Münzsammlung), art (Kunstsammlung), books (Büchersammlung), etc.
- Science & Data: In scientific or technical contexts, it refers to gathering data (Datensammlung), samples (Probensammlung), or information.
- Literature & Music: A compilation of works, e.g., a Gedichtsammlung (poetry collection), a Liedersammlung (song collection), or a Kurzgeschichtensammlung (short story collection).
- Social Contexts: For gatherings of people (often more formal than 'Treffen' but less formal than 'Versammlung') or for fundraising campaigns (Spendensammlung - donation collection).
- Abstract Contexts: For mental concentration (Sammlung der Gedanken - collection of thoughts) or gathering one's strength.
Comparison with similar words:
- Kollektion: Often synonymous with Sammlung (of objects), sometimes sounds more modern or specific (e.g., Modekollektion - fashion collection).
- Ansammlung: More like a disorderly or random accumulation, whereas 'Sammlung' often implies systematic gathering.
- Versammlung: Almost exclusively refers to an assembly of people, usually for a specific purpose (political assembly, members' meeting).
- Zusammenstellung: Similar to Sammlung, but often emphasizes the act of compiling or the result as a single unit (e.g., a compilation of information).
🧠 Mnemonics for 'die Sammlung'
- Article Mnemonic: Words ending in -ung in German are almost always feminine (die). Think: The ending '-ung' makes the Sammlung a 'she' (die Sammlung).
- Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine 'assembling' lots of things (stamps, coins, thoughts) in one place – that's a Sammlung. The German verb 'sammeln' (to collect, to gather) is right inside the word! It sounds a bit like 'assembling'.
Think of a lung (-ung) needing air ('die' sounds like 'the air' needed). Silly, but connects -ung to 'die'. Die Ladung (cargo), die Zeitung (newspaper), die Meinung (opinion), die Sammlung (collection) – all feminine!
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Kollektion: (Especially for art, fashion, objects)
- Zusammenstellung: (Compilation; for objects, data, texts)
- Bestand: (Stock, inventory, e.g., library holdings)
- Auswahl: (Selection)
- Anthologie: (Anthology; literary collection)
- Sortiment: (Assortment, range of goods)
- Ansammlung: (Accumulation, often less organized)
- Versammlung: (Assembly, meeting; only for people)
- Treffen: (Meeting, gathering; often informal, for people)
- Konzentration: (Concentration; for mental focus)
Antonyms (Opposites):
- Zerstreuung: (Distraction; dispersal; opposite of concentration)
- Verteilung: (Distribution; opposite of gathering)
- Auflösung: (Dissolution, dispersal; opposite of assembly)
- Einzelstück / Unikat: (Single item / unique piece; opposite of a collection)
⚠️ Caution: Although 'Ansammlung' sounds similar, it often lacks the systematic approach or purpose implied by 'Sammlung'.
😂 A Little Joke
DE: Warum bringt ein Sammler seine Uhr zum Pfandleiher?
Damit er Zeit sammelt!
EN: Why does a collector take his watch to the pawn shop?
So he can collect time! (Pun on 'sammeln' meaning 'to collect' and also related to time)
📜 A Poem about 'die Sammlung'
DE:
Ein jedes Ding, ob alt, ob neu,
findet Platz, ganz ohne Scheu.
Briefmarken, Münzen, buntes Glas,
die Sammlung wächst, macht Riesenspaß.
Ein Schatz entsteht aus vielen Teilen,
lässt uns in schönen Dingen weilen.
EN:
Each thing, whether old or new,
Finds its place, without ado.
Stamps and coins, and coloured glass,
The collection grows, it's quite a blast.
A treasure born from many parts,
Lets us dwell on beautiful arts.
🧩 Riddle Time
DE:
Ich wachse Stück für Stück heran,
doch lebendig bin ich nicht, sag an.
Mal Kunst, mal Wissen, mal nur Tand,
halte ich oft in einer Hand.
Man trägt mich zusammen, mit Bedacht,
was bin ich, wenn man's richtig macht?
EN:
I grow piece by piece, it's true,
But I'm not alive, I tell you.
Sometimes art, sometimes lore, sometimes just stuff,
Often held in hand, that's enough.
Gathered together, with careful thought,
What am I, when properly wrought?
Solution: die Sammlung (the collection)
💡 Other Interesting Facts
Word Formation:
The word Sammlung is derived from the verb sammeln (to collect, to gather) using the suffix -ung. This suffix is commonly used in German to form nouns from verbs, typically describing the process or result of the action. These nouns are almost always feminine.
sammeln + -ung → die Sammlung
Compound Words (Komposita):
Sammlung is a frequent component of compound words that specify the type of collection:
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Sammlung?
The German word Sammlung is always feminine. The correct article is die: die Sammlung (singular) and die Sammlungen (plural). It refers to a collection of items, the act of collecting, a gathering of people, or a compilation of texts.