die  Vergiftung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/fɛɐ̯ˈɡɪftʊŋ/

☣️ What exactly is a Vergiftung?

The German noun Vergiftung (feminine, article: die) means poisoning. It refers to the state or process where an organism is harmed by the ingestion or exposure to a poison (Gift or Toxin).

This can be caused by various substances such as chemicals, plant or animal toxins, but also by gases or spoiled food.

There is only one article for Vergiftung: die. It's a noun derived from the verb vergiften (to poison).

A distinction is often made between:

• Akute Vergiftung: Acute poisoning - a sudden, strong reaction to a single dose of poison.
• Chronische Vergiftung: Chronic poisoning - slow damage caused by repeated exposure to smaller amounts of poison.

⚠️ Attention: A Vergiftungserscheinung is a symptom of poisoning, not the poisoning itself.

Article rules for der, die, and das

The Grammar behind Vergiftung 🧐

The noun 'Vergiftung' is feminine. Here are the declension tables:

Example Sentences

1. Die häufigste Ursache war eine Lebensmittelvergiftung.
   (The most common cause was food poisoning.)
2. Der Arzt diagnostizierte eine schwere Vergiftung.
   (The doctor diagnosed a severe poisoning.)
3. Man muss die Symptome der Vergiftung genau beobachten.
   (One must observe the symptoms of the poisoning closely.)
4. Viele Pilzvergiftungen enden leider tödlich.
   (Many mushroom poisonings unfortunately end fatally.)

When to use Vergiftung? 🗣️

The term Vergiftung is used in various contexts:

• Medically: Most commonly to describe the pathological state after poison intake (e.g., Pilzvergiftung - mushroom poisoning, Alkoholvergiftung - alcohol poisoning, Bleivergiftung - lead poisoning, Kohlenmonoxidvergiftung - carbon monoxide poisoning, Blutvergiftung - blood poisoning/sepsis).
• Colloquially/Metaphorically: Sometimes used metaphorically for a harmful influence, e.g., "die Vergiftung des politischen Klimas" (the poisoning of the political climate). This is less common.
• Chemically/Biologically: Describes contamination or damage by toxic substances.

Compared to Intoxikation (often synonymous, but a more technical medical term), Vergiftung is the more common everyday term.

Memory Aids for Vergiftung 🧠

Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -ung in German are almost always feminine (die). Think: Die Rettung (the rescue) is needed after die Vergiftung.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine someone eating something poisonous and exclaiming in English, "Very bad Gift!" (Remember 'Gift' means poison in German). This leads to Vergiftung (poisoning).

Similar and Opposite Words 🔄

Risk of Confusion: Vergiftung (the condition of being poisoned) vs. Vergiftungserscheinung (the symptom of poisoning).

A Little Joke 😄

Kellner: "Möchten Sie Schnecken?"
Gast: "Nein danke, ich esse nichts, was sein Haus mit sich herumträgt. Ich habe schon genug Probleme mit meinem Gepäck."
Kellner: "Und wie wäre es mit Pilzen?"
Gast: "Auch nicht, ich traue keinem Lebewesen, das nach einem Regen über Nacht aus dem Boden schießt. Das ist mir suspekt!"
Kellner: "Verstehe... vielleicht haben Sie Angst vor einer Vergiftung?"
Gast: "Nein, vor Bauchschmerzen wegen des hohen Preises!"

Translation:
Waiter: "Would you like snails?"
Guest: "No thanks, I don't eat anything that carries its house around. I have enough trouble with my luggage."
Waiter: "And how about mushrooms?"
Guest: "Not those either, I don't trust any creature that shoots out of the ground overnight after rain. That's suspicious to me!"
Waiter: "I see... perhaps you're afraid of poisoning (Vergiftung)?"
Guest: "No, of a stomach ache because of the high price!"

Poem of Caution 📜

Die Beere rot, so lockt sie sehr,
Doch Vorsicht, Freund, komm ihr nicht zu nah.
Ein falscher Biss, ein kleiner Schluck,
Bringt Leid und Schmerz, welch Missgeschick.
Die Wirkung schnell, der Körper schwach,
Die Vergiftung nimmt ihren Lauf, ach!
Drum prüfe wohl, was du genießt,
Damit das Leben weiterfließt.

Translation:
The berry red, it tempts so much,
But caution, friend, don't come too near.
A wrong bite, a little sip,
Brings suffering and pain, what bad luck.
The effect is fast, the body weak,
The poisoning takes its course, alas!
So check well what you enjoy,
So that life continues to flow.

Little Riddle 🤔

Ich komme schleichend oder schnell,
Durch Trank, durch Speise, oder Gas so hell.
Ich mache krank, bring Schmerz und Not,
Manchmal droht durch mich der Tod.
Ein Arzt wird oft zur Hilfe eilen,
Um meine böse Wirkung zu teilen.

Was bin ich? Antwort: Die Vergiftung

Translation:
I come creeping or fast,
Through drink, through food, or gas so bright.
I make sick, bring pain and need,
Sometimes through me, death looms indeed.
A doctor often rushes to aid,
To counter the evil effect I've made.

What am I?
Answer: Poisoning (Die Vergiftung)

Trivia 💡

Word Composition: The word "Vergiftung" is composed of:

• The prefix ver-: often implies something going wrong or changing.
• The stem Gift: poison.
• The suffix -ung: turns verbs into nouns (here from vergiften - to poison) and denotes a process or state.

Types of Vergiftung: Poisonings are often categorized by their cause, e.g., Lebensmittelvergiftung (food poisoning), Pilzvergiftung (mushroom poisoning), Alkoholvergiftung (alcohol poisoning), Medikamentenvergiftung (drug poisoning/overdose), Gasvergiftung (gas poisoning), Schlangenbissvergiftung (snakebite poisoning), etc.