die
Verfügung
📜 What Exactly is a 'Verfügung'?
The word die Verfügung primarily has two meanings in German:
- An Anordnung or Erlass (an order or decree): This usually refers to a formal, often official or judicial, decision or instruction. It can be a regulation, provision, or resolution. Example: Eine einstweilige Verfügung (a preliminary injunction).
- Verfügbarkeit (availability) or the ability to dispose of something: This describes the state of something or someone being available, or having control over (to determine, to use) something or someone. This meaning frequently appears in the fixed phrase "zur Verfügung stehen/stellen" (to be available / to make available).
🚨 It's important to consider the context to understand the correct meaning.
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 of 'die Verfügung' in Detail
Die Verfügung is a feminine noun. The plural is die Verfügungen.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Verfügung |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Verfügung |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Verfügung |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Verfügung |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Verfügungen |
| Genitive | der | Verfügungen |
| Dative | den | Verfügungen |
| Accusative | die | Verfügungen |
Example Sentences 💡
- Das Gericht erließ eine einstweilige Verfügung. (The court issued a preliminary injunction.)
- Die neueste Verfügung des Ministeriums betrifft alle Schulen. (The ministry's latest decree affects all schools.)
- Ich stelle Ihnen die Unterlagen gerne zur Verfügung. (I will gladly make the documents available to you.)
- Der Konferenzraum steht uns zur Verfügung. (The conference room is available to us.)
- Er hat die freie Verfügung über sein Vermögen. (He has free disposal over his assets.)
💬 How to Use 'die Verfügung'?
The usage of die Verfügung depends heavily on its meaning:
- In legal/administrative contexts: Here, it denotes a formal order or decision. One speaks of richterliche Verfügungen (judicial orders), behördliche Verfügungen (administrative orders), or einstweilige Verfügungen (preliminary injunctions). It is a precise term in administrative and procedural law.
- In the context of availability: The phrase "zur Verfügung stehen/stellen" (to be available / to make available) is extremely common and used in many everyday situations and in business. It means that something is usable or available, or is being made so. Examples: Gelder zur Verfügung stellen (to provide funds), Personal zur Verfügung stehen (staff being available).
- In the context of control/power: The phrase "die Verfügung über etwas haben" means to have control or authority over something. Example: die Verfügung über die Konten haben (to have control over the accounts).
⚠️ Don't confuse "die Verfügung" (the noun) with the verb "verfügen" (to order; to possess/have).
🧠 Mnemonics for 'Verfügung'
Article Mnemonic: Think of an important order or regulation (German nouns ending in -ung are almost always feminine -> die). Imagine a queen (feminine -> die) issuing a Verfügung (decree).
Meaning Mnemonic: A Verfügung (order/decree) might make something important available to you – putting it at your Verfügung (disposal/availability)!
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Words):
- For Anordnung/Erlass (order/decree): Anweisung (instruction), Anordnung (order), Beschluss (resolution), Bestimmung (provision), Erlass (decree), Regelung (regulation), Vorschrift (rule), Dekret (decree)
- For Verfügbarkeit/Verfügenkönnen (availability/disposal): Verfügbarkeit (availability), Disposition (disposal), Zugriffsmöglichkeit (accessibility), Nutzungsmöglichkeit (usability)
Antonyms (Opposites):
- For Anordnung/Erlass: (depending on context) Empfehlung (recommendation), Bitte (request), Vorschlag (suggestion)
- For Verfügbarkeit: Nichtverfügbarkeit (unavailability), Mangel (lack), Knappheit (scarcity)
Similar, but Different Words:
- Verfügbarkeit (die): Refers more specifically only to the state of being available.
- Verfügen (verb): The action of ordering or possessing/having.
😄 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Anwalt immer einen Stift zur Verfügung?
Damit er jederzeit eine einstweilige Verfügung schreiben kann! 😉
(Why does the lawyer always have a pen available [zur Verfügung]?
So he can write a preliminary injunction [einstweilige Verfügung] at any time!)
📜 A Little Poem
Die Verfügung, streng und klar,
Steht oft im Recht fürwahr.
Doch steht auch Gutes dir bereit,
Zur Verfügung, jederzeit.
(The Verfügung, strict and clear,
Often stands in law, it's true.
But good things too are ready here,
At your disposal [zur Verfügung], anytime for you.)
🕵️♀️ Little Riddle
Ich bin ein Befehl, vom Amt oft erdacht,
Oder etwas, das man dir verfügbar macht.
Mit "zur" und "stehen" werd ich oft genannt.
Welches Wort mit 'V' ist hier bekannt?
(I am a command, often conceived by an office,
Or something that is made available to you.
With "zur" and "stehen" I am often named.
Which word starting with 'V' is known here?)
(Answer: die Verfügung)
📎 More Tidbits
Word Formation: The word "Verfügung" is a nominalization of the verb "verfügen" by adding the suffix "-ung". The verb "verfügen" itself comes from Middle High German "vervüegen", which originally meant "to join together", "to arrange", or "to equip".
Fixed Phrases: The phrase "zur Verfügung stehen/stellen" (to be available / to make available) is one of the most common collocations in German and essential for language use.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Verfügung?
The noun Verfügung is feminine. The correct article is die Verfügung. It means either an order/decree or availability (often used in the phrase zur Verfügung stehen/stellen).