die
Stimmung
🤔 What does "die Stimmung" actually mean?
Die Stimmung is a feminine noun with several meanings:
- 😌 Emotional state / Mood: Describes the inner feeling or mood of a person or group. Example: Die Stimmung auf der Party war ausgelassen. (The mood/atmosphere at the party was exuberant.) Er ist heute in schlechter Stimmung. (He is in a bad mood today.)
- 🎪 Atmosphere / Ambiance: Refers to the general feeling or atmosphere of a place or event. Example: Im Restaurant herrschte eine gemütliche Stimmung. (There was a cozy atmosphere in the restaurant.)
- 🎼 Musical tuning / Intonation: Describes the correct pitch of musical instruments or the intonation when speaking/singing. Example: Der Klavierstimmer überprüfte die Stimmung des Flügels. (The piano tuner checked the tuning of the grand piano.)
⚠️ It's important to consider 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 "Stimmung" in Detail
The word "Stimmung" is a feminine noun. Therefore, the article is always die.
Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Stimmung |
| Genitive | der | Stimmung |
| Dative | der | Stimmung |
| Accusative | die | Stimmung |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Stimmungen |
| Genitive | der | Stimmungen |
| Dative | den | Stimmungen |
| Accusative | die | Stimmungen |
Example Sentences
- Die Stimmung im Team ist nach dem Sieg hervorragend.
(The mood in the team is excellent after the victory.) - Kerzenlicht sorgte für eine romantische Stimmung.
(Candlelight created a romantic atmosphere.) - Kannst du bitte die Stimmung der Gitarre prüfen?
(Can you please check the tuning of the guitar?) - Seine plötzliche Wut verdarb die gute Stimmung.
(His sudden anger spoiled the good mood/atmosphere.) - Manchmal gibt es unterschiedliche Stimmungen bei Instrumenten.
(Sometimes there are different tunings for instruments.)
💡 How to Use "die Stimmung"?
"Stimmung" is a very common word in German. Here are some typical contexts:
- Describing feelings: People often talk about gute or schlechte Stimmung (good or bad mood), gedrückte Stimmung (depressed mood), ausgelassene Stimmung (exuberant mood). You can in einer bestimmten Stimmung sein (be in a certain mood).
- Describing atmosphere: Places and events have a Stimmung (festliche Stimmung - festive atmosphere, traurige Stimmung - sad atmosphere, gespannte Stimmung - tense atmosphere). One can Stimmung machen (create a good atmosphere) or the Stimmung kann kippen (the mood/atmosphere can turn sour).
- Music: Here, die Stimmung refers to the correct pitch. Instruments need to in Stimmung sein (be in tune) or gestimmt werden (be tuned).
Comparison with similar words:
- Laune (f): Similar to Stimmung (emotional state), but often more short-term and individual. 'Er hat heute schlechte Laune.' (He's in a bad mood today.) vs. 'Die Stimmung in der Gruppe ist schlecht.' (The mood in the group is bad.)
- Atmosphäre (f): Very similar to Stimmung (ambiance), often used synonymously. Atmosphäre perhaps emphasizes the spatial aspect a bit more.
🧠 Mnemonics for "Stimmung"
Remembering the article: Imagine a fairy (die Fee) magically spreading good Stimmung (mood). Feminine nouns often end in -ung, like Stimmung.
Remembering the meaning: Think of a party: The music needs the right tuning (musikalische Stimmung) to create a good atmosphere (Atmosphäre), putting all guests in a great mood (emotionale Stimmung).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar words):
- For mood/emotion: Gemütslage, Verfassung, Befindlichkeit, Laune
- For atmosphere: Ambiente, Flair, Klima (figuratively), Atmosphäre
- For music: Intonation, Tuning, Tonhöhe
Antonyms (opposite words):
- For good mood: Missstimmung (discord, bad mood), Verstimmung (ill humour, being out of tune), schlechte Laune (bad mood), Bedrücktheit (depression, gloom)
- For musical tuning: Verstimmung (being out of tune)
Similar, but different words:
- Die Stimme (f): The voice (what you hear when someone speaks or sings). Don't confuse!
- Das Stimmen (n): The act of voting or tuning (an instrument).
😂 A Little Joke
Was sagt ein schlecht gelaunter Vulkan?
"Ich bin heute einfach nicht in Eruptions-Stimmung!" 🌋😠
Translation:
What does a grumpy volcano say?
"I'm just not in the mood for an eruption today!"
📜 A Poem about Mood
Die Stimmung, zart und oft diffus,
Mal Heiterkeit, mal Seelen-Frust.
Sie schwebt im Raum, im Herz sie wohnt,
Wird durch ein Lächeln oft belohnt.
Ein falscher Ton, die Stimmung sinkt,
Ein Instrument, das falsch erklingt.
Doch Harmonie und froher Klang,
Vertreiben Kummer, lebenslang.
Translation:
The mood, delicate and often diffuse,
Sometimes cheerfulness, sometimes soul's distress.
It floats in the room, resides in the heart,
Often rewarded by a smile's fresh start.
A wrong note, the mood descends,
An instrument that falsely transcends.
But harmony and joyful sound,
Drive away sorrow, all life round.
🧩 Riddle Time
Ich kann gut sein oder schlecht,
Mal heiter, mal bedrückt, mal echt.
Ich wohne oft in einem Raum,
Und manchmal nur in deinem Traum.
Musikern bin ich sehr bekannt,
Bring Instrumente wohl zur Hand.
Wer bin ich?
Translation:
I can be good or bad,
Sometimes cheerful, sometimes oppressed, sometimes real sad.
I often live within a room,
And sometimes only in your dream's loom.
To musicians, I am very well known,
Helping instruments find their right tone.
Who am I?
Solution: die Stimmung (mood/atmosphere/tuning)
✨ More Interesting Facts
Word Formation:
The noun "Stimmung" is derived from the verb "stimmen". "Stimmen" also has several meanings that are reflected in "Stimmung":
- To be correct / to agree: Das Ergebnis stimmt. (The result is correct.) -> A good Stimmung exists when everything 'fits' or harmonizes.
- To tune an instrument to the correct pitch: Die Gitarre stimmen. (To tune the guitar.) -> The musical Stimmung.
- To vote: Für einen Kandidaten stimmen. (To vote for a candidate.) -> Influences the political Stimmung.
- To make someone feel a certain way: Das Wetter stimmt mich fröhlich. (The weather makes me cheerful.) -> Influences the emotional Stimmung.
The suffix "-ung" is frequently used in German to form feminine nouns from verbs (e.g., warnen (to warn) -> die Warnung (the warning), hoffen (to hope) -> die Hoffnung (the hope)).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Stimmung?
The word "Stimmung" is always feminine. Therefore, the correct article is die Stimmung. It primarily describes mood, atmosphere, or tuning (e.g., of musical instruments).