die  Teuerung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈtɔʏ̯ʁʊŋ/

💰 What does "die Teuerung" mean?

Die Teuerung (noun, feminine) refers to a general and often noticeable increase in the prices of goods and services over a period of time. It leads to a decrease in purchasing power (Kaufkraftverlust), meaning you can buy less for the same amount of money. The term is often used synonymously with Inflation, but can also specifically refer to a period of particularly sharp or sudden price increases.

It's a noun formed from the adjective teuer (expensive) and the suffix -ung, which typically forms feminine nouns in German.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Teuerung

The word "Teuerung" is a feminine noun. It is primarily used in the singular. The plural ("die Teuerungen") is very rare and usually refers to multiple specific periods or types of price increases.

(Plural is rarely used and often paraphrased)

📝 Examples

• Die hohe Teuerung belastet viele Haushalte.
  (The high price increase / inflation burdens many households.)
• Man spricht von einer allgemeinen Teuerung der Lebenshaltungskosten.
  (People speak of a general increase in the cost of living.)
• Die Regierung versucht, Maßnahmen gegen die Teuerung zu ergreifen.
  (The government is trying to take measures against the inflation / price increase.)
• Im Vergleich zum Vorjahr ist die Teuerung deutlich angestiegen.
  (Compared to last year, the rate of price increase / inflation has risen significantly.)

🗣️ How is "Teuerung" used?

"Teuerung" is primarily used in economic and socio-political contexts when discussing price developments, inflation, and the cost of living.

• In news and reports: Frequently used in business and political news to describe price increases (e.g., "Die Teuerung erreichte im letzten Quartal 5%" - The inflation rate reached 5% in the last quarter).
• In everyday life: Often used to describe the perceived or actual increase in the cost of everyday goods and services (e.g., "Die Teuerung beim Einkaufen ist deutlich spürbar." - The increase in prices when shopping is clearly noticeable.).
• Distinction from Inflation: While Inflation is the more precise economic term for the general and sustained increase in the price level, "Teuerung" can also describe sudden or specific price hikes (e.g., for energy) or simply the general perception that everything is getting more expensive. However, in common usage, they are often used synonymously.

🧠 Mnemonics for Teuerung

1. Remembering the Article: Words ending in -ung in German are almost always feminine (die). Think: The ending -ung signals feminine gender! Like die Rechnung (the bill), die Meinung (the opinion), and so die Teuerung.
2. Remembering the Meaning: The word contains "teuer", which means expensive. Teuerung is the process or state of things getting more teuer (expensive). Imagine your wallet getting lighter with every wave of Teuerung. 💸

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but misleading words:

• Steuerung (die): Means control, steering, regulation, completely unrelated to prices.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Ökonomen bei hoher Teuerung immer einen Regenschirm mit zur Arbeit?
Damit sie nicht von den steigenden Preisen überrascht werden! ☔️📈

(Why do economists always take an umbrella to work during high inflation/price increases?
So they aren't caught off guard by the rising prices!)

✒️ Poem about Teuerung

Die Preise klettern, Stufe um Stufe,
man hört des Volkes laute Rufe.
Die Teuerung frisst am schmalen Lohn,
man hofft auf Besserung, doch wann kommt sie schon?
Das Sparschwein seufzt, der Beutel leer,
ach, wenn das Leben nur günst'ger wär!

(Prices climb, step by step,
one hears the people's loud calls.
The price increase eats away at meager wages,
one hopes for improvement, but when will it come?
The piggy bank sighs, the purse is empty,
oh, if only life were cheaper!)

❓ Riddle

Ich habe keinen Körper, doch ich steige.
Ich mach' dein Geld weniger wert, das zeige ich.
Man fürchtet mich in Wirtschaft und im Haus,
was bin ich, sag es schnell heraus!

(I have no body, yet I rise.
I make your money worth less, that I show.
I am feared in the economy and at home,
what am I, tell me quickly now!)

Solution: die Teuerung (the price increase / inflation)

🧩 Other Details

Word Composition:

The word "Teuerung" is a derivation:

• Root: Adjective teuer (expensive)
• Suffix: -ung (forms feminine nouns, often describing a process or state)

So, it describes the state or process of becoming more expensive.

Historical Note:

Historically, the term Teuerung was often used to describe specific crisis periods with sharply rising prices (especially for food), long before the modern term Inflation became established (e.g., Teuerungsjahre - years of dearth/high prices - after wars).