die
Steigerung
📈 What does 'die Steigerung' mean?
The noun die Steigerung is feminine and has several meanings:
- Increase / Rise: The act of increasing or growing (e.g., prices, performance, production). Example: Eine Steigerung der Effizienz (An increase in efficiency).
- Intensification / Enhancement: The process of becoming stronger or more intense (e.g., feelings, conflicts). Example: Eine Steigerung der Spannung (An intensification of tension).
- Grammatical Comparison: The comparison of adjectives and adverbs (positive, comparative, superlative). Example: Die Steigerung von 'gut' ist 'besser', 'am besten' (The comparison of 'good' is 'better', 'best').
- Auction: A process where something is sold to the highest bidder. Example: Das Bild kam zur Steigerung (The picture came up for auction). (Often used synonymously with 'Versteigerung' here).
⚠️ Pay attention to the context 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 of 'die Steigerung' in Detail
'Die Steigerung' is a feminine noun. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Steigerung |
| Genitive | der | Steigerung |
| Dative | der | Steigerung |
| Accusative | die | Steigerung |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Steigerungen |
| Genitive | der | Steigerungen |
| Dative | den | Steigerungen |
| Accusative | die | Steigerungen |
Example Sentences
- (Increase) Die Firma verzeichnete eine deutliche Steigerung des Umsatzes. (The company recorded a significant increase in sales.)
- (Intensification) Die ständige Kritik führte zu einer Steigerung seiner Unsicherheit. (The constant criticism led to an increase in his insecurity.)
- (Grammar) Im Deutschunterricht lernen wir heute die Steigerung der Adjektive. (In German class today, we are learning the comparison of adjectives.)
- (Auction) Bei der Steigerung erzielte das Kunstwerk einen Rekordpreis. (At the auction, the artwork achieved a record price.)
💡 Usage and Context for 'Steigerung'
The use of die Steigerung depends heavily on its specific meaning:
- Economics & Business: Often used in the context of growth, performance, prices, or costs. (e.g., Umsatzsteigerung (sales increase), Leistungssteigerung (performance increase), Preissteigerung (price increase)).
- Emotions & Social Contexts: Describes the increase in feelings or tensions. (e.g., Spannungssteigerung (increase in tension), Steigerung der Aggressivität (increase in aggressiveness)).
- Language & Education: Mainly in grammar to describe comparison (comparative, superlative).
- Trade & Auctions: Refers to the bidding process in an auction.
In the context of auctions, the word 'die Versteigerung' is also often used and is more specific. 'Steigerung' can sound a bit more general here.
🧠 Mnemonics for 'die Steigerung'
Article Mnemonic: Words ending in -ung in German are almost always feminine (die). Think: the ending (-ung) makes the thing feminine! So: die Steigerung.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine stairs (steigen means 'to climb'). You can climb up (increase), tension can rise (intensification), adjectives climb steps (comparison), and at an auction, the price climbs through bids (auction). The stairs represent the Steigerung!
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- (Increase/Rise): die Erhöhung (increase), der Anstieg (rise), die Zunahme (increase), das Wachstum (growth), die Vermehrung (multiplication)
- (Intensification): die Verstärkung (strengthening, reinforcement), die Intensivierung (intensification), die Eskalation (escalation)
- (Grammar): die Komparation (comparison), die Gradation (gradation)
- (Auction): die Versteigerung (auction), die Auktion (auction)
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)
- (Increase/Rise): die Senkung (decrease, reduction), die Reduzierung (reduction), der Rückgang (decline), die Abnahme (decrease), die Minderung (reduction)
- (Intensification): die Abschwächung (weakening), die Milderung (mitigation), die Deeskalation (de-escalation)
Similar but Different Words
- die Besteigung: Refers specifically to climbing mountains (e.g., die Besteigung des Mount Everest - the ascent of Mount Everest). Don't confuse it with Steigerung.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum lernen Adjektive nie aus?
Weil es immer eine Steigerung gibt!
(Why do adjectives never stop learning? Because there's always a comparison/improvement/next level!)
📜 Poem about 'Steigerung'
Ob Preis, Gefühl, ob Adjektiv,
die Steigerung macht's intensiv.
Von gut zu besser, hoch hinaus,
bringt sie Bewegung in das Haus.
Auch bei der Auktion, ganz klar,
zahlt man den höchsten Preis sogar.
(Whether price, feeling, or adjective,
the increase/comparison makes it intensive.
From good to better, soaring high,
it brings movement to the house nearby.
Also at the auction, quite clear,
one pays the highest price right here.)
🧩 Riddle
Ich mache Gutes besser und Kleines größer.
Im Handel lass ich Preise klettern, in der Grammatik Wörter wettern.
Manchmal bin ich ein Gefühl, das wächst und gärt.
Was bin ich?
(I make good things better and small things bigger.
In commerce, I let prices climb; in grammar, I make words compete.
Sometimes I am a feeling that grows and ferments.
What am I?)
Solution: die Steigerung (the increase/comparison/auction)
⚙️ Word Details & Trivia
Word Formation:
- The noun die Steigerung is derived from the verb steigern.
- Steigern means 'to increase', 'to enhance', 'to bid (at an auction)'.
Compound Words:
There are many compound nouns ending in '-steigerung', e.g.:
- Leistungssteigerung (increase in performance)
- Produktivitätssteigerung (increase in productivity)
- Preissteigerung (price increase)
- Wertsteigerung (increase in value)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Steigerung?
The noun Steigerung is always feminine, so the correct article is die Steigerung. It means an increase, an intensification, grammatical comparison, or an auction.