die  Vergütung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/fɛɐ̯ˈɡyːtʊŋ/

💰 What does "die Vergütung" mean?

Die Vergütung (noun, feminine) generally refers to a financial or material payment granted in return for work performed, services rendered, expenses incurred, or disadvantages suffered. It's an umbrella term for various forms of payment.

• In a work context: Here, die Vergütung often means the total compensation for work performance, including Gehalt/Lohn (salary/wage), bonuses, commissions, etc.
• In contract law: It can also be the payment for a specific service or piece of work (e.g., Honorar for freelancers).
• In compensation law: Sometimes it also refers to compensation or reimbursement for incurred costs or disadvantages (e.g., Aufwandsentschädigung - expense allowance).

⚠️ Attention: Although often used synonymously, there can be subtle differences to words like Gehalt (usually for employees, fixed monthly), Lohn (often for workers, based on hours), or Honorar (for freelancers/professionals). Vergütung is the more comprehensive term.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar of "die Vergütung" in Detail

The word "Vergütung" is a feminine noun. It follows the weak declension pattern for feminine nouns. The article is always die in the nominative and accusative singular, and der in the genitive and dative singular.

💡 Example Sentences

1. Die Vergütung für diese Position ist sehr attraktiv.
   (The remuneration for this position is very attractive.)
2. Wir müssen noch über die Höhe der Vergütung sprechen.
   (We still need to talk about the amount of the compensation.)
3. Er erhielt eine angemessene Vergütung für seine Überstunden.
   (He received appropriate compensation for his overtime.)
4. Die vertraglich vereinbarten Vergütungen werden pünktlich ausgezahlt.
   (The contractually agreed remunerations will be paid on time.)
5. Die Reisekosten werden zusätzlich zur normalen Vergütung erstattet.
   (Travel expenses are reimbursed in addition to the normal remuneration.)

🗣️ How "Vergütung" is Used

The term die Vergütung is mainly used in formal contexts, especially in the areas of:

• Labor law and human resources: In employment contracts, salary negotiations, performance reviews.
• Business and finance: In annual reports, contracts, when discussing executive salaries.
• Contract law: In service, work, or license agreements to specify payment.
• Law and administration: When setting compensations, fee schedules (e.g., for doctors, lawyers).

In everyday language, people more often talk about Gehalt (salary), Lohn (wage), or simply Bezahlung (payment). Vergütung sounds more official and comprehensive.

Typical collocations:

• eine angemessene / faire / leistungsbezogene / variable Vergütung erhalten/zahlen (to receive/pay adequate / fair / performance-related / variable remuneration)
• die Höhe der Vergütung festlegen / aushandeln (to determine / negotiate the amount of remuneration)
• Anspruch auf Vergütung haben (to be entitled to remuneration)
• Vergütung für Überstunden / Reisekosten / Aufwendungen (compensation for overtime / travel expenses / expenditures)

🧠 Mnemonics for "Vergütung"

Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -ung in German are almost always feminine. Think of die Rechnung (the bill), die Wohnung (the apartment), die Bedeutung (the meaning)... and therefore also die Vergütung!

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine someone did something GUT (good) for you (work, service). As thanks, they get something good back – money! That's the Ver-GUT-ung (compensation/remuneration).

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

🚨 Beware of Confusion: Don't confuse with Vergebung (forgiveness) or Geltung (validity, standing).

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Was erwarten Sie denn als monatliche Vergütung?"
Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: "Den 1. jeden Monats!"

(Translation: The boss asks the new employee: "What do you expect as monthly remuneration?"
The employee replies: "The 1st of every month!")

📜 A Poem about Remuneration

Für Müh' und Fleiß, für Stund' um Stund',
tut mancher gute Arbeit kund.
Am End' des Monats, das ist klar,
erwartet man: die Vergütung bar!

Ob Lohn, ob Gehalt, ob Honorar,
es macht das Leben wunderbar.
Drum sei sie fair und pünktlich da,
die Leistung lohnt sich, ja!

(Translation:
For effort and diligence, hour by hour,
many do good work with power.
At the month's end, it's very clear,
one expects: the remuneration dear!

Be it wage, or salary, or fee,
it makes life wonderful, you see.
So let it be fair and arrive on time,
the effort's worth it, truly prime!)

🧩 Who or What Am I?

Ich bin der Lohn für deine Tat,
mal früh gezahlt, mal etwas spat.
Man handelt mich im Vertrag aus,
bring Freude oft ins Arbeitshaus.
Für Dienst und Werk werd' ich gegeben,
ich helf' dir gut dabei zu leben.

(I am the reward for your deed,
Paid early sometimes, sometimes late indeed.
I'm negotiated in the contract's phase,
Often bringing joy to the workplace.
For service and work, I am conferred,
I help you live well, be assured.)

(Solution: die Vergütung / remuneration, compensation)

✨ Other Interesting Aspects

Word Composition:

The word "Vergütung" is composed of:

• The prefix ver-: can have various meanings, here in the sense of 'providing something' or 'compensating'.
• The stem word gut: refers to the value or quality of the service or the goodness of the return payment. (good)
• The suffix -ung: forms a noun from the verb (vergüten - to remunerate) and makes it feminine.

The underlying verb vergüten accordingly means 'to pay for something', 'to compensate', or 'to reimburse'.