die
Sorge
🤔 What exactly does "die Sorge" mean?
The word die Sorge primarily has two meanings in German:
- Worry, anxiety, concern: This refers to a negative feeling caused by uncertainty, anticipated problems, or fear for someone or something. Example: "Er macht sich große Sorgen um seine Zukunft." (He is very worried about his future.)
- Care, custody, tending: This describes the responsible care and effort for the well-being of a person, animal, or thing. Example: "Die Mutter trägt die Sorge für ihre Kinder." (The mother takes care of her children.) or "Er übernahm die Sorge für den Garten." (He took over the care of the garden.)
⚠️ It's important to understand from the context which meaning is intended.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Sorge
"Sorge" is a feminine noun. Therefore, the article is always die.
Declension of "die Sorge"
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Sorge |
| Genitive | der | Sorge |
| Dative | der | Sorge |
| Accusative | die | Sorge |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Sorgen |
| Genitive | der | Sorgen |
| Dative | den | Sorgen |
| Accusative | die | Sorgen |
Example Sentences
- (Meaning: Worry) Mach dir keine Sorgen, alles wird gut!
(Don't worry, everything will be fine!) - (Meaning: Worry) Ihre ständigen Sorgen um die Gesundheit machten sie krank.
(Her constant worries about her health made her ill.) - (Meaning: Care) Die Eltern teilen sich die Sorge für das Kind.
(The parents share the care for the child.) - (Meaning: Care) Er hat die Sorge für das verlassene Tier übernommen.
(He has taken over the care for the abandoned animal.)
💡 How to Use "die Sorge"?
The usage of "Sorge" depends heavily on the intended meaning:
- sich Sorgen machen (um + Accusative): This is the most common phrase for the meaning "to worry". Example: Ich mache mir Sorgen um dich. (I am worried about you.)
- Sorge tragen (für + Accusative): This phrase is often used in the sense of "to take care of / take responsibility for", but sounds a bit more formal. Example: Der Staat trägt Sorge für die Sicherheit seiner Bürger. (The state takes care of the safety of its citizens.)
- in Sorge sein (um + Accusative): Similar to "sich Sorgen machen", perhaps emphasizing a state of being worried. Example: Wir sind in großer Sorge um die Vermissten. (We are very worried about the missing persons.)
- Keine Sorge! A common reassuring phrase, meaning "No worries!" or "Don't worry!"
In the plural ("die Sorgen"), the word almost exclusively refers to the meaning "worries" or "problems". One rarely speaks of "cares" in the plural in this context.
🧠 Mnemonics for "die Sorge"
Article Mnemonic: Remember that feelings and abstract concepts in German are often feminine (die). Think of die Angst (fear), die Freude (joy), die Liebe (love)... and also die Sorge (both as worry and care). Imagine a caring mother (feminine - 'die Frau') who is worried ('Sorgen').
Meaning Mnemonic: "Sorge" sounds a bit like the English word "sorrow", which relates to the 'worry' meaning. For the 'care' meaning, think of the phrase "Sorge tragen" - you carry the responsibility ('care') like a burden.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms around "die Sorge"
Synonyms (Similar Words)
- For Worry/Anxiety: die Beunruhigung (disquiet), die Besorgnis (concern), die Angst (fear), der Kummer (grief, trouble), der Gram (sorrow), die Bedrängnis (distress), die Not (hardship, need)
- For Care/Custody: die Betreuung (care, support), die Pflege (care, nursing), die Obhut (custody, care), die Aufsicht (supervision), die Verantwortung (responsibility), die Fürsorglichkeit (solicitude)
Antonyms (Opposites)
- To Worry/Anxiety: die Sorglosigkeit (carefreeness), die Unbekümmertheit (nonchalance), die Gelassenheit (calmness), die Freude (joy), die Zuversicht (confidence), die Sicherheit (security)
- To Care/Custody: die Gleichgültigkeit (indifference), das Desinteresse (disinterest), die Vernachlässigung (neglect), die Verantwortungslosigkeit (irresponsibility)
⚠️ Similar Words
😄 A Little Joke
Warum nehmen Skelette keine Sorgen mit in den Urlaub?
Weil sie keine Nerven haben! 😄
(Why don't skeletons take worries on vacation?
Because they don't have the nerves for it! / Because they have no nerves!)
📜 Poem about "Sorge"
Die Sorge, leis und schwer,
schleicht sich ins Herz hinein.
Mal ist sie Kummers Meer,
mal fürsorglicher Schein.
Sie wacht bei Tag und Nacht,
hält Ruhe oft uns fern.
Doch gibt sie auch die Macht,
zu schützen, was man hat gern.
(Worry/Care, quiet and heavy,
creeps into the heart.
Sometimes it's a sea of sorrow,
sometimes a caring appearance.)
(It watches day and night,
often keeps peace away from us.
But it also gives the power,
to protect what one holds dear.)
🧩 Riddle
Ich kann dein Herz beschweren,
doch auch bedeuten "Achtung geben".
Man kann mich für jemanden hegen,
oder sich meinetwegen Sorgen bewegen.
Was bin ich?
(I can burden your heart,
but also mean "to pay attention/care".
You can harbour me for someone,
or move worries because of me.
What am I?)
Solution: die Sorge (worry/care)
✨ More Information
Compound Words: "Sorge" is part of many compound nouns, often describing a specific type of worry or care:
- die Fürsorge: Welfare, social care
- die Seelsorge: Pastoral care, spiritual guidance
- das Sorgenkind: A problem child, a child needing special care
- die Geldsorgen: Financial worries
- die Besorgnis: Concern, apprehension (similar to Sorge as worry)
Etymology: The word derives from the Old High German "sorga", which meant both "worry/grief" and "care/effort".
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Sorge?
The German word Sorge is feminine. The correct article is always die: die Sorge (singular) and die Sorgen (plural).