die  Übereinkunft

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈyːbɐʔaɪnˌkʊnft/

📜 What does "die Übereinkunft" mean?

Die Übereinkunft (feminine noun) means an agreement, accord, or understanding between two or more parties about a specific matter. It often refers to a formal or semi-formal arrangement or convention. Literally, parties come together over (über) one (ein) thing.

Essentially, it's the result of a negotiation or discussion where a consensus (Konsens) has been reached.

🚨 Important: The word is rather formal and frequently used in legal, political, or business contexts.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Übereinkunft

The noun "Übereinkunft" is feminine. Therefore, the article is "die".

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

📝 Example Sentences

• Nach langen Verhandlungen trafen die Parteien endlich eine Übereinkunft.
  (After long negotiations, the parties finally reached an agreement.)
• Die Übereinkunft wurde schriftlich festgehalten.
  (The agreement was put down in writing.)
• Wir müssen zu einer Übereinkunft über die nächsten Schritte kommen.
  (We need to come to an agreement about the next steps.)
• Gemäß unserer Übereinkunft teilen wir uns die Kosten.
  (According to our agreement, we share the costs.)

🗣️ How is "Übereinkunft" used?

"Die Übereinkunft" is primarily used in more formal contexts. Here are some typical use cases:

• Contracts and Accords (Verträge und Abkommen): When a formal agreement is reached (e.g., between companies, states, or in legal matters).
• Negotiations (Verhandlungen): As the outcome of discussions where compromises were found.
• General Understandings (Allgemeine Absprachen): Also for less formal, yet clear, arrangements between individuals or groups (e.g., an Übereinkunft about house rules in a shared flat).

Difference from "Vereinbarung":

Although often used synonymously, "Übereinkunft" can sometimes place a stronger emphasis on the process of coming to an agreement and the consensus itself, whereas "Vereinbarung" often refers to the concrete result or the contract document. "Übereinkunft" often sounds slightly more elevated or official than "Vereinbarung".

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic (die): Think of other German nouns ending in "-kunft" like die Ankunft (arrival), die Zukunft (future), die Herkunft (origin). Many are feminine. Imagine different opinions *arriving* (ankommen) and *coming together* (zusammenkommen) to form *one* (feminine) shared view.

Meaning Mnemonic: Break down the word: Über-ein-kunft. People come über (over) an issue to ein (one) common point. They *agree* (übereinkommen). The result is the Übereinkunft (agreement).

↔️ Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Caution: Words like "Beschluss" (a formal decision, not necessarily a mutual agreement) or "Kompromiss" (an agreement reached through mutual concessions) are related but not exact synonyms.

😂 A Little Joke

Richter: "Sind Sie bereit, mit dem Staatsanwalt zu einer Übereinkunft zu kommen?"
Angeklagter: "Nur unter einer Bedingung: Dass wir uns darauf einigen, dass ich unschuldig bin!"

Judge: "Are you prepared to come to an agreement with the prosecutor?"
Defendant: "Only on one condition: that we agree I'm innocent!"

✒️ Poem about Übereinkunft

Zwei Herzen, zwei Gedanken,
Die erst getrennt noch schwankten.
Durch Reden, sanft und klar,
Wird’s Einvernehmen wahr.

Man reicht sich nun die Hände,
Findet des Streites Ende.
Was einst verschieden schien,Die Übereinkunft ist da,
Ein schönes „Ja!“

--- English Translation ---

Two hearts, two minds diverging,
At first apart and surging.
Through talking, soft and clear,
Mutual understanding's here.

Now hands are joined together,
The end of strife's rough weather.
What once seemed far apart,
Is green now, from the start.
The agreement has arrived,
A lovely "Yes!" survived.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich entstehe, wenn zwei sich einigen,
Und Streitigkeiten sich bereinigen.
Ich werde oft auf Papier gebracht,
Mal bin ich still, mal laut verkündet,

Was bin ich?

Lösung: die Übereinkunft

--- English Translation ---

I arise when two agree,
And disputes cease to be.
I'm often put on paper bright,
And have made peace with all my might.

Sometimes I'm quiet, sometimes proclaimed aloud,
On consensus, I am always proud.

What am I?

Solution: the agreement (die Übereinkunft)

💡 Other Information

Word Composition (Etymology):

The word "Übereinkunft" is a noun derived from the verb "übereinkommen" (to agree). This verb is composed of:

• über: Prefix, here indicating congruence or correspondence.
• ein: Adverb/prefix meaning unity or togetherness.
• kommen: The base verb for movement or reaching a state.

The suffix "-kunft" is an old form often denoting an action or its result (related to "kommen", as in Ankunft (arrival), Zukunft (future)). So: the result of the process where people come together over something to reach a common point.