die
Sondersitzung
🧐 What exactly is a Sondersitzung?
A Sondersitzung is a special or extraordinary session or meeting that takes place outside the regularly scheduled meeting times. It is usually convened to discuss urgent or special matters and make decisions that cannot wait until the next regular session.
The article is always die, because the word ends in -ung, which typically marks feminine nouns in German.
- Context: Politics (e.g., Bundestag - German parliament), business (e.g., Aufsichtsrat - supervisory board), associations (e.g., Vorstand - executive board)
- Reason: Often crises, important votes, unforeseen events.
🚨 There are no other articles for this word. It's always die Sondersitzung.
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 Sondersitzung' in Detail
The noun „Sondersitzung“ is feminine. The article is „die“. The declension follows the pattern for feminine nouns.
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Sondersitzung |
| Genitive | der | Sondersitzung |
| Dative | der | Sondersitzung |
| Accusative | die | Sondersitzung |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Sondersitzungen |
| Genitive | der | Sondersitzungen |
| Dative | den | Sondersitzungen |
| Accusative | die | Sondersitzungen |
💡 Example Sentences
- Der Bundestag beraumte eine Sondersitzung zur aktuellen Krise an.
(The Bundestag scheduled a special session regarding the current crisis.) - Auf der Tagesordnung der Sondersitzung stand nur ein einziger Punkt.
(There was only one item on the agenda of the special session.) - Wegen der Dringlichkeit wurde kurzfristig zu einer Sondersitzung eingeladen.
(Due to the urgency, a special session was called on short notice.) - Die Ergebnisse der Sondersitzungen wurden sofort veröffentlicht.
(The results of the special sessions were published immediately.)
🗣️ How to use 'Sondersitzung'?
The term Sondersitzung is mainly used in formal contexts, especially in:
- Politics: Parliaments, committees, city councils, etc., convene Sondersitzungen to deliberate on urgent laws, crises, or important political events.
- Business: Supervisory boards, executive boards, or shareholder meetings might hold Sondersitzungen, for example, in case of takeover bids, financial difficulties, or major strategic decisions.
- Associations and Organizations: Here too, boards or member assemblies may meet unscheduled if special circumstances require it.
A Sondersitzung always signals urgency or the special importance of a topic. It differs from the Regelsitzung (regular session) or turnusmäßige Sitzung (scheduled session), which take place at fixed intervals.
Related terms are Eilsitzung (urgent session) or Krisensitzung (crisis meeting), which are often used synonymously but sometimes imply even greater urgency.
🧠 Mnemonics for Sondersitzung
Article Mnemonic: Words ending in -ung in German are almost always feminine (die). Think of die Rechnung (the bill), die Meinung (the opinion). So, it's also die Sondersitzung. Remember: a meeting (Sitzung) is feminine, even if it's a 'special' (Sonder) one!
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine something is so 'sonder' (special, peculiar, extraordinary) that it requires an extra, special meeting. A Sonder-Sitzung for a Sonder-Fall (special case).
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Außerordentliche Sitzung: (Extraordinary session) Emphasizes deviation from the schedule.
- Eilsitzung: (Urgent session) Highlights the urgency.
- Krisensitzung: (Crisis meeting) Focuses on the reason (a crisis).
- Ad-hoc-Sitzung: (Ad hoc meeting) Spontaneous meeting for a specific purpose.
- Notstandssitzung: (Emergency session) For particularly serious situations.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)
⚠️ Similar but Different Terms
- Klausurtagung: (Retreat, closed meeting) Often a multi-day session in a secluded location for intensive discussion, not necessarily unscheduled.
- Arbeitstreffen: (Working meeting) Less formal than a Sitzung, often for collaborative work on tasks.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum war die Sondersitzung der Gemüsebauern so kurz?
Weil alle wichtigen Punkte schnell auf den Tisch kamen und niemand Gurken verkaufen wollte! 😉
---
Why was the special session of the vegetable farmers so short?
Because all important points were put 'on the table' quickly, and nobody wanted to 'sell cucumbers' (a German idiom for talking nonsense/dithering)! 😉
📜 A Poem about the Session
Der Anruf kommt, es ist brisant,
Die Regelsitzung ist vakant.
Man braucht uns schnell, es eilt, es drängt,
Ein Thema alle Pläne sprengt.
Die Sondersitzung, schnell bereit,
Für wichtige Beschlüsse heut'.
Kein Zögern, keine lange Frist,
Weil dieses Thema 'sonder' ist!
---
The call arrives, it's critical now,
The regular session's anyhow
Not scheduled soon; they need us fast,
A topic makes all plans surpassed.
The special session, quickly set,
For vital resolutions yet.
No hesitation, no delay,
Because this matter's 'special' today!
🧩 Who am I? A Riddle
Ich trete auf, wenn's brenzlig wird,
Und der normale Plan verwirrt.
Ich sammle Köpfe, schnell und sacht,
Hab oft nur einen Punkt gebracht.
Bin außerplanmäßig und speziell,
In Politik und Firma schnell zur Stell'.
Wer bin ich?
---
I appear when things get tense,
And normal plans make little sense.
I gather minds, both quick and keen,
Often with just one point foreseen.
I'm unscheduled and quite unique,
In politics and business, swiftly speak.
Who am I?
(Answer: die Sondersitzung / the special session)
ℹ️ Additional Info
Word Composition
The word „Sondersitzung“ is a compound noun, composed of:
- Sonder-: Prefixoid meaning „special“, „extraordinary“.
- Sitzung: Noun meaning „session“ or „meeting“.
Together, they form the meaning of a special, unscheduled session.
Contextual Frequency
The term is particularly common in news and reports about political bodies (Bundestag, Landtage, UN Security Council) or large corporations when unexpected events require swift action.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Sondersitzung?
The noun Sondersitzung is feminine. The correct article is always die (die Sondersitzung, der Sondersitzung, die Sondersitzungen). It refers to an unscheduled meeting held for urgent or special matters.