die
Stellungnahme
🧐 What does "die Stellungnahme" mean?
Die Stellungnahme (noun, feminine) refers to a statement, opinion, or position paper in which a person, group, or institution presents their view, standpoint, or assessment on a specific topic, question, or issue. It is often formal in nature and frequently used in professional, political, or legal contexts.
Unlike a simple Meinung (opinion), a Stellungnahme is usually more substantiated, structured, and aims to clearly and comprehensibly justify a position.
- Formal statement: Often written and well-reasoned.
- Context: Authorities, courts, companies, political debates.
- Purpose: To state a position, respond to inquiries, evaluate facts.
🚨 There is only one article for Stellungnahme: "die", because it is a feminine noun (also recognizable by the ending "-nahme", derived from "nehmen" - to take).
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 Corner: Die Stellungnahme
The noun "Stellungnahme" is feminine. The article is always die.
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Stellungnahme | eine Stellungnahme |
| Genitive | der Stellungnahme | einer Stellungnahme |
| Dative | der Stellungnahme | einer Stellungnahme |
| Accusative | die Stellungnahme | eine Stellungnahme |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Stellungnahmen | Stellungnahmen / - |
| Genitive | der Stellungnahmen | Stellungnahmen / - |
| Dative | den Stellungnahmen | Stellungnahmen / - |
| Accusative | die Stellungnahmen | Stellungnahmen / - |
📝 Example Sentences
- Das Ministerium wurde um eine Stellungnahme zu den Vorwürfen gebeten.
(The ministry was asked for a statement regarding the allegations.) - In ihrer Stellungnahme wies die Firma alle Anschuldigungen zurück.
(In its statement, the company rejected all accusations.) - Wir benötigen Ihre Stellungnahme bis spätestens Ende der Woche.
(We need your statement by the end of the week at the latest.) - Die verschiedenen Stellungnahmen der Experten wurden im Bericht berücksichtigt.
(The various statements/opinions of the experts were considered in the report.)
🗣️ How to Use "Stellungnahme"?
"Stellungnahme" is mainly used in formal or official contexts.
- Administrative/Legal: An authority requests a Stellungnahme; a lawyer drafts a Stellungnahme for their client.
- Professional: A company issues a public Stellungnahme about an incident; a department presents its internal Stellungnahme on a project.
- Political: Parties or politicians publish Stellungnahmen on current legislative proposals or events.
- Academic/Scientific: Experts provide a Stellungnahme on a study or research finding (similar to an expert opinion or Gutachten).
Distinction from "Meinung": While "Meinung" (die Meinung, opinion) typically expresses a personal view or belief (often spontaneous or emotional), "Stellungnahme" refers to the considered, often written, and reasoned presentation of a standpoint.
Example: "Meine Meinung ist, dass das Wetter schön ist." (My opinion is that the weather is nice. - Personal, informal) "Die Umweltschutzorganisation veröffentlichte eine Stellungnahme zur geplanten Rodung." (The environmental organization published a statement on the planned clearing. - Formal, reasoned)
🧠 Mnemonics for Stellungnahme
-
For the article "die": Remember that many German nouns ending in '-ung' or '-nahme' are feminine ('die'). Think of the phrase "She (feminine -> die) is taking (Nahme) a position (Stellung)" -> die Stellungnahme.
-
For the meaning: Break down the word: Stellung (position, stance) + Nahme (related to nehmen - to take) = literally "position-taking". It's the act of taking a position and communicating it.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Similar Meanings (Synonyms):
- Äußerung (die): Utterance, remark; a more general term.
- Kommentar (der): Comment; often shorter and more subjective.
- Statement (das): Statement; English loanword, very similar, often used in press/PR.
- Gutachten (das): Expert opinion, report; detailed assessment by an expert.
- Standpunkt (der): Standpoint, point of view; refers more to the position itself than the act of stating it.
- Erklärung (die): Explanation, declaration; can be a statement, but also clarification or justification.
- Votum (das): Vote, endorsement; often implies support.
Opposite Meanings (Antonyms):
- Schweigen (das): Silence; not expressing an opinion or position.
- Zurückhaltung (die): Restraint, reservation; deliberately avoiding taking a clear stance.
- Kommentarlosigkeit (die): Lack of comment; absence of any commentary or statement.
⚠️ Be careful: Words like "Meinung" (opinion) or "Ansicht" (view) are related but emphasize the personal aspect more than the formal or reasoned nature of a "Stellungnahme".
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Haben Sie schon die Stellungnahme zum Müller-Projekt fertig?"
Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: "Nein, Chef, ich sitze noch dran. Ich wusste nicht, dass man dafür eine spezielle Stellung einnehmen muss!"
Translation:
The boss asks the new employee: "Have you finished the statement (Stellungnahme) for the Müller project yet?"
The employee replies: "No, boss, I'm still sitting on it. I didn't know you had to take a special position (Stellung nehmen) for it!" (Pun on "Stellung nehmen" meaning both "to take a stance/issue a statement" and literally "to take a physical position/posture").
📜 Poem about Stellungnahme
Ein Thema heiß, die Frage klar,
man bittet höflich, wunderbar,
um eine Sicht, fundiert und schlau,
präsentiert als Statement, ganz genau.
Man wägt die Fakten, prüft das Recht,
formuliert die Sätze, gar nicht schlecht.
Am Ende steht, mit Fug und Sinn,
die Stellungnahme mittendrin.
Translation:
A topic hot, the question clear,
one asks politely, oh so dear,
for a view, well-founded, smart,
presented as a statement, right from the start.
One weighs the facts, checks what is right,
phrases the sentences, shining bright.
In the end it stands, with reason and rhyme,
the statement (die Stellungnahme) right in the middle, this time.
🧩 Riddle
Ich bin gefragt, wenn Klarheit fehlt,
ein Standpunkt, der die Wahrheit wählt (oder zumindest versucht).
Ich komme oft auf Papier daher,
von Anwalt, Amt, mal mehr, mal mehr.
Ich nehme Stellung, bin offiziell,
was bin ich wohl? Sag du es schnell!
Translation:
I am requested when clarity is missing,
A standpoint that chooses truth (or at least tries to).
I often appear on paper,
From lawyer, office, sometimes more, sometimes more.
I take a position, I am official,
What might I be? Tell me quick, initial!
Solution: die Stellungnahme (the statement/opinion)
✨ Other Information
Word Composition:
The word "Stellungnahme" is a compound noun, composed of:
- Stellung (die): derived from "stellen" (to place, to put), here meaning position, stance, standpoint.
- Nahme (die): an older form or derivative of "nehmen" (to take), meaning taking or adoption.
Together, the meaning is essentially "the taking of a position/stance."
Typical Verbs (German): eine Stellungnahme abgeben (to submit/issue), verfassen (to draft/write), einholen (to obtain/request), anfordern (to request/demand), veröffentlichen (to publish).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Stellungnahme?
The word "Stellungnahme" is feminine, so the correct article is always die Stellungnahme. There are no other articles for this word.