die  Scheidung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʃaɪdʊŋ/

📜 What does "die Scheidung" mean?

Die Scheidung (noun, feminine) primarily refers to the legal dissolution of a marriage, commonly known as divorce in English. It's the formal act that ends an existing marriage. In a broader, less common sense, it can also mean a separation or partition of things or people, although the term Trennung (separation) is usually preferred for this.

Because the word ends in "-ung", it's grammatically feminine (die Scheidung). There are no other articles for this word.

• Main meaning: Divorce (Auflösung einer Ehe)
• Less common meaning: Separation, partition (Trennung, Absonderung)

Article rules for der, die, and das

📚 Grammar of "Scheidung" in Detail

Scheidung is a feminine noun. The plural is formed by adding "-en".

💡 Example Sentences

1. Nach langen Überlegungen reichten sie die Scheidung ein.
   (After long consideration, they filed for divorce.)
2. Die Scheidung war für beide Parteien eine schwere Zeit.
   (The divorce was a difficult time for both parties.)
3. Die Zahl der Scheidungen ist in den letzten Jahren leicht gesunken.
   (The number of divorces has slightly decreased in recent years.)
4. Er sprach offen über die Gründe für seine Scheidung.
   (He spoke openly about the reasons for his divorce.)

🗣️ How to use "Scheidung"?

Scheidung is almost exclusively used in the context of the dissolution of a marriage (Auflösung einer Ehe). It's a formal, legal term but is also used in everyday language when discussing the end of a marriage.

• Legal Context: "Das Gericht hat die Scheidung ausgesprochen." (The court pronounced the divorce.)
• Personal Context: "Ihre Scheidung verlief überraschend friedlich." (Their divorce went surprisingly amicably.)
• Related Verb: Sich scheiden lassen (reflexive) - *to get divorced*. "Sie haben sich letztes Jahr scheiden lassen." (They got divorced last year.)
• Difference from "Trennung": A Trennung (separation) often refers to moving apart or the end of cohabitation, which can precede the formal Scheidung. The Scheidung is the final legal act.

⚠️ Avoid using "Scheidung" for the separation of unmarried couples or the division of objects; "Trennung" is the more appropriate term here.

🧠 Mnemonics for Scheidung

Article Mnemonic (die): Words ending in -ung in German are almost always feminine (die). Think of other -ung words like die Rechnung (the bill), die Wohnung (the apartment), die Übung (the exercise)... and die Scheidung. It's the final decision ending something.

Meaning Mnemonic (Divorce): The verb scheiden means 'to separate' or 'to part'. The noun Scheidung is the *act* or *process* of separation – specifically for a marriage. Think of 'shedding' the marriage; Scheidung sounds a bit like 'shedding'.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar but potentially misleading words:

• Abschied: (Farewell, goodbye) - Refers to leaving a person or place, not necessarily the end of a marriage.
• Unterscheidung: (Distinction, differentiation) - Refers to telling things apart or recognizing differences.

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten: "Warum wollen Sie sich scheiden lassen?"
Antwortet der Mann: "Meine Frau redet und redet..."
Richter: "Und was redet sie denn?"
Mann: "Das sagt sie nicht!"

--- Translation ---

The judge asks the defendant: "Why do you want to get divorced?"
The man answers: "My wife talks and talks..."
Judge: "And what does she talk about?"
Man: "She doesn't say!"

✒️ A Poem about Divorce

Ein Ring, ein Wort, ein Bund fürs Leben,
doch manchmal muss man's aufgeben.
Die Scheidung kommt, ein schwerer Schnitt,
ein neuer Anfang, Schritt für Schritt.
Was einst verbunden, wird getrennt,
ein Kapitel, das nun brennt,
doch Asche lässt auch Neues sprießen,
man muss die Zukunft neu genießen.

--- Translation ---

A ring, a word, a bond for life,
but sometimes one must give up strife.
The divorce comes, a heavy cut,
a new beginning, step by step, but...
What once was joined is torn apart,
a chapter burning in the heart,
yet ashes let new things arise,
one must enjoy the future's skies.

❓ Riddle

Ich beende einen Bund, oft mit Papier und Stift,
bin manchmal traurig, manchmal eine neue Frist.
Zwei gehen auseinander, nicht mehr Hand in Hand.
Ich löse auf, was einst als Ehe bestand.

Was bin ich?

--- Translation ---

I end a union, often with paper and pen,
I'm sometimes sad, sometimes a new term then.
Two go their separate ways, no longer hand in hand.
I dissolve what once as marriage did stand.

What am I?

Solution: die Scheidung (the divorce)

🧩 Other Information

Word Composition:

The word Scheidung is derived from the verb scheiden. The verb scheiden means 'to separate', 'to part', 'to divide'. The suffix -ung turns it into a noun, describing the process or result of the action.

• scheiden (verb: to separate) + -ung (suffix for forming nouns) = die Scheidung

Cultural Context:

Divorces (Scheidungen) in Germany are legally regulated (in the German Civil Code, BGB). They typically require a separation year (Trennungsjahr) and a court decision.