die
Übergabe
🎁 What does "die Übergabe" mean?
Die Übergabe (feminine) describes the act of handing over or transferring something to another person or entity. It can refer to tangible things (e.g., keys - Schlüssel, documents - Dokumente, goods - Waren) or intangible things (e.g., responsibility - Verantwortung, a task - eine Aufgabe, a position - eine Position). In a military or historical context, it can also mean surrender or the ceding of a fortress or city.
Because the word ends in -gabe (from geben - to give), like many such nouns, it is feminine: die Übergabe.
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 & Declension of "Übergabe"
"Übergabe" is a feminine noun. The article is "die". Here are the declension tables:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die | Übergabe |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der | Übergabe |
| Dative (To whom?) | der | Übergabe |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die | Übergabe |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Übergaben |
| Genitive | der | Übergaben |
| Dative | den | Übergaben |
| Accusative | die | Übergaben |
📝 Example Sentences
- Die Übergabe der Schlüssel findet morgen statt.
(The handover of the keys takes place tomorrow.) - Nach langer Belagerung erfolgte die Übergabe der Stadt.
(After a long siege, the surrender of the city took place.) - Die Übergabe der Projektleitung war reibungslos.
(The handover of the project management was smooth.) - Wir müssen das Protokoll der Übergabe unterschreiben.
(We have to sign the protocol of the handover.) - Mehrere Übergaben von Dokumenten sind heute geplant.
(Several handovers of documents are planned today.)
💡 How is "die Übergabe" used?
"Die Übergabe" is used in various contexts:
- Professional: For the handover of projects, tasks, or a position to a successor (e.g., die Projektübergabe - project handover, die Amtsübergabe - handover of office).
- Legal/Formal: For the transfer of property, documents, or in contracts (e.g., die Wohnungsübergabe - apartment handover, die Übergabe der Urkunden - handover of certificates).
- Logistics/Trade: When handing over goods or deliveries (e.g., die Warenübergabe - handover of goods).
- Technology: Handover of data or signals (e.g., die Datenübergabe - data handover).
- Military/Historical: Surrender, yielding to the enemy (e.g., die Übergabe der Festung - surrender of the fortress).
It usually implies a formal or at least conscious act of passing something on.
🧠 Mnemonics for "Übergabe"
Article Mnemonic: Think of "die Gabe" (the gift). An Übergabe is like a Gabe that you pass over (über) – and both are feminine: die Gabe, die Übergabe.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine going über (over) a bridge to give someone a Gabe (gift). This act of bringing it over is the Übergabe (handover).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Aushändigung: (Handing out) Often for documents or smaller items.
- Überreichung: (Presentation) Slightly more formal, often for awards or certificates.
- Übertragung: (Transfer) Emphasizes the change of ownership or responsibility.
- Ablieferung: (Delivery, submission) Focus on handing in something owed or expected.
- Lieferung: (Delivery) Specifically for goods.
- Kapitulation / Aufgabe: (Surrender / Giving up) In the military or figurative sense of yielding.
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Übernahme: (Takeover) Accepting something that is handed over.
- Annahme: (Acceptance) Accepting a handover.
- Empfang: (Reception) Receiving something (e.g., Warenempfang - goods receipt).
- Behalten / Festhalten: (Keeping / Holding on) The opposite of giving away.
- Widerstand / Verteidigung: (Resistance / Defense) In the military sense, the opposite of surrender.
⚠️ Caution: "Die Abgabe" is similar but often refers to taxes, fees, or submitting assignments.
😄 A Little Joke
Warum war die Staffelstab-Übergabe beim Bäcker so chaotisch?
(Why was the baton handover at the bakery so chaotic?)
Weil ständig jemand den Stab fallen ließ – er war ja aus Teig!
(Because someone kept dropping the baton – it was made of dough!)
(Okay, it's about a baton handover - Staffelstab-Übergabe, but the principle is the same 😉)
📜 A Short Poem
Die Schlüssel wechseln ihre Hand,
Ein neuer Chef nun hier im Land.
Die Akten wohl sortiert,
Zur Übergabe präsentiert.
Ein Händedruck, ein kurzer Blick,
Verantwortung liegt im Augenblick.
(The keys change their hand,
A new boss now here in the land.
The files well sorted,
Presented for the handover.
A handshake, a brief glance,
Responsibility lies in the moment.)
🧩 Riddle Time
Ich bin ein Akt, kein fester Ort,
Mal bring ich Freude, mal ein hartes Wort.
Ich wechsle Hände, mal schnell, mal sacht,
Hab Schlüssel, Macht und Wissen gebracht.
Von alt zu neu, von A nach B,
Was bin ich wohl? Na klar, ...
(I am an act, not a fixed place,
Sometimes I bring joy, sometimes a harsh word's trace.
I change hands, sometimes fast, sometimes slow,
I've brought keys, power, and knowledge to bestow.
From old to new, from A to B,
What am I then? Of course, ... )
Lösung / Solution: die Übergabe
✨ Other Information
Word Composition:
The word "Übergabe" is a compound noun, composed of:
- über- (Prefix, here indicating movement from one to another or a transfer)
- Gabe (Noun, from "geben" - to give, meaning gift or the act of giving itself)
The structure Prefix + Noun (derived from verb) is typical for many German nominalizations.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Übergabe?
The German word "Übergabe" is feminine. The correct article is die Übergabe. There are no other articles for this word.