die
Unterbrechung
🎬 What does 'die Unterbrechung' mean?
Die Unterbrechung (noun, feminine) describes the temporary stopping or disturbance of an action, process, or state. It can refer to a planned break or an unexpected disruption.
- A short break: „Wir machen eine fünfminütige Unterbrechung.“ (We're taking a five-minute break.)
- A disturbance: „Die ständigen Unterbrechungen bei der Arbeit sind nervig.“ (The constant interruptions at work are annoying.)
- An outage (e.g., technical): „Es gab eine Unterbrechung der Stromversorgung.“ (There was an interruption of the power supply.)
Because the word ends in -ung, it's typically feminine (die Unterbrechung). ⚠️ There are no other articles for this word.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ung → always feminine.
There are many -ung words, we won't list them all. There are only a few exceptions.
🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Die Unterbrechung
The noun 'Unterbrechung' is feminine. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die | Unterbrechung |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der | Unterbrechung |
| Dative (To/for whom?) | der | Unterbrechung |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die | Unterbrechung |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Unterbrechungen |
| Genitive | der | Unterbrechungen |
| Dative | den | Unterbrechungen |
| Accusative | die | Unterbrechungen |
💬 Example Sentences
- Nach einer kurzen Unterbrechung setzten wir das Gespräch fort. (After a short interruption, we continued the conversation.)
- Der Grund für die Unterbrechung des Spiels war starker Regen. (The reason for the interruption of the game was heavy rain.)
- Wir bitten um Entschuldigung für die technischen Unterbrechungen. (We apologize for the technical interruptions.)
- Trotz vieler Unterbrechungen konnte er seine Rede beenden. (Despite many interruptions, he could finish his speech.)
🚀 When to use 'Unterbrechung'?
'Unterbrechung' is a versatile word used in various contexts:
- Work / Daily Life: For breaks (Kaffeepause, Mittagspause) or disturbances at work. „Ich brauche eine kurze Unterbrechung.“ (I need a short break.)
- Technology & Service: For outages or disruptions of services (power, internet, phone). „Die Netzunterbrechung dauerte mehrere Stunden.“ (The network interruption lasted several hours.)
- Traffic: For disruptions in traffic flow (road closure, train cancellation). „Wegen Bauarbeiten kommt es zu Verkehrsunterbrechungen.“ (Due to construction work, there will be traffic interruptions.)
- Conversations & Communication: When someone is disturbed while speaking. „Entschuldigen Sie die Unterbrechung.“ (Excuse the interruption.)
- Sports & Events: Pauses or stops during a game or event. „Die Spielunterbrechung nutzten die Fans für Gesänge.“ (The fans used the game interruption for chants.)
Comparison:
🧠 Mnemonics for Unterbrechung
Article Mnemonic: Words ending in -ung are almost always feminine in German. Think: The ending (-ung) demands respect ('Achtung') for the feminine form -> die Unterbrechung.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine trying to go unter (under) a bridge, but you have to brechen (break) your movement because it's too low. That's an Unter-brechung (interruption) of your path.
🔄 Similar & Opposite: Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- Pause: Often short and planned (e.g., Kaffeepause - coffee break).
- Störung: Disturbance, emphasizes the unwanted aspect (e.g., Lärmstörung - noise disturbance).
- Auszeit: Time-out, usually longer and self-chosen (e.g., Sabbatical).
- Stillstand: Standstill, complete stop, often negative (e.g., Produktionsstillstand - production standstill).
- Einhalt: A stop or check put to something.
Antonyms (opposite meaning)
- Fortsetzung: Continuation (after a pause).
- Kontinuität: Continuity (uninterrupted progress).
- Durchführung: Execution, carrying out (implying no interruption).
- Weiterführung: Continuation (of something specific).
⚠️ Beware of Confusion: 'Abbruch' means termination or cancellation (a final stop), not just a temporary stop like 'Unterbrechung'.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum machen Uhrmacher oft eine Unterbrechung?
(Why do watchmakers often take an interruption?)
Weil sie mal eine Aus-Zeit brauchen!
(Because they need some time off! - Play on 'Auszeit' = time off and 'Zeit' = time)
✒️ Poem about Interruption
Der Fluss der Zeit, er fließt dahin,
(The river of time, it flows along,)
ein steter Strom, hat seinen Sinn.
(a steady stream, has its meaning.)
Doch plötzlich – halt! – ein kurzer Stopp,
(But suddenly - stop! - a short halt,)
die Arbeit ruht, der Plan macht flopp.
(work rests, the plan goes flop.)
Die Unterbrechung, kurz und knapp,
(The interruption, short and brief,)
bringt neuen Schwung, im Galopp.
(brings new momentum, at a gallop.)
Dann geht es weiter, frisch und klar,
(Then it continues, fresh and clear,)
so ist das Leben, wunderbar.
(such is life, wonderful.)
❓ Riddle Time
Ich komme oft, wenn man's nicht will,
(I often come when unwanted,)
mache Lärm oder halte still.
(make noise or keep things still.)
Ich störe Reden, Spiel und Lauf,
(I disturb speeches, games, and runs,)
und nehme eine Pause gern in Kauf.
(and gladly accept a break.)
Was bin ich? (What am I?)
Lösung: Die Unterbrechung (The interruption)
🧩 More Tidbits
Word Composition: The word 'Unterbrechung' is a noun derived from the verb 'unterbrechen' (to interrupt). This verb is composed of:
- Prefix 'unter-': Can have various meanings, here in the sense of 'between' or 'amidst'.
- Stem verb 'brechen': To break, to snap, to stop.
- Suffix '-ung': Forms nouns from verbs, often describing a process or state.
So, 'unterbrechen' literally means to 'break' or stop a running process by getting 'in between'.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Unterbrechung?
The noun 'Unterbrechung' is feminine. The correct article is always die: die Unterbrechung (singular) and die Unterbrechungen (plural).