die  Übertragung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˌyːbɐˈtʁaːɡʊŋ/

📜 What does 'die Übertragung' mean?

The word die Übertragung is a feminine noun describing the process or result of 'carrying over' or 'passing on' something from one place, person, or medium to another. It has several specific meanings depending on the context:

• 📡 Technology & Media: The sending or relaying of signals, data, information, or broadcasts (e.g., Datenübertragung - data transmission, Live-Übertragung - live broadcast, Signalübertragung - signal transmission).
• 🩺 Medicine: The passing on of pathogens or genetic information (e.g., Krankheitsübertragung - disease transmission, Übertragung von Viren - transmission of viruses, genetische Übertragung - genetic transmission).
• ⚖️ Law & Administration: The formal transfer of rights, property, tasks, or powers (e.g., Rechtsübertragung - transfer of rights, Aufgabenübertragung - transfer of tasks, Eigentumsübertragung - transfer of property).
• ⚙️ Physics & Engineering: The conduction of force or energy (e.g., Kraftübertragung - power transmission, Wärmeübertragung - heat transfer).
• 🗣️ Linguistics (less common): The transfer of meaning or concepts, often in a figurative sense. However, for translating languages, the word die Übersetzung is usually used. ⚠️ Don't confuse these!

It's a very versatile word, and its precise meaning strongly depends on the context.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Insights: Declining 'die Übertragung'

Die Übertragung is a feminine noun. Nouns ending in -ung are almost always feminine in German. Here’s how it declines:

Singular (Singular)

Plural (Plural)

📝 Example Sentences (Beispielsätze)

1. Die Übertragung der Dateien war erfolgreich. (The transmission of the files was successful.)
2. Wir sahen die Live-Übertragung des Konzerts im Fernsehen. (We watched the live broadcast of the concert on TV.)
3. Die Übertragung von Verantwortung ist ein wichtiger Führungsschritt. (The transfer of responsibility is an important leadership step.)
4. Ärzte untersuchen die Übertragung des neuen Virus. (Doctors are investigating the transmission of the new virus.)
5. Die Übertragung der Wärme erfolgt durch Konvektion. (The transfer of heat occurs through convection.)

💡 How to Use 'Übertragung'?

The use of die Übertragung depends on the context:

• In a technical context: Used for Datenübertragung (data transmission), Signalübertragung (signal transmission), or Übertragungsrate (transmission rate/speed). Example: "Die Übertragung wurde wegen einer Störung unterbrochen." (The transmission was interrupted due to a fault.)
• In media: Refers to broadcasting radio or television programs, often live. Example: "Millionen verfolgten die Übertragung der Zeremonie." (Millions watched the broadcast of the ceremony.)
• In a medical context: Concerns the spread of diseases (Infektionsübertragung - infection transmission) or genetic traits. Example: "Händewaschen reduziert die Übertragung von Keimen." (Handwashing reduces the transmission of germs.)
• In a legal/administrative context: Describes the handover of property, rights, or duties. Example: "Die Übertragung des Grundstücks ist notariell beurkundet." (The transfer of the property is notarized.)
• In a mechanical/physical sense: Describes the transfer of forces or energy, e.g., in a gearbox (Kraftübertragung - power transmission).

Important Note: Although 'Übertragung' can sometimes be used in the sense of 'translation' (e.g., transferring a poem into another form), die Übersetzung is the more common and precise word for rendering text from one language into another. Using 'Übertragung' in this context is more metaphorical or refers to conveying the sense or style.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'Übertragung'

For the article 'die': Think of 'die Sendung' (the broadcast/show on TV) – that's a type of Übertragung. Since 'Sendung' is feminine, it helps remember 'die Übertragung'. Also, almost all nouns ending in -ung are feminine, hence die Übertragung.

For the meaning: Imagine something being 'carried' (getragen) 'over' (über) a bridge – from one side to the other. This is the core concept of Übertragung: something is passed from A to B (data, signals, diseases, rights...).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Watch out, don't confuse with:

• Übersetzung: Translation (of language).
• Überführung: Transfer (physically moving something, e.g., a body) or conversion (into another state).
• Auftrag: An order or assignment (but can involve an Übertragung of tasks).

😄 A Little Joke

Warum hat das WLAN-Signal eine Therapie begonnen?
Weil es ständig Probleme mit der Übertragung hatte! 😂

(Why did the Wi-Fi signal start therapy?
Because it constantly had transmission problems!)

✒️ Poem about Übertragung

Von Sender zu Empfänger weit,
fliegt die Nachricht durch die Zeit.
Ob Daten, Wellen, klar und rein,
das ist die Übertragung, fein.

Ein Virus reist von Hand zu Hand,
auch das wird Übertragung genannt.
Ein Recht, ein Gut, ein ernstes Wort,
die Übertragung trägt es fort.

(From sender to receiver far,
The message flies, beyond the star.
Be it data, waves, so clear and keen,
That is die Übertragung, a vibrant scene.)

(A virus travels hand to hand,
Also called Übertragung in the land.
A right, a good, a word so true,
Die Übertragung carries it through.)

❓ Riddle

Ich trage Wellen durch die Luft,
mal bring ich Freude, mal 'nen Schnupf'.
Ich schick' Signale, schnell und klar,
oder mach' dich zum Besitzer, wunderbar.

Was bin ich?

(I carry waves through the air,
Sometimes bring joy, sometimes a sniffle to bear.
I send signals, quick and clear,
Or make you an owner, wonderfully dear.

What am I?)

(Solution: die Übertragung)

🧩 Other Interesting Details

Word Composition:

The word Übertragung is composed of:

• über-: Prefix indicating movement from one point to another or across something.
• tragen: Verb meaning 'to carry' or 'to bear'.
• -ung: Suffix that turns the verb into a noun, describing the process or result. It makes the noun feminine (die).

Common Compound Nouns (Komposita):

Übertragung is part of many important German words:

• Datenübertragung (Data transmission)
• Live-Übertragung (Live broadcast)
• Krankheitsübertragung (Disease transmission)
• Kraftübertragung (Power transmission)
• Rechtsübertragung (Transfer of rights)
• Wärmeübertragung (Heat transfer)
• Übertragungsrate (Transmission rate)
• Übertragungsweg (Transmission path/route)