die  Veranlassung

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/fɛɐ̯ˈʔanlasʊŋ/

🤔 What exactly is 'die Veranlassung'?

Die Veranlassung (feminine noun) refers to the reason, cause, occasion, or trigger for a specific action, event, or measure. It's what sets something in motion or motivates it.

Imagine something doesn't just happen, but occurs because there was a specific prompt – that's the 'Veranlassung'.

It is often used in more formal or official contexts to express who or what initiated something or why something happened. Common translations include 'reason', 'cause', 'prompting', or 'instigation'.

🚨 Important: This word only takes the article die.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Deep Dive: die Veranlassung

The word "Veranlassung" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.

💬 Example Sentences:

• Auf Veranlassung des Chefs wurde die Besprechung verschoben. (At the boss's instigation, the meeting was postponed.)
• Es gab keine besondere Veranlassung für seine Eile. (There was no particular reason for his hurry.)
• Die polizeiliche Untersuchung erfolgte auf Veranlassung der Staatsanwaltschaft. (The police investigation took place at the instigation of the public prosecutor's office.)
• Welche Veranlassung hattest du, das zu tun? (What reason did you have for doing that?)

💡 How to Use 'die Veranlassung'

"Die Veranlassung" is mostly used in formal or official language, especially in administrative, legal, or business contexts.

• Typical Phrase: The phrase "auf Veranlassung von jemandem / etwas" is very common. It means that someone or something initiated it. Example: "Die Prüfung erfolgte auf Veranlassung der Behörde." (The audit was carried out at the instigation of the authority.)
• Asking for the Reason: You can also ask: "Was war die Veranlassung dafür?" (What was the reason for it?) or "Aus welcher Veranlassung geschah das?" (For what reason did that happen?)
• Stating No Reason: "Es besteht keine Veranlassung zur Sorge." (There is no cause for concern.)

In everyday, informal conversation, you would more likely use words like Grund (reason) or Anlass (occasion/reason). "Was war der Grund dafür?" sounds more natural than "Was war die Veranlassung dafür?" among friends.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'Veranlassung'

1. Article Mnemonic: Many German nouns ending in -ung are feminine ('die'). Think of 'die Meinung' (opinion), 'die Hoffnung' (hope), 'die Lösung' (solution)... and also die Veranlassung!

2. Meaning Mnemonic: The word contains 'anlassen'. The related verb 'veranlassen' means 'to cause', 'to prompt', 'to arrange', or 'to instigate'. So, 'die Veranlassung' is the act of 'causing' or 'prompting', or the 'reason'/'cause' itself. Think: What was the reason someone 'ver-anlassen-ed' (caused) this? It was the Veranlassung.

🔄 Similar & Opposite: Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Note: Although similar, 'Veranlassung' is often more formal than 'Grund' or 'Anlass'.

😄 A Little Joke

Richter: "Welche Veranlassung hatten Sie, in das Juweliergeschäft einzubrechen?"
Angeklagter: "Herr Richter, da war ein Schild an der Tür: 'Nutzen Sie die Gelegenheit!'"

Translation:

Judge: "What prompted you (what was your reason) to break into the jewelry store?"
Defendant: "Your Honor, there was a sign on the door: 'Seize the opportunity!'"

✍️ Poem about 'Veranlassung'

Ein kleiner Funke, kaum zu sehen,
kann große Feuer oft entdrehen.
Ein Wort, ein Blick, ein leiser Ruf,
die Veranlassung, die Neues schuf.
Ein Stein rollt los, nimmt andre mit,
der erste Anstoß, Schritt für Schritt,
zeigt, wie aus kleinem Impuls heraus,
entsteht ein Sturm, ein Fest, ein Graus.
Drum prüfe stets, was dich bewegt,
welch' Veranlassung zugrund' liegt.

Translation:

A little spark, barely in sight,
Can often make large fires ignite.
A word, a glance, a soft call's sound,
The prompting reason, new things found.
A stone starts rolling, takes others along,
The first impulse, step by step, strong,
Shows how from a small impulse's start,
A storm, feast, or horror plays its part.
So always check what makes you sway,
Which reason underlies your way.

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich bin der Grund, der etwas startet,
auf den man oft im Amt schon wartet.
Ich bin der Anstoß, der Impuls,
manchmal ein förmlicher Beschluss.
"Auf meine ______ hin", so sagt man gern,
halt ich das Handeln nicht mehr fern.

Wer oder was bin ich?
... Die Veranlassung

Translation:

I am the reason something starts,
Often awaited in official parts.
I am the push, the impulse shown,
Sometimes a formal decree known.
"At my ______", as people say,
I don't keep action far away.

What am I?
... Die Veranlassung (The reason/cause/prompting)

✨ Further Insights

Word Formation (Wortbildung):

The word "Veranlassung" is a noun derived from the verb veranlassen (to cause, prompt, arrange, instigate). The suffix -ung is frequently used in German to form nouns from verbs, typically denoting the process or result of the action (e.g., prüfen (to check) -> die Prüfung (the check/exam), hoffen (to hope) -> die Hoffnung (the hope)).

• ver- (prefix, often intensifying or modifying)
• anlassen (base verb, here in the sense of 'to let begin', 'to cause')
• -ung (suffix for nominalization)