die  Überlieferung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˌyːbɐˈliːfɐʊŋ/

📜 What Exactly Does "die Überlieferung" Mean?

Die Überlieferung (feminine, plural: die Überlieferungen) refers to the act of passing down knowledge, customs, stories, legends, or skills from one generation to the next, mostly orally or by example. It can also refer to the content itself – that which is passed down (tradition, lore, historical account, transmission).

• Passing down traditions: Customs, rituals, social norms passed down through generations.
• Historical narratives: Stories, sagas, legends, or historical reports handed down orally or in writing.
• Knowledge transfer: The passing on of knowledge or skills, often informally.
• The transmitted text/content: Sometimes "Überlieferung" refers to a specific version of a text or story as it has survived to this day.

⚠️ Attention: Not every Überlieferung is historically accurate. Oral transmission can lead to changes over time.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of Überlieferung in Detail

"Überlieferung" is a feminine noun. The article is die.

💡 Example Sentences

1. Die Überlieferung besagt, dass der Held unbesiegbar war. (Tradition/Lore says that the hero was invincible.)
2. Wir müssen die mündliche Überlieferung der Ältesten bewahren. (We must preserve the oral tradition/lore of the elders.)
3. Es gibt verschiedene Überlieferungen dieser alten Sage. (There are different versions/traditions of this old saga.)
4. Die Überlieferung von Handwerkstechniken ist wichtig für die nächste Generation. (The transmission/passing down of craft techniques is important for the next generation.)

🗣️ How to Use "Überlieferung"?

"Überlieferung" is often used in the context of history, culture, folklore, and family. It emphasizes the process of passing things down over time.

• Historical Context: When talking about ancient times, myths, or legends (e.g., „Nach alter Überlieferung…“ - According to ancient tradition/lore...).
• Cultural Context: In connection with customs, festivals, or traditional practices (e.g., „Die Überlieferung dieses Brauchs geht weit zurück.“ - The tradition/history of this custom goes way back.).
• Familial Context: When family stories or recipes are passed down (e.g., „Das Rezept stammt aus der Überlieferung meiner Großmutter.“ - The recipe comes from my grandmother's tradition/what she passed down.).

Distinction from similar words:

• Tradition: Emphasizes the custom or habit itself, while Überlieferung highlights the act of passing it down or the content.
• Geschichte (History): Usually refers to verifiable facts of the past, whereas Überlieferung can also include myths and legends.
• Sage/Legende (Saga/Legend): Are specific forms of Überlieferung, often containing fantastical elements.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic: Think of die Geschichte (the story) or die Sage (the saga) – many German nouns ending in -ung are feminine, including die Überlieferung. It tells 'die Geschichte' further.

Meaning Mnemonic: The word comes from "überliefern" – to deliver something over time. Imagine knowledge and stories being 'delivered' (liefern) 'over' (über) the generations, from hand to hand.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

Beware of similar words:

• Lieferung: Refers to the delivery of goods, not knowledge or traditions.

😄 A Little Joke

Warum sind Überlieferungen manchmal so ungenau?
Weil sie oft über "stille Post" weitergegeben werden – nur über Jahrhunderte!

(Why is lore/tradition sometimes so inaccurate?
Because it's often passed on via the game of "Telephone" – just over centuries!)

✍️ Poem about Überlieferung

Von Mund zu Mund, durch Zeit und Raum,
lebt fort ein alter Menschheitstraum.
Die Überlieferung, sie spinnt den Faden,
verbindet uns mit alten Pfaden.

Mal Sage, mal ein weiser Rat,
mal Lied, mal eine Heldentat.
Sie trägt das Wissen, alt und sacht,
und hat uns vieles beigebracht.

(From mouth to mouth, through time and space,
Lives on an ancient human dream's trace.
The lore/tradition, it spins the thread,
Connects us to the paths of dead.

Sometimes a saga, sometimes wise advice,
Sometimes a song, or hero's price.
It carries knowledge, old and gentle,
And has taught us much that's elemental.)

❓ A Little Riddle

Ich habe keinen Mund, doch spreche durch die Zeit.
Ich habe keine Hände, doch gebe Wissen weit.
Ich lebe in Geschichten, in Bräuchen und Gesang.
Was bin ich, das verbindet, ein Leben lang?

Lösung: die Überlieferung

(I have no mouth, yet speak through time.
I have no hands, yet spread knowledge sublime.
I live in stories, in custom and song.
What am I, connecting, lifelong?)

(Answer: die Überlieferung / tradition, lore)

🧩 Other Interesting Details

Word Composition:

The word "Überlieferung" is a noun derived from the verb "überliefern". It consists of:

• über- (prefix, here meaning transmission 'over' time or space)
• liefern (verb, meaning 'to deliver', 'to provide')
• -ung (suffix, forms a noun from the verb, often denoting a process or its result)

Cultural Significance: Überlieferungen (traditions, lore) are fundamental to the identity of cultures and societies. They shape our understanding of the past and influence the present and future.