die  Verbindung

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/fɛɐ̯ˈbɪndʊŋ/

🔗 What does "die Verbindung" mean?

The word die Verbindung (feminine) is a very versatile noun in German. It generally describes the existence of a connection or contact between two or more things, places, or people. Here are the main meanings:

• Technical connection/link: A physical or logical link, e.g., an Internetverbindung (internet connection), a Kabelverbindung (cable connection), a Telefonverbindung (phone connection), or a Zugverbindung (train connection). Example: Die Internetverbindung ist heute sehr langsam. (The internet connection is very slow today.)
• Interpersonal relationship/contact: Social or emotional contact between people. Example: Wir haben eine gute Verbindung zueinander. (We have a good connection/relationship with each other.)
• Chemical compound: A substance formed by the chemical reaction of two or more elements. Example: Wasser (H₂O) ist eine chemische Verbindung aus Wasserstoff und Sauerstoff. (Water (H₂O) is a chemical compound of hydrogen and oxygen.)
• Association/Organization (often plural): A group of people with common interests, e.g., a Studentenverbindung (student fraternity/association). Example: Er ist Mitglied einer alten Studentenverbindung. (He is a member of an old student fraternity.)
• Logical connection/relation: A conceptual or factual link between concepts or events. Example: Es besteht eine klare Verbindung zwischen Rauchen und Lungenkrebs. (There is a clear connection between smoking and lung cancer.)

🚨 Since the word has so many meanings, context is crucial to understand what is meant.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📚 Grammar of "die Verbindung"

"Verbindung" is a feminine noun. Like most feminine nouns ending in "-ung", it uses the article "die".

💡 Example Sentences

1. Nominative: Die Verbindung zum Server ist fehlgeschlagen.
   (The connection to the server failed.)
2. Genitive: Die Qualität der Verbindung ließ zu wünschen übrig.
   (The quality of the connection left much to be desired.)
3. Dative: Ich arbeite an der Verbindung der beiden Systeme.
   (I am working on the connection between the two systems.)
4. Accusative: Er prüft die Verbindung zwischen den Kabeln.
   (He is checking the connection between the cables.)
5. Plural: Es gibt viele Verbindungen zwischen den Städten.
   (There are many connections between the cities.)

🗣️ How to Use "die Verbindung"?

The use of "Verbindung" heavily depends on the context:

• Technology & Transport: Refers to physical or virtual links (e.g., eine stabile Internetverbindung (a stable internet connection), eine gute Zugverbindung (a good train connection), eine Bluetooth-Verbindung herstellen (establish a Bluetooth connection)). The phrase "in Verbindung treten/setzen mit" means to get in touch/contact someone.
• Social context: Describes relationships or contacts (e.g., eine enge Verbindung zur Familie haben (to have a close connection to the family), geschäftliche Verbindungen pflegen (to maintain business connections)). Here, it's often more abstract than "Kontakt".
• Chemistry: A technical term for molecules (e.g., organische Verbindungen (organic compounds), Salz ist eine chemische Verbindung (salt is a chemical compound)).
• Organizations: Often refers to student fraternities/sororities (Studentenverbindung) or other associations.
• Abstract context: Can describe a logical link or relation (e.g., die Verbindung zwischen Ursache und Wirkung (the connection between cause and effect)).

Distinction from similar words:

• Anschluss: Often more technical, denotes the point where something is connected (Telefonanschluss - phone line). Can also mean a connecting service (Anschlusszug - connecting train).
• Kontakt: Emphasizes the act of touching or exchange (persönlicher Kontakt - personal contact, Kontakt aufnehmen - to make contact).
• Beziehung: More focused on interpersonal or logical relations (eine feste Beziehung - a steady relationship, die Beziehung zwischen Variablen - the relationship between variables).
• Zusammenhang: Emphasizes the logical or causal link (im Zusammenhang mit - in connection with).

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Verbindung"

For the article: Most nouns ending in -ung are feminine ('die'). Think of other examples: "die Rettung" (the rescue), "die Meinung" (the opinion), "die Lösung" (the solution) – and therefore, "die Verbindung". The '-ung' ending is a strong clue for 'die'!

For the meaning: The word contains "binden" (to bind/tie). A 'Verbindung' binds things together – whether it's cables (technical connection), people (social connection), atoms (chemical compound), or ideas (logical connection). Imagine threads or ropes 'verbinden' (connecting) things.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words:

• Verband: Can mean an association/federation or a medical bandage (article: der Verband).
• Bindung: Often emphasizes a stronger emotional or contractual bond/tie (article: die Bindung).

😄 A Little Joke

German: Warum hat das WLAN-Passwort eine enge Verbindung zu seinem Router?
Weil sie ohne einander nicht funken können! 😉

English: Why does the Wi-Fi password have a close connection (Verbindung) to its router?
Because they can't 'spark'/'transmit' (funken) without each other! 😉 ('Funken' means 'to spark' or 'to transmit radio signals', creating a pun).

📜 Poem about Connections

German:
Ein Faden hier, ein Kabel dort,
Von Ort zu Ort, von Wort zu Wort.
Die Technik knüpft, das Herz es fühlt,
Ein Netz, das unsre Welt umspült.

Chemie sie mischt, was einst getrennt,
Ein neues Sein, das man benennt.
Im Geist entsteht ein klarer Strang,
Die Verbindung währt ein Leben lang.

English Translation:
A thread right here, a cable there,
From place to place, from word to share.
Technology ties, the heart can feel,
A net that wraps our world, so real.

Chemistry mixes what was split,
A new existence, named and lit.
In mind, a lucid strand takes hold,
The connection lasts, a story told.

🧩 Riddle

German:
Ich kann technisch sein, per Kabel oder Funk,
Ich kann zwischen Menschen sein, mal tief, mal flach, mal kunk.
In der Chemie bin ich ein Stoff, ganz neu kreiert,
Als Organisation hab' ich schon manchen inspiriert.

Was bin ich? → Die Verbindung

English Translation:
I can be technical, via cable or radio wave,
I can be between people, sometimes deep, sometimes shallow, sometimes brave.
In chemistry, I am a substance, newly created near,
As an organization, I have inspired many a peer.

What am I? → Die Verbindung (The connection / compound / association)

✨ Other Information

Word Composition:

The word "Verbindung" is composed of:

• The prefix ver-, which often indicates a change, a joining, or a result.
• The verb stem bind (from "binden" = to tie, to bind).
• The suffix -ung, which turns verbs into nouns, usually denoting a process or its result. It makes the noun feminine (die).

Typical Compound Words:

There are many compound words using "-verbindung", for example:

• Datenverbindung (data connection)
• Funkverbindung (radio connection)
• Nervenverbindung (nerve connection)
• Satzverbindung (sentence connection, grammar)
• Steckverbindung (plug connection)
• Südverbindung (southern connection/link, often for roads/rails)
• Telefonverbindung (telephone connection)
• Zugverbindung (train connection)